Summary: 1840 - 2005 How to use this page
Duration: covering
Most Dominant Player between 1840 and 2005 See more details
   Emanuel Lasker: 24.3 years as #1 (between June 1890 and December 1926)
The player who was ranked #1 most often between 1840 and 2005 was Emanuel Lasker, with 292 different months as the top-ranked player (a total of 24.3 years). Next on the list were Garry Kasparov (21.9 years) and Wilhelm Steinitz (14.4 years).
Highest-Rated Player between 1840 and 2005 See more details
   Bobby Fischer: 2895 (October 1971)
The player who achieved the highest peak rating between 1840 and 2005 was Bobby Fischer, with a rating of 2895 on the October 1971 list. The next-highest peak ratings between 1840 and 2005 were achieved by Garry Kasparov (2886 on the March 1993 list) and Mikhail Botvinnik (2885 on the October 1945 list).
Strongest Tournament between 1840 and 2005 See more details
   Vienna, 1882: Class 21 (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #10)
The strongest tournament held between 1840 and 2005 was Vienna 1882. This was a Class 21 tournament, including nine of the top ten players in the world (from the May 1882 rating list). The next-strongest tournaments were Linares 1993 (Class 21) and Nottingham 1936 (Class 20).
Strongest Match between 1840 and 2005 See more details
   Karpov-Kasparov V (World Championship, Lyon/New York), 1990: #1 vs #2
The strongest match held between 1840 and 2005 was Karpov-Kasparov V (World Championship, Lyon/New York), 1990. This was a matchup of #1 vs #2, including #1 Garry Kasparov (2877) and #2 Anatoly Karpov (2827) from the October 1990 rating list. Next on the list were Karpov-Kasparov III (World Championship, London/Leningrad), 1986 (#1 vs #2) and Karpov-Kasparov IV (World Championship, Sevilla), 1987 (#1 vs #2).
Best Individual Event Performance between 1840 and 2005 Summary only | Top 5 | Top 10 | Top 20 | Top 50 | Top 100
   Anatoly Karpov: 2899 in Linares, 1994
The best individual event performance between 1840 and 2005 was achieved by Anatoly Karpov with a Chessmetrics Performance Rating of 2899 in Linares, 1994. The next-best individual event performances were achieved by Bobby Fischer (2887 performance) in Fischer-Larsen Match (Candidates semifinal, Denver), 1971, and by Emanuel Lasker (2882 performance) in Lasker-Steinitz II (World Championship, Moscow), 1896.
      Player Name       Chessmetrics Performance Rating    Event
 #1    Anatoly Karpov      2899 performance: 11/13 (85%) vs 2729   Linares, 1994
 #2    Bobby Fischer      2887 performance: 6/6 (100%) vs 2752   Fischer-Larsen Match (Candidates semifinal, Denver), 1971
 #3    Emanuel Lasker      2882 performance: 12.5/17 (74%) vs 2754   Lasker-Steinitz II (World Championship, Moscow), 1896
 #4    Garry Kasparov      2881 performance: 12/14 (86%) vs 2692   Tilburg, 1989
 #5    Emanuel Lasker      2878 performance: 18/22 (82%) vs 2667   London, 1899
 #6    Garry Kasparov      2877 performance: 10.5/14 (75%) vs 2758   Linares, 1999
 #7    Emanuel Lasker      2876 performance: 11.5/15 (77%) vs 2738   Lasker-Marshall I (World Championship, USA), 1907
