Inquiring minds want to know!

Mozart had the best melodies but Kaspy was stronger in the openings....

I would have to say... Chuck Norris!

He only needs a King and it roundhouse kicks all 8 adjacent squares.

+1

Chuck Norris is Soooooo over rated...

He was also the true composer of Ode to Joy. Originally it was called Ode to slapping various calibre bullets out of mid-air.

For that a simple "lol"

Somehow juck norris jokes are still kickass :P

Fischer, he was the true mad genius.

Chuck Norris =000 IQ/Chess Rating

Exactly REb no offense but CHuck Norris is gay

Okay, to put things back on track...

To compare geniuses across different arts, I would say we would have to look at the respective contributions to the successful application of appropriate principles and theory to create harmonious systems. I'll put it out there that Botvinnik would be the one who is "better" due to his developments in the systematic approach to chess. Take a look at his win against Capablanca - it was a beautiful game and a beautiful demonstration of logic.

While music always will be a question of taste in the way that one never can measure if Mozart was "better" than Bach, in chess it is possible to compare achievements of players based on various criteria and conclude that for example Karpov was "better" than Euwe.

No computer ever outcomposed Mozart.  (But it will happen)  

Beethoven became deaf and wrote the Ninth.  Did Fischer destroy everyone blindfolded? 

Bach was undisputed in his day and didn't need an immediate rematch clause.

There is little to compare between musical composition and chess players.

This site has over three million players, are there three million composers ?

You are looking in the wrong chess department I would say Sam Lloyd was the Beethoven of the chess board. The others you mention are just world class players one might compare them to Daniel Barenboim or Arthur Rubenstein who are also world class players.

I challenge the ridiculous assumption in post #14 that a computer will one day "outcompose" Mozart. According to that logic, a computer will one day "outpaint" Raphael or "outwrite" Shakespeare.........

Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.

I say Beethoven over Fischer any day of the week!  Beethoven kept composing.  Fischer ran away from chess.  This one isn't even close!

I think instead of Kasparov I would compare Mozart to Capablanca.  Both very logical.  This one would be close but I give it to Capablanca!  He was just awesome.

And a new one:  Tal vs. John Coltrane!  Complete toss up!  Both were geniuses and brought great joy to the people who have appreciated (and continue to appreciate) their art!

"Tal vs. Coltrane"? Do you mean would Tal beat Coltrane over the board, or do you mean would Coltrane blow Tal off the stage at the Blue Note?.......Hey, while we're in this "apples and oranges" thread, how 'bout Joseph Stalin and Louie Prima. Boy, that's a tough comparison....a real toss up!

Or you could just have fun with it and let it go at that.  :)