If Chess were to have a Mt. Rushmore, which 4 faces would you put on it. In short, top four chess pl

I think Kasparov and Carlsen go on it kind of undisputed.

So thats two spots covered.

Then there is Bobby Fischer, who would seem like the strongest contender of those left. And should belong on it, but people will say that if he was so great why does he have only one world championship.

Fine in response it could be said that he quit chess at his peak and never got a full career.

Then there is Tal, who is very respected, but again, has only 1 world championship? However Tal played well past his prime and could still get 1 and I think his place is not so secured on that.

I think Vishy and Karpov are better contenders than Tal for the 4 spot. Vishy has won every world championship in chess. 5 classical, countless rapid, 1 blitz and junior world championship to his name.

So would you agree with a list of Kasparov Carlsen Fischer and Vishy? Or would you say Tal or Karpov in place of Vishy or have a completely different list.

Can I put both my face and my ass on your Mt. Rushmore?  The other two would be Kasparov and either Fischer or Carlsen, popular vote.

Judit Polgar

I think Morphy, Steinitz, Kasparov, and Fischer should be considered since they were important figures in the history of chess and also the best chess players of their time. Someone like nimzowitsch made important contributions to chess but never was a champion.

Morphy was the first unofficial world champion and most dominant. Steinitz was the first official world champion and ended the romantic era of chess by realizing and utilizing many of the other positional aspects of chess that we use today. Kasparov was the most accomplished and arguably the greatest ever. Fischer became the most dominant player of his time by a very large margin for a short period and created a chess boom especially in America

So the top four greatest players of chess are your face, your ass, Kasparov and Fischer or Carlsen.

Yeah sure makes sense.

As for the rest of you making claims about great players from the past, I hear you. But I feel that each generation was substantially better than the previous one and thus I feel the greatest would come from the most recent generations and have left the previous ones out.

I like this idea, but I think instead I'd have my ass cheeks count individually and have Kasparov and Carlsen between them as the ingredients in a stony asschess sandwich.

In lieu of lipstick, we could simply paint Kasparov's lips red.

Unless, of course, you think he'd look better in carmine.

Philidor, Steinitz, Capablanca, Fischer.

Philidor, Steinitz, Nimzowitsch, Alekhine

Morphy, Steinitz, Capablanca and Fischer. I'm partial to players of the past.

I left out Capablanca simply because I don't think he belongs up there beside my ass. Capablanca deserves better.

Fischer, Kasparov, Tal and tied between Karpov, Morphy and Carlsen

Good question.  

I nominate Alexandra Kosteniuk to be in the middle.

Capablanca is the only GM mentioned in the literary canon of Raymond Chandler, the greatest detective writer of all time, so far as I can remember, and I've read every single word of it. 

I am gonna go with Fischer, Morphy, Smyslov and Lasker

Shouldn't there be a row of 8 images?

Ok, maybe 8x8?

Like Mt. Rushmore it should be 4.

Philidor.  The first to recognize the importance of the pawn.

Steinitz.  Introduced the ideas of strategy to chess.

Botvinnik.  The beginning of the Russian school of chess.

Fischer.  Brought chess to the public, improved playing conditions, and prize money.