Which GM's have you met in person?

I've only gotten one autograph.  GM Michael Rhode signed my Chess Life magazine (that had his picture on the cover), after I played him in a simul.   He is not very famous though, as I don't believe he ever won a U.S. Championship or qualified for the Interzonals.   

• Sarunas Sulskis (Faced him round 1 of the 2003 US Open in Los Angeles)
• Irina Krush (In New York City at the Marshall Chess Club Summer 2015)
• Sergey Kudrin (Many times - He travels to weekend tournaments all thru the year and faced him in the North Carolina Open in 2011 I believe, if not, it was 2010 - doesn't wash his hands though when he uses the facilities)
• Melikset Kachiyan (2008 Western States Open, Round 4)
• Tatev Abrahamyan (WGM - Faced her Round 7 of the 2003 US Open in Los Angeles, 6 rounds after losing to Sarunas Sukskis - a draw and 4 wins the 5 rounds in between)
• Anatoly Karpov (Spoke at the 2012 National Open)
• Anatoli Lein (Faced in final round at 2014 Chicago Open)

Then, of course, I've ran into many lesser name GMs and probably a couple of others that I can't think of.

Slovenian GM Jure Škoberne. Also played him in a simul.

Vasily Smyslov

Igor Ivanov was a good bud. But never interested in the norms reguired.

Being a "bit older" i recognize, and remember the name :-)

Remind me never to shake hands with Sergey Kudrin.  lol   Awesome list, btw.  

many

Kudrin plays twice a year in Reno, and always does a clock simul.  he will always go over the game with you the next day if you wish.  A couple of years ago some of us were watching his analysis against a young indian kid.  They get out of the opening, and the kid asked Sergey: "Mr. Kudrin, when i get to the position I dont know what to play?"  The kid looks at him with hopeful anticipation hoping to now learn what should be played in this position.  Sergey looks at him and says in his dead-pan Russian accent.  "Well...you need to learn what to play, or dont play this opening"  The whole room started laughing.  

Many a GM carry their own hand sanitzer.

All OTB players should wash their hands frequently during tournaments.   Everybody has touched those pieces and germs are rampant.   

Rampant germs. The scourge of any chess tournament.

Players should be forced to wear gloves and a face mask.

LOL - If I reach across and grab the face mask of my opponent, is that a personal foul and 15 yard penalty?  Must observe the board from 15 feet away, and reach across with one of those things you use to change light bulbs for lights in double-floor living rooms that are 20 feet up?  Reach across the room with one of those things to grab the knight and move it?  Might be hard to figure out the position looking at the board from that far away!

Nigel Short and I played in many of the same Tournaments around the North West of England. He is from Bolton.He was undoubtably a very strong chess player from an early age but his social skills needed a lot of work!

So I understand Lasker. As a young man he was quite objectionable and I once told him off for his rudeness. I don't care how great a chess player someone is, they can still be courteous and treat others with respect.

Quite a few in the Isle of Man last week. All seemed like pretty normal, nice people.

I think the majority of GMs are normal, nice people but there are exceptions.

Wow, there are some serious legends mentioned in this post.   Thanks for everyone's input and comments.  

In 1971, I had the chess experience of my life by playing a skittles game and having dinner with Svetozar Gligorich. He was a charming and humorous gentleman, even though he did beat me in 28 moves.

Gligorich was visiting an old friend who happened to be one of my professors in college. The prof was Milan Vukcevich, who was himself an IM and became a GM of chess problem composition. After my game against Gligorich, we headed out to a diner for a late evening meal. Gligorich ordered a Reuben, and I observed that it was a "fine" sandwich. That got a chuckle out of him.

Great story, Mike.