 #8    Vladimir Kramnik      2874 performance: 8.5/15 (57%) vs 2871   Kasparov-Kramnik I (BGN World Championship, London), 2000
 #9    Anatoly Karpov      2873 performance: 25/48 (52%) vs 2844   Karpov-Kasparov I (World Championship, Moscow), 1984
 #10    Bobby Fischer      2870 performance: 6/6 (100%) vs 2731   Fischer-Taimanov Match (Candidates quarterfinal, Vancouver), 1971
 #11    Mikhail Tal      2869 performance: 20/28 (71%) vs 2716   Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade (Candidates), 1959
 #12    Alexander Alekhine      2865 performance: 13/14 (93%) vs 2626   San Remo, 1930
 #13    Garry Kasparov      2863 performance: 10/13 (77%) vs 2737   Linares, 1993
 #14    Mikhail Botvinnik      2862 performance: 13/21 (62%) vs 2796   Botvinnik-Tal II (World Championship, Moscow), 1961
 #15    Alexander Alekhine      2859 performance: 19.5/24 (81%) vs 2644   Bled, 1931
 #16    Garry Kasparov      2856 performance: 11.5/15 (77%) vs 2715   Belfort (World Cup), 1988
 #17    Garry Kasparov      2855 performance: 10/13 (77%) vs 2728   Linares, 1992
 #18    Emanuel Lasker      2853 performance: 11.5/16 (72%) vs 2738   St. Petersburg, 1914
 #19    Siegbert Tarrasch      2853 performance: 7.5/8 (94%) vs 2689   Tarrasch-Walbrodt Match (Nuremberg), 1894
 #20    Garry Kasparov      2851 performance: 9/12 (75%) vs 2744   Amsterdam (Optiebeurs), 1988
 #21    Anatoly Karpov      2851 performance: 11.5/24 (48%) vs 2877   Karpov-Kasparov V (World Championship, Lyon/New York), 1990
 #22    Garry Kasparov      2850 performance: 9.5/11 (86%) vs 2682   Belgrade (Investbank), 1989
 #23    Bobby Fischer      2850 performance: 18.5/23 (80%) vs 2643   Palma de Mallorca (Interzonal), 1970
 #24    Mikhail Botvinnik      2850 performance: 14/20 (70%) vs 2729   The Hague/Moscow (World Championship), 1948
 #25    Siegbert Tarrasch      2846 performance: 29/39 (74%) vs 2650   Vienna, 1898
 #26    Garry Kasparov      2845 performance: 8.5/11 (77%) vs 2733   Linares, 1997
 #27    Johannes Zukertort      2844 performance: 22.5/29 (78%) vs 2641   London, 1883
 #28    Alexander Alekhine      2844 performance: 15.5/25 (62%) vs 2764   Alekhine-Euwe III (World Championship, NED), 1937
 #29    Garry Kasparov      2842 performance: 13/24 (54%) vs 2822   Karpov-Kasparov II (World Championship, Moscow), 1985
 #30    Garry Kasparov      2840 performance: 10.5/18 (58%) vs 2807   Anand-Kasparov Match (PCA World Championship, New York), 1995
 #31    Garry Kasparov      2840 performance: 11/14 (79%) vs 2691   Niksic, 1983
 #32    Gata Kamsky      2837 performance: 5.5/7 (79%) vs 2775   Kamsky-Salov Match (FIDE Candidates final, Sanghi Nagar), 1995
 #33    Vassily Ivanchuk      2837 performance: 9.5/13 (73%) vs 2732   Linares, 1991
 #34    Anatoly Karpov      2837 performance: 12/24 (50%) vs 2847   Karpov-Kasparov IV (World Championship, Sevilla), 1987
 #35    Géza Maróczy      2837 performance: 16.5/22 (75%) vs 2671   Ostend, 1905
 #36    Alexander Alekhine      2836 performance: 18.5/34 (54%) vs 2798   Alekhine-Capablanca Match (World Championship, Buenos Aires), 1927
