If you could be one of the world chess champions, which would you choose?

If you could be one of the world chess champions, which would you choose?

Good selection😄

One of the live ones.

No point in coming back DEAD. Sort of defeats the purpose.

Was it philosophy?🤔

I am not sure that if I were to choose a top chess player I wish to be like, I would choose a world champion. I might prefer a chess player whose major contribution was to chess theory or the art of chess. I think that when you focus only on World Champions, you, by necessity, focus only on people who make winning the game the most important aspect of chess. As a person, I am not sure if I buy into this premise.

I believe that Rubinstein, Bronstein, Reti, Nimzowitch, and, in modern times, Ivanochuck all have a high mastery of the game and have made outstanding contributions to the game. Yet, their names are never considered when the best chess players are discussed. Even today, the Rubinstein variation of the French defense is still played, as is the Nimzo-Indian and the Reti opening. Ivanochuck is viewed as one of the most original chess thinkers of our times.

Top players value playing against him, as is reflected in the letter sent to Ukraine when Ukraine did not want to let Ivanochuck participate in an elite event because of the war. If I remember correctly, even Carlson signed it.

Thanks renate..As always, it's perfectly wise.🙂

Sometimes there is a difference between what we admire and what we like for ourselves، perhaps this question illustrates it.

Some of the players I admire the most never captured the world chess title, though.

David Bronstein. Paul Keres. Vasyl Ivanchuk.

And for me : harry nelson pillsbury

Dang! I should have included him in the list. My bad.

Tal. I'd love to be able to attack like he did.

You seem to see chess as an art.🙂

I think chess owes him a lot.

Is there anyone who doesn't like Tal?

I certainly see chess as the search for an (or even THE) accurate move.

Try this: 98.2% accuracy in the most complicated tactical melee ever witnessed:

A Heroic Defense in the Sicilian Najdorf - Kids, don't try this at home! - Chess Forums - Chess.com

I played him in 1988 in Saint John NB. in a simul. A draw.

unlikely to happen, but i genuinely wish Rapport to be world champion.

Note: I like Tal as well; however, Tal was a World Champion, and Murphy could be considered a WC at his time before the current WC cycle was in place.