Top 10 Greatest Chess Players of All Time with Portraits!
"10 legendary names who shone brightly in the history of chess left their mark on the world of the game with their strategies and intellect. The most remarkable chess players of all time continue to be remembered for their genius on the board. Here are the portraits of 10 Grandmasters who defined excellence in chess..."
10. ALEXANDER ALEKHINE (RUSSIAN, 1892 - 1946)
Alekhine was the fourth official World Champion, holding the title from 1927 to 1946, except for a two-year interruption (1935-1937).
The Grandmaster claimed his first World Championship in 1927 by defeating José Raúl Capablanca, despite not being the favorite going into the match (he had never won a single game against Capablanca before the encounter).
Known for his highly aggressive style, Alekhine was a brilliant and versatile champion with a special talent for combinational play in complex positions. He also taught the chess world that rules and principles could be broken when guided by concrete analysis of the position on the board.
9. MIKHAIL TAL (LATVIAN, 1936 - 1992)
Known as the "Magician from Riga," Mikhail Tal was the eighth official World Champion. He defeated Botvinnik in 1960 to claim the crown at the age of 23, making him the youngest World Champion in history at the time (a record later surpassed by both Kasparov and Carlsen).
Famous for his brilliantly crafted and unique attacking style, Tal’s approach to the game has inspired attacking players for decades. One of his spine-chilling quotes is: "You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one."
The Grandmaster’s book on chess, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, is a classic and is considered one of the greatest chess books of all time.
8. EMANUEL LASKER (GERMAN, 1868 - 1941)
Emanuel Lasker was the second official World Champion, holding the title for 27 years. His reign from 1894 to 1921 remains the longest among all World Chess Champions, and his playing career spanned fifty years.
The Grandmaster claimed the title in 1894 by defeating the first official World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz. He successfully defended his crown five times until 1921, overcoming world-class challengers such as Frank Marshall, Siegbert Tarrasch, David Janowsky, and Carl Schlechter.
7. VLADIMIR KRAMNIK (RUSSIAN, 1975 - )
Vladimir Kramnik was the World Champion from 2000 to 2007. He became World Champion by dethroning the legendary Kasparov in 2000.
At his peak, the Grandmaster had absolutely no weaknesses in his game; he was capable of everything. Known for his excellent endgame play and clean, stubborn, and positional style, Kramnik is considered one of the toughest players to defeat in chess history.
Kramnik was one of the best chess players for over 25 years before retiring in January 2019.
6. MIKHAIL BOTVINNIK (RUSSIAN, 1911 - 1995)
Mikhail Botvinnik is known as the "father of the Soviet chess school." The sixth World Champion, he ruled from 1948 to 1963 (with two short interruptions), and was the top chess player for over 30 years.
Although Botvinnik's style was defined primarily by logic and flexibility, he placed great emphasis on methodical and strategic planning. This style allowed him to adapt to all different types of playing styles.
The Grandmaster lost his title to Petrosian in 1963, but continued to play at a high level until his retirement in 1970. In 1963, Botvinnik opened a chess school and taught future three World Champions (Karpov, Kasparov, and Kramnik).
5. ANATOLY KARPOV (RUSSIAN, 1951 - )
GM Anatoly Karpov is the 12th World Champion and reigned from 1975 to 1985. He also held the FIDE World Championship title from 1993 to 1999. Karpov was a versatile player, but his specialties were positional ties, prophylactic play, and excellent endgame technique.
In 1984, Karpov faced Kasparov for the first time, and the world of chess was forever changed. In the first of their five legendary matches, Karpov was leading with 5 wins, 3 losses, and 40 draws when the match was abruptly canceled.
In 1985, Kasparov defeated Karpov and took the chess crown. The two met again in 1986, 1987, and 1990, and when the matches were over, the results in the World Championship matches were as follows: Karpov with 19 wins, Kasparov with 21 wins, and 104 draws!