 #37    Paul Keres      2836 performance: 18.5/28 (66%) vs 2719   Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade (Candidates), 1959
 #38    Garry Kasparov      2836 performance: 10/13 (77%) vs 2705   Wijk aan Zee (Hoogovens), 1999
 #39    Garry Kasparov      2834 performance: 8.5/10 (85%) vs 2684   Manila ol (Men), 1992
 #40    Anatoly Karpov      2833 performance: 10.5/14 (75%) vs 2707   Tilburg, 1988
 #41    Emanuel Lasker      2833 performance: 11.5/14 (82%) vs 2660   Paris, 1900
 #42    José Capablanca      2833 performance: 6/6 (100%) vs 2682   New York, 1918
 #43    Garry Kasparov      2832 performance: 12.5/24 (52%) vs 2827   Karpov-Kasparov V (World Championship, Lyon/New York), 1990
 #44    Alexander Kotov      2832 performance: 14.5/18 (81%) vs 2643   Saltsjobaden (Interzonal), 1952
 #45    Garry Kasparov      2831 performance: 12.5/24 (52%) vs 2825   Karpov-Kasparov III (World Championship, London/Leningrad), 1986
 #46    Vassily Ivanchuk      2831 performance: 10/13 (77%) vs 2699   Linares, 1995
 #47    Anatoly Karpov      2831 performance: 11/18 (61%) vs 2777   Karpov-Korchnoi III (World Championship, Merano), 1981
 #48    Bobby Fischer      2830 performance: 10/10 (100%) vs 2588   New York (USA Championship), 1963
 #49    Siegbert Tarrasch      2830 performance: 12/17 (71%) vs 2715   Marshall-Tarrasch Match (Nuremberg), 1905
 #50    Wilhelm Steinitz      2829 performance: 7/7 (100%) vs 2648   Blackburne-Steinitz III (London), 1876
 #51    Tigran Petrosian      2829 performance: 17.5/27 (65%) vs 2723   Curacao (Candidates), 1962
 #52    Garry Kasparov      2829 performance: 10/14 (71%) vs 2725   Tilburg, 1991
 #53    Emanuel Lasker      2829 performance: 11.5/18 (64%) vs 2755   St. Petersburg, 1895
 #54    Emanuel Lasker      2828 performance: 14/18 (78%) vs 2658   New York, 1924
 #55    Wilhelm Steinitz      2828 performance: 12.5/20 (63%) vs 2757   Steinitz-Zukertort II (World Championship, USA), 1886
 #56    José Capablanca      2827 performance: 14/20 (70%) vs 2703   New York, 1927
 #57    Harry Pillsbury      2826 performance: 28/39 (72%) vs 2649   Vienna, 1898
 #58    Viktor Korchnoi      2825 performance: 13.5/17 (79%) vs 2649   Leningrad (Interzonal), 1973
 #59    Paul Keres      2825 performance: 21.5/35 (61%) vs 2732   Curacao (Candidates), 1962
 #60    Garry Kasparov      2825 performance: 8.5/11 (77%) vs 2708   Sarajevo, 2000
 #61    Anatoly Karpov      2825 performance: 11.5/24 (48%) vs 2848   Karpov-Kasparov III (World Championship, London/Leningrad), 1986
 #62    Emanuel Lasker      2825 performance: 11/14 (79%) vs 2673   Nurnberg, 1896
 #63    Vassily Ivanchuk      2824 performance: 7/10 (70%) vs 2763   Novgorod, 1994
 #64    Tigran Petrosian      2824 performance: 8.5/10 (85%) vs 2672   Moscow (Training), 1966
 #65    Anatoly Karpov      2824 performance: 13.5/17 (79%) vs 2647   Leningrad (Interzonal), 1973
 #66    Andrey Sokolov      2824 performance: 6/8 (75%) vs 2759   Sokolov-Vaganian Match (Candidates quarterfinal, Minsk), 1986
 #67    Vassily Smyslov      2824 performance: 18/28 (64%) vs 2719   Zurich (Candidates), 1953
 #68    Garry Kasparov      2822 performance: 8.5/10 (85%) vs 2669   Thessaloniki ol (Men), 1988
