Chess is one of the highly recognised and intelligent games in the world. It is played all over the world and has produced some of the greatest chess prodigies to the world. There are many chess players around the world but some of them have made their marks so strongly in this area that they are unforgettable when we talk about chess. So in this article let's have a look at top 10 greatest chess players of all time that ruled this chess world over the years.
Magnus Carlsen:
Chess Mozart is the nickname of the great Magnus Carlsen. When I think of chess, he is the first person that comes to mind. He is the current world champion in chess and reigning world champion with 5 time world championships, 2 time rapid chess world champion and 4 time blitz world champion. He currently has a FIDE rating of 2864 and this Norwegian chess prodigy was one of tge first to cross 2800 fide rating. He became grandmaster at a very young age of 13 years and has been ruling the chess world since then. Currently he is having an amazing journey in chess and is marking his name as the greatest ever to play chess in the history of the game.
Vishwanathan Anand:
Chess prodigy from India, Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand has had one of the longest chess career in chess history. He is known for starting chess early and remaining active even in his 50s when most other players retired. He currently is ranked 12th in the world and has a fide rating of 2756. Anand was the first grandmaster from the country where chess was born, inspiring many individuals in the path. He has won 2 rapid championships and is still a tough competitor for many chess prodigies even in his fifties.
Gary Kasparov:
Gary Kasparov born in the Soviet Union is one of the greatest ever to play this game. He became the youngest Chess champion in the world in 1985. He achieved a peak FIDE rating of 2851 which was the highest till it was surpassed by Magnus in 2013. He held the 1st position in world ranking from 1984 until his retirement in 2005 for a record of 255 months continuously. Post retirement he is involved in politics and writing. He had written many books about chess games and matches of world class players.
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Jose Raul Capablanca:
Jose Raul Capablanca, the world chess champion from 1921 to 27 was a Cuban chess prodigy known for his endgame and rapid playing abilities. He was known for his real light touch which had both defensive play as well as tactical chess whenever needed. He had a successful chess career over the years and post retirement he wrote some books related to chess. He died due to brain hemorrhage at 53. His style of play is still appreciated and is followed by many chess prodigies making him one of the greatest to endorse this tactical game.
Anatoly Karpov:
Anatoly Karpov is a former chess prodigy from the Soviet Union. He became grandmaster at 19 after he was admitted to Mittail Bottniviks chess school. He then went on to become world chess champion two times, FIDE champion 3 times, Chess Olympiad winner 6 times and 9 time chess Oscar winner. He currently has a FIDE rating of 2617 and had a peak rating of 2780 and also was 1st ranked in world rankings in 1976. His playing style 'boa constrictor' is solidly positional and involves taking less risks but making strong moves over opponents minor errors. Post retirement he has authored and authored many books about chess and tactical moves and actions.
Bobby Fischer: Bobby Fischer, an American chess genius started playing chess at an early age of 6 and initially started playing against himself. He then joined various chess clubs and participated in many events. Fischer played in 8 US championships and won all of them. After the 1972 world chess championship he didn't play for almost 20 years. In 1992 he played against Spassky in a revenge match of the 20th century and won the match. He also wrote many books including my 60 memorable games which are highly studied by chess players till today. He also patented a modified chess timing system which has become an essential standard practice in various tournaments.
Alexander Alekhine:
Alexander Alekhine, again a chess champion from the Soviet Union. He was world champion for two reigns. He became world champion by defeating Jose Raul Capablanca in 1927. He is known for his fierce attacking style of play with great positional and endgame skills. He has made great contributions to chess from making innovations in chess opening popularly known as Alekhine's defense. He died in 1946 and is the only chess player to have died holding the world champion title.
Also Read | The history of chess: who invented it
Emanuel Lasker:
Emanuel Lasker is a German Chess player, mathematician and philosopher. He was one of the dominant chess player during his career and was unbeatable during his peak. He was world champion from 1894 to 1921 for a record of 27 years, which is still the longest reign in the history of the game. He is known to play psychologically involving playing inferior moves to confuse the opponents. He also contributed to chess by writing chess magazines and books.
Paul Morphy:
Paul Charles Morphy, unofficial world champion in chess was an American chess wizard and is one of the greatest ever to play this game. He began playing chess at a very young age and was an expert in the game by 12. He then toured America and Europe and won almost all the tournaments easily before he started practicing law from 22. He preferred open positions as he was quick to play those and was a kind of modern player in 1850s, when many of were not aware of those tactical and offensive plays. He is popularly known as Pride and Sorrow of Chess since eventhough after having a brilliant early chess career, he did retire at a young age. He was referred as more ahead of his time by many chess greats and remains the greatest ever to play chess.
Mikhail Botvinnik:
Mikhail Botvinnik was a Russian Grandmaster and 6th world chess champion. He was the first chess prodigy from Soviet Union who has contributed a lot to development of chess in Russia and also to world chess championship. His coaching school has produced some world class players like Anatoly Karpov, Gary Kasparov, and Vladimir Kramnik among many others who rules world chess over the years. He retired from competitive chess in 1970 to work on computer chess programs to assist young Soviet chess players. Botnnivik died in 1995 due to pancreatic cancer and is still considered one of the best chess prodigy.
These were top 10 chess players of all time in the history of chess to endorse and play this beautiful and intelligent game.
