Top 10 Best Chess Players

Garry Kasparov

While I have immense respect for Fischer and Morphy as players, my vote goes to Kasparov. He was not only a dominant force in chess for 30 years, but he has also continued to grow interest in chess after his retirement. Kasparov has balanced his brilliance in chess with other aspects of his life. His opposition to Putin makes him one of my personal heroes, regardless of his chess skills.

Ranked #1 throughout his career after winning the championship until retirement in 2005.

Bobby Fischer

Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. He became a grandmaster at age 15, a record at the time, and won the World Championship in 1972 by defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Fischer's victory ended Soviet dominance in chess and popularized... read more

Most dominant chess player in the 20th century with the highest Elo rating difference (125). Really good endgame and positional player. Youngest candidate to the World Championship and was the youngest grandmaster for over 30 years.
Won all 8 US Championships he participated in, and once with a perfect score of 11/11. Won the last 8 classical chess tournaments he finished, and also won the first unofficial Blitz Chess Championship by over 4.5 points in 1970. Won the Interzonal by the biggest margin ever, and after that beat Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen 6-0 on route to 20 wins in a row against grandmasters. The only one who could beat the Soviet chess machine.
Truly a genius on the chessboard, but his mentality lacked in other parts of life. World Champion of Chess from 1972 to 1975.

Magnus Carlsen

I agree with those who say that his style is a cross between Capablanca and Fischer. I think it is unfortunate that he refused to defend his championship title.

Actually, Magnus did win the FIDE World Cup and is first at the moment. He has the highest rating ever, so go Magnus!

Magnus Carlsen is the best chess player. He is ranked number one.

Jose Capablanca

People keep trying all kinds of wild shots, hoping for success. This applies not just to chess but to life in general (I'm guilty of this too). It doesn't matter how good the shots you throw are or how great the tactics you use. In life, if you strive for absolute zen-like perfection, everything should take only one shot. Capablanca understood this, which is why he could outdo and outmaneuver everyone's best attempts against his positions.
One attack after another, he reassembled into ever simpler positions. He understood chess as merely a matter of where the pieces ought to be.

Anatoly Karpov

Bobby Fischer was brilliant, but come on. Karpov at his prime vs. Fischer at his prime is a blowout. Karpov's positional understanding would overwhelm Fischer.

Karpov played exceptional chess in the years following Fischer's refusal to play. His games are true works of art, similar to Capablanca's games.

I like Tal more, but honestly, Karpov is a genius, and it is impossible to compare any player to him in his prime.

Paul Morphy

Ahead of his time without any real teaching. If he were born today, his godly talent would reform the game (as he did in his 3-year career) and decimate the top tournaments, even against computers!
This fellow was too gifted for normal life. What he wanted deep inside...

Great chess players come and go, but to have a chess player like Morphy who shocked chess with his skill and talent, the way he saw the board and how the pieces worked together, the energy inside each piece. His legacy will be talked about for many years to come!

Alexander Alekhine

Out of all the Russian world-class players who were tactical, he was probably the best.

He's great! His game features extraordinary brilliant combinations!

Alekhine should be higher on this list - top six at least.

Viswanathan Anand

Most influential player of all time, hero of the third world. A pioneer of sorts and the one who ended Russian domination. His longevity makes him the GOAT.

My paternal grandfather and I love his tricks. My grandfather always plays on my tablet at the highest levels and wins against the tablet.

A great chess player who has inspired an entire nation. He probably has more fans than any other player.

Mikhail Tal

This list needs more attention, and this man as well. He deserves to be in the top 10. A tactical combinatorial genius who enjoyed a beautiful yet brilliant king hunt in every game he played.

He's my favorite chess player because of his attacking style. So wild, but his tactics are meaningful.

I can't even fully describe how different, amazing, and weird his style was.

Wilhelm Steinitz

He articulated many of the modern-day principles of chess. The first step in any field of study is the hardest.

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Boris Gelfand

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Daniil Dubov

Mikhail Botvinnik

Botvinnik won a lot of games with tricky but not terribly deep tactics.

Emanuel Lasker

He remained in the top 10 in the world until he was about 60 years old and was the best in the world for over 20 years.

He was the absolute best at maneuvering pieces in the middle game.

He was champion for 27 years, crushing second-place Kasparov, who was world chess champion for 16 years.

Vladimir Kramnik

Danny Kopec

Fabiano Caruana

Vassily Ivanchuk

A worthy candidate for being world champion. Sadly, he is not. Yet he will still remain one of the most eccentric and brilliant players out there.

Vassily Ivanchuk is amazing. He defeated Kasparov, Karpov, and Carlsen, and he always plays amazing games.

The only man Kasparov ever feared!

Wesley So

His chess wizardry is amazing to behold. You might think you have the positional upper hand, only to realize you are being led into a trap all along. He is a strategic and tactical prodigy. The sky is the limit for him, and it wouldn't surprise me if he overtakes Carlsen soon.

Boris Spassky

Tigran Petrosian

Judit Polgar

Ding Liren

Levon Aronian

Sergey Karjakin

Paul Keres

AKA the Estonian powerhouse. Quite the positional player, with deadly counterattacking abilities. He doesn't let aggressive tactical players breathe in the slightest!