The Grandmaster’s legendary games continue to inspire positional and endgame players to this day. Tibor Karolyi’s two-volume work "Karpov's Strategic Wins" is considered one of the best chess books ever written.
4. JOSÉ RAÚL CAPABLANCA (CUBAN, 1888 - 1942)
José Raúl Capablanca was the third official World Champion and arguably one of the most naturally talented chess players ever to play the game. From 1916 to 1924, he set a tournament record of 40 wins and 23 draws. This was an unprecedented achievement at the time and still holds historical significance.
Capablanca became World Champion in 1921 by defeating the legendary Lasker. Unfortunately, the Grandmaster's bad luck was that his brightest years coincided with both World Wars.
Every World Champion is versatile, but Capablanca had a particular talent for endgames. Even today, it is difficult to find flaws in his endgame play. Irving Chernev's book "Capablanca's Best Chess Endings" is a classic.
To remain World Champion for eight years without a loss is something that the chess world may never witness again, and only Capablanca managed to achieve this feat.
3. BOBBY FISCHER (AMERICAN, 1943 - 2008)
Bobby Fischer was the 11th official World Champion and the first and only American to hold the title. He is widely regarded as the most famous chess player of all time.
The Grandmaster achieved an unprecedented feat by winning 20 consecutive games against world-class opponents from 1970 to 1971, a success that is likely to never be matched. This achievement is considered one of the most astonishing seven chess records of all time.
In 1972, Fischer became World Champion by defeating Spassky in the "Match of the Century." Despite starting the match 0-2 down, Fischer lost the first game after a perfectly balanced game and didn't even show up for the second game!
His style was unique, original, and creative. He was successful both in attack and defense, but what set him apart was his deep and almost intimidating understanding of positions. Fischer inspired many generations of chess players in the U.S. and around the world.
His book "My 60 Memorable Games" is considered one of the best chess books ever written.
2. MAGNUS CARLSEN (NORWEGIAN, 1990 - )
Magnus Carlsen became the youngest player in history to reach a 2800 rating in 2009 and achieved his highest rating of 2889 on April 21, 2014. Carlsen has been the number one player since 2011 and has dominated the game ever since. The Grandmaster became World Champion in 2013 by defeating Anand just before turning 23 (making him the second youngest World Champion after Kasparov).
The Grandmaster's résumé is more than enough to be considered number two on the list of all-time greatest players. However, Carlsen is only 33 and may not have even reached his full potential yet!
Carlsen himself doesn’t believe he’s earned the number one spot on this list just yet. In a January 2020 interview, Carlsen said: "Kasparov spent 20 years uninterrupted as the number one in the world... He should be regarded as the greatest of all time. But I feel time is on my side... I'm not even 30 yet. If I were to be considered the greatest of all time at 30, I should have started dominating at the age of 10."
1. GARRY KASPAROV (RUSSIAN, 1963 - )
Garry Kasparov is the 13th World Champion and held the title from 1985 to 2000. He first rose to number one in 1984 and remained the world’s top player, with a few minor exceptions, until 2006. Kasparov dominated the chess world for over 20 years.
The Grandmaster reached his highest rating of 2856 on March 3, 2000. This was an unprecedented number at the time and held as a record until Carlsen surpassed it.
In 1985, Kasparov became the youngest World Champion in history at the age of 22 by defeating Karpov. He successfully defended his World Champion title three times in a row against Karpov in 1986, 1987, and 1990. In 1993, Kasparov split from FIDE and formed PCA, a move that would lead to the creation of two different World Championships until the reunification match between Kramnik and Topalov in 2006.
Kasparov and Lasker are the only two World Champions to have successfully defended their titles five times. In 2000, Kramnik defeated Kasparov, ending the reign of the greatest chess player of all time. However, Kasparov continued to play (and win) in tournaments until his retirement in 2005. He left the game as the world's number one player.
After his active retirement, Kasparov continued to stay active in the chess world. He played exhibition matches and even trained Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. His five-volume series "My Great Predecessors" is considered one of the greatest chess books ever written.
