Kasparov was Karpov's Nemisis. Kasparov style and opening prep created some brillant games. Karpov's style doesnt lead to brillant games as often since it just looks like someone blundered and he squeezed them to death. humans like excitment but Karpov was a great , GREAT player top 5 strength wise if anyone considers kasparov #1 then karpov has to  be in the top 10 if not top 5 because he was right there. 

I think 78' if fischer could have pulled it together then he woudl have probably won. but 82'? not sure karpov was in his prime then. the problem is that pure chess strength is not the only factor but there is a competitive factor that is just as important, nerves are just as critical as skill and Fischer lacked the emotional stablity. Most people I think were shocked he pulled it together for the one match 

He almost didn't. He had booked a flight back to the states after the brouhaha over the second game. Supposedly Henry Kissinger's phone call to him, encouraging him to "beat the commies" kept him in the match.

Can you imagine what was going through Fischer's head when he was going into game 3, down 2-0 and having the black pieces against a player he had never beaten before?

Then he plays the Modern Benoni after raising a ruckus and wins?

The moment when he walked out of game 3 must have been the happiest of his life (up to that point.)

lol

5.LASKER 4.TAL 3.PETROSIAN 2.KASPAROV 1.FISCHER

I agree with everyone except Petrosion I think Karpov is better

Edward Lasker?!  This is an outrage!

Yosef Porath, Edward* Lasker, Amos Burn, Tyler Cowen, Darius Swiercz

*yes

Kasparov

Fischer

Capa

Alekhine

Lasker

I gave extra credit for guys that dominated their era over guys that were objectively better players. In other words, mine is a top 5 of historical significance.

Boy, sounds like somebody's a little full of themself...

1. Fischer

2. Alekhine

3. Capablanca

4. Kasparov

5. Botvinnik

Hey, where's your creativity?  It's always the same names over and over again!

Go back to post #73

1.Fischer

2.Kasperov

3.Capablanca

4.Botvinnik

5.Keres

1. GM Shirazi

2. NM Hecky Unding

3. NM Alex Milagrosa

4. NM Edmundo Gatus

5. Lennox Lewis

1.Greco

2.philidor

3.Morphy

4. Capablanca

5.Fischer

6. Kasparov

7.Carlsen

1. Kasparov

2. Paul Morphy

3. Karpov

4. Fischer

5. Capablanca

1.Ruy López de Segura

2.Jan Timman

3.Alexander Tolush

4.Miguel Najdorf

5.Richard Réti

#205 says it all.

i think it is 

1.garry kasparov 

2.bobby fisher 

3.viswind anand 

4.magnus carlson 

5.emmual lasker