The world chess champions
The top 3 according to 2 votes from people: Viswanathan Anand · Wilhelm Steinitz · José Raúl Capablanca. (Updated May 7, 2025.)
Every undisputed world chess champion since 1886, according to Wikipedia. Who is the greatest of them all? Vote.
Automatically translated (original in Русский). See the original
Top 18
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1
Viswanathan Anand
India. Champion 2007–2013.
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2
Wilhelm Steinitz
Austria-Hungary, USA. Champion 1886–1894. The first official world champion.
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3
José Raúl Capablanca
Cuba. Champion 1921–1927.
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4
Alexander Alekhine
France (born in Russia). Champion 1927–1935, 1937–1946. The only champion to die holding the title.
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5
Max Euwe
Netherlands. Champion 1935–1937.
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6
Mikhail Botvinnik
USSR. Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, 1961–1963. Patriarch of the Soviet chess school.
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7
Vasily Smyslov
USSR. Champion 1957–1958.
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8
Mikhail Tal
USSR. Champion 1960–1961. "The Magician from Riga", a master of attack.
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9
Tigran Petrosian
USSR. Champion 1963–1969.
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10
Boris Spassky
USSR. Champion 1969–1972.
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11
Bobby Fischer
USA. Champion 1972–1975. Beat Spassky in the "Match of the Century" in Reykjavík.
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12
Anatoly Karpov
USSR. Champion 1975–1985.
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13
Garry Kasparov
USSR / Russia. Champion 1985–2000. The youngest champion of his time, at 22.
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14
Vladimir Kramnik
Russia. Champion 2000–2007. Beat Kasparov in London in 2000.
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15
Magnus Carlsen
Norway. Champion 2013–2023. Declined to defend the title in 2023; holds the record Elo rating.
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16
Ding Liren
China. Champion 2023–2024.
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17
Gukesh Dommaraju
India. Champion since 2024. The youngest world champion ever, at 18.
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18
Veselin Topalov
FIDE World Champion in 2005, during the split in the chess crown.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 18… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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19
Emanuel Lasker
Germany. Champion 1894–1921. A record 27 years as champion.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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