This could be an amazing couple of years in chess!  Anand is still the current
World Champion, but Carlsen has the number one rating. 
     However, Topalov is back and playing above 2800 and is looking tougher
than ever.  Also, Kramnik has been playing some nice chess as well.
     There are also plenty of other fine players on the horizon as well.  So how will the next two years play out?

I dont include Carlsen yet , simply because he hasnt played any really tough matches against elite players like Topalov, Kramnik and Anand all have.....

Those four are all very close and stand at the top of the ratings list with a bit of separation from the rest of the pack.  Some marketing genius should organize a double round robin tournament with these guys with the title of world's (current) best chess player on the line.

Great idea paavoboy, provided the tournament gets sufficient news coverage and does not take place in Elista, Khanty-Mansiysk, or some other "zero spectators" location.

that would be one awesome tournament...

Anand will beat Topalov and Kramnik will be the first champion to get the crown back by going through the candidates cycle. The next champion after him will be Carlsen. You have my word.

The Candidates tournament will include 3 of them plus Aronian and Gelfand. I think it will be one of the most exciting candidates tournaments of all chess history.

i like this Maxime Vachier-Lagrave fella, although he isn't ready to be listed with this group....

"philidor_position", it sounds like you have a crystal ball...I think you are spot on...except for Carlsen: I can't see him beating Anand , Topalov or Kramnik in a series of matches yet...but his time will come.

I pick Topalov to win the match with Anand... by one point. If they played outside of Bulgaria, I'd pick Anand by a point. Those four are all really close right now, I find it impossible to say which one is the best. Carlsen is probably already the best in a tournament situation (look at how many tournaments he just won), but it's true that the others have touch match experience, so they might edge him out there at this point. But I think Carlsen is the one who is improving the fastest; I think he will be #1 on the rating list at the end of the year, probably around 2830.

Also, I vote for a quadruple round robin, not a double round robin. 6 rounds would be way too short. You'd probably need about 4-5 Million to organize that. I'd put up $200 to watch it (over the internet).

 Exactly!  There have been plenty of successful tournament players, that werent nearly successful in matches.  Marshall being the obvious one.  Lets see Carlsen ahead to head against some of the best in matches before we go giving him the title. 

Why are some players better in tournaments but not in matches?

Why not NM Reb?

I haven't seen many Carlsen games this year.

Anand will face Kramnik in the next match, then the winner will probably play Carlsen

You, a Grandmaster, won't throw Aronian in the mix? I was hoping for Aronian