Magnus: The Best… alive?…ever?

Is Magnus Carlsen the best chess player ever? He certainly has the trophies, both in online and over-the-board matches, and ELO rating to prove it. But is he, maybe, only the best alive?

There have been thousands of great chess players, over the years, and most are not with us anymore. Could one of these chess masters have been better than Magnus, or at least equal? Or perhaps not better but more influential?

Share your thoughts

Magnus is the best chess player nowadays.

Either Magnus or Tal.

magnus best chess player on the world

Carlsen 2830 trails http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/PeakList.asp

Kasparov 2874
Fischer 2867
Capablanca 2857

That list hasn't been updated for a long time, I think. Carlsen's peak is 2882.

The best alive? Without a doubt. All time? I dont know. Every generation of chess players knows more than the last, so it is decently safe to say that Magnus is the best of all time. This question will always be debated though.

I think Magnus would win most matches, but the previous generations would perhaps have some moves to show that have not been played or have little theory. Chess by these previous generations would likely have new creative moves compared to current players (although it'll depend since I think Magnus would still play a h or a pawn still. However, he'll probably be able to pull out openings that these previous generations have never played or sidelines that he knows engine theory about.)

Yes. Great points everyone. Tal is one of the best. Magnus hit his peak of 2882 and is on top, I think. But is he the most influential of his generation?

No. He has been on a downhill slide ever since he forfeited his title as the best player in the world last year.

How do you forfeit the ”title as the best player in the world”?

The Chessmetrics list isn’t Elo rating but a different system, it hasn’t been updated for 20 years, and 2830 isn’t, as pointed out, even Carlsen’s peak Elo…

Yes, it is FIDE rating system. Carlsen’s peak is 2882 FIDE, the highest ever recorded.

A fascinating question that cannot be answered by mere mortals like us. But it is the sort of question that can cause one to lie awake late at night, smiling. Magnus vs Bobby--how would that play out? Or Magnus vs Tal? Or vs Alekhine? Or Botvinnik? I wish a panel of chess luminaries could meet in some neutral country to reach some kind of conclusion.

Indeed. It would be interesting to see Magnus vs Tal. Blood bath or well-fought battle? Too bad for us, because most of the main contenders for the spot of GOAT are sadly gone. Thank you all for your comments. Please direct friends here so they can give their opinion.

Statically yes, and yes, though I don't like his arrogancy....

I don't think it is possible to compare players from different eras. Knowledge is cumulative and today's players have a lot of resources available that others had to do without.

Even players that can meet over the board may not be able to do that at a time when they are both at the top of their game.

My favorite player of all time is Emanuel Lasker. Not that I can fully understand him. But:

- he was World Champion for a long time.
- even after losing his title to Capablanca, he continued to be a top player, winning in top competitions against younger players.
- he was not only great at analyzing the game, but also great at analyzing his opponents and playing to their weaknesses.
- his accomplishments were not restricted to Chess alone; he was a solid mathematician that discovered useful concepts in algebra.

There are many interesting anecdotes about Lasker, but one of his opinions that stuck with me is this one from his Manual of Chess:

"Chess must not be memorized, simply because it is not important enough. If you load your memory, you should know why. Memory is too valuable to be stocked with trifles. Of my fifty-seven years I have applied at least thirty to forgetting what I had learned or read, and since I succeeded in this I have acquired a certain ease and cheer which I should never again like to be without. If need be, I can increase my skill in Chess, if need be I can do that of which I have no idea at present. I have stored little in my memory, but I can apply that little, and it is of good use in many and varied emergencies. I keep it in order, but resist every attempt to increase its dead weight.
You should keep in mind no names, nor numbers, nor isolated incidents, but only methods. The method is plastic. It is applicable in every situation. The result, the isolated incident, is rigid, because it is bound to wholly individual conditions."

Lots of good points. It is unfortunate for us, who will never see Magnus vs Tal, Botvinnik, Capablanca, whoever else. Thanks for your comments. Please tell others so they can share as well. Thanks.