Top 10 Best Chess Players of All Time

Best known for ending Garry Kasparov’s reign as world champion, Vladimir Kramnik was the leading player of the 2000s. At his peak, Kramnik’s game was flawless, reviving multiple openings and mastering endgame tactics to finish the decade as the hardest player to beat in world chess. After reuniting the classical and FIDE titles in 2006, the Russian player also became the first undisputed world champion since Kasparov in 1993. Though he lost the title a year after earning it, Kramnik’s personal game only improved, and he would later reach the eighth highest Elo rating in 2016.

Mikhail Tal lit up the world of chess with his creative style and risky sacrifices. Tal is also one of the most quoted players of all time, with classics such as “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” Eccentricity aside, the Soviet-Latvian’s playing career was no joke. Tal won the world championship in 1960 at just 23 years old, defeating the methodical Mikhail Botvinnik with an unpredictable attacking display. He also boasted a positive score against Bobby Fischer, and had an unbeaten streak of 95 competitive games, a record that stood for 44 years.

At 27 years, Emanuel Lasker’s reign as world chess champion is still the longest in history. Although Lasker avoided a championship showdown against Jose Raul Capablanca, six title defenses in three years shows he was not there by fluke. Though he did eventually lose the top spot to Capablanca, Lasker beat his rival in tournaments both before and after their title match. He also had a longer and more consistent career, keeping up with the likes of Mikhail Botvinnik well into his 60s. A renowned mathematician, Lasker had a psychological edge that inspired generations – whether or not you believe the rumors that he played bad moves on purpose.

There’s dominance in chess, and then there’s Paul Morphy. There’s little data on where to rank Morphy alongside modern grandmasters, seeing as he played so long before engines, theory, and even world championships. All we know is that he swept the First American Chess Congress in 1857, sailed to Europe to challenge the world’s best, and beat everyone he played on the continent. The US native was so far ahead of his contemporaries that he remains relevant almost two Centuries later – described by Garry Kasparov as the “forefather of modern chess” and lending his name to one of the most popular defenses in today’s game.

Mikhail Botvinnik has a place in any “best of all time” conversation, and not only for his achievements as a player. The sixth world chess champion held the title on and off for 15 years, losing out to Tal and Vasile Smyslov before overwhelming his opponents with superior preparation in both rematches. A computer scientist and electrical engineer by trade, Botvinnik led the way in utilizing logic and strategy, an approach that inspired the Soviet Union to dominate the game for years to come. His impact is perhaps best summed up by the names to pass through his world-famous chess school, which include future champions Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Kramnik[f].

One half of the greatest-ever rivalry in chess, Anatoly Karpov would have enjoyed three decades alone at the top of the game if not for a certain Garry Kasparov. Their first title match was abandoned with Karpov in a narrow lead. Kasparov won the second and defended three more times against his Soviet rival, but the records will never show how evenly matched the pair actually were. Across five world championship matches, Kasparov won 21 individual games to Karpov’s 19. In 1994, Karpov got his own back with the highest-rated tournament performance ever seen at the time, taking the Linares title ahead of Kasparov, as well as future world champs Kramnik, Anand[g], Topalov and Polgár.

Often described as one of the most naturally gifted players ever, José Raúl Capablanca’s legacy could have been even greater. In the early 1900s, the Cuban player was repeatedly denied a shot at the world title, first by then-champion Emanuel Lasker’s stingy conditions, and then by the First World War. Capablanca responded by going on an eight-year win streak, finally winning the championship in that time, and losing it six years later to Alexander Alekhine. Alongside Alekhine and Lasker, Capablanca was part of one of the strongest top threes in chess history, though he maintains positive win records against both his great rivals. In the words of Lasker himself: “I have known many chess players, but only one chess genius: Capablanca.”

Bobby Fischer was once one of the biggest names in the world, let alone the world of chess. His views away from the game, refusal to attend matches and sudden disappearance are well-documented, but none more than his talent at the board. The youngest-ever grandmaster at the time, Fischer’s dominance on route to the world championship remains unprecedented. After winning eight of eight US Championships, Fischer whitewashed grandmaster after grandmaster to earn a shot against Boris Spassky[i]. Dubbed “The Match of the Century” for its political context, the American took the lead in a remarkable sixth game, which earned him a standing ovation from his Soviet opponent. From there, Fischer cruised to the title – and a place in the history of American sport.

World number one for 14 years and counting, Magnus Carlsen is breaking chess records at an astonishing rate. The only player to hold the titles in classical, rapid and blitz formats at the same time, the Norwegian wiz has utterly dominated in an era where ratings among the top players are at an all-time high. With his own peak of 2882, Magnus crushed Viswanathan Anand to take his first World title in 2013. He held the post comfortably for a decade, only to withdraw from the 2023 event citing “I don’t have a lot to gain.” It’s certainly hard to argue that a man who held Garry Kasparov to a draw at just 13-years-old has anything left to prove.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Dethroned Kramnik & Defended Three Times, Losing Out Only to Carlsen

The Greatest Female Player of All Time, Boasting Competitive Wins Against Kasparov, Carlsen, Karpov & Kramnik

Gives His Name to Many Opening Variations, Defeated Capablanca & Died Still Holding the Title

The ”best of all time” conversation usually comes down to the same three or four players, but none spent longer at the top, or did more for the game of chess, than Garry Kasparov. Though Carlsen has an edge in peak rating, the Russian player still claims the records for longest time spent at world number one, most tournament victories, and youngest to become world champion. Kasparov got the better of Karpov to reign supreme for over 15 years. As well as overseeing the rise of chess supercomputers, Kasparov also trained one in Magnus Carlsen, and Carlsen himself settles the GOAT debate by saying, “[...] Garry generally edges it because of the longevity and in the competitive era [...]”.


Who do you think is the chess GOAT? How long before Magnus takes the top spot? Let us know in the comments!