 #69    Garry Kasparov      2821 performance: 7/9 (78%) vs 2725   Sarajevo, 1999
 #70    Emanuel Lasker      2821 performance: 9.5/11 (86%) vs 2647   Janowsky-Lasker IV (World Championship, Berlin), 1910
 #71    Anatoly Karpov      2821 performance: 16.5/32 (52%) vs 2806   Karpov-Korchnoi II (World Championship, Baguio City), 1978
 #72    Vassily Ivanchuk      2820 performance: 7.5/10 (75%) vs 2728   Linares, 1989
 #73    Garry Kasparov      2820 performance: 6.5/10 (65%) vs 2789   Las Palmas, 1996
 #74    Garry Kasparov      2820 performance: 9.5/13 (73%) vs 2711   Wijk aan Zee (Corus), 2000
 #75    Viswanathan Anand      2820 performance: 7.5/10 (75%) vs 2727   Frankfurt (Chess Classics), 1997
 #76    Anatoly Karpov      2820 performance: 10.5/15 (70%) vs 2718   Belfort (World Cup), 1988
 #77    Mikhail Botvinnik      2819 performance: 11/13 (85%) vs 2635   Moscow (URS Championship), 1945
 #78    Alexander Alekhine      2819 performance: 15.5/25 (62%) vs 2738   Alekhine-Bogoljubow I (World Championship, GER/NLD), 1929
 #79    Anatoly Karpov      2819 performance: 10.5/14 (75%) vs 2690   Biel, 1992
 #80    José Capablanca      2819 performance: 11/16 (69%) vs 2720   St. Petersburg, 1914
 #81    Akiba Rubinstein      2818 performance: 12.5/16 (78%) vs 2655   St. Petersburg, 1909
 #82    Mikhail Tal      2817 performance: 12/18 (67%) vs 2723   Montreal, 1979
 #83    José Capablanca      2817 performance: 5/5 (100%) vs 2696   Capablanca-Kostic Match (Havana), 1919
 #84    Viktor Korchnoi      2817 performance: 8.5/13 (65%) vs 2758   Korchnoi-Polugaevsky I (Candidates semifinal, Evian), 1977
 #85    Gideon Stċhlberg      2817 performance: 7/8 (88%) vs 2680   Buenos Aires/La Plata, 1947
 #86    Anatoly Karpov      2816 performance: 6.5/9 (72%) vs 2752   Karpov-Timman I (Candidates final, Kuala Lumpur), 1990
 #87    Alexei Shirov      2816 performance: 5.5/9 (61%) vs 2817   Kramnik-Shirov Match (WCC Candidates, Cazorla), 1998
 #88    Emanuel Lasker      2816 performance: 5.5/6 (92%) vs 2703   Lasker-Tarrasch II (Berlin), 1916
 #89    Isaak Boleslavsky      2816 performance: 12/18 (67%) vs 2721   Budapest (Candidates), 1950
 #90    Veselin Topalov      2815 performance: 6.5/10 (65%) vs 2783   Dortmund, 2001
 #91    Viswanathan Anand      2815 performance: 9.5/13 (73%) vs 2706   Wijk aan Zee (Hoogovens), 1999
 #92    Vassily Ivanchuk      2815 performance: 4.5/5 (90%) vs 2741   Ivanchuk-Yudasin Match (Candidates, Riga), 1991
 #93    Emanuel Lasker      2815 performance: 12.5/16 (78%) vs 2651   St. Petersburg, 1909
 #94    Anatoly Karpov      2815 performance: 9.5/11 (86%) vs 2639   Baden-Baden, 1992
 #95    Viktor Korchnoi      2814 performance: 15.5/32 (48%) vs 2822   Karpov-Korchnoi II (World Championship, Baguio City), 1978
 #96    Boris Spassky      2814 performance: 6.5/10 (65%) vs 2781   Korchnoi-Spassky I (Candidates final, Kiev), 1968
 #97    Mikhail Tal      2814 performance: 14/17 (82%) vs 2615   Riga (Interzonal), 1979
 #98    Carl Schlechter      2814 performance: 7.5/10 (75%) vs 2720   Janowsky-Schlechter II (Karlsbad), 1902
 #99    Garry Kasparov      2814 performance: 5.5/6 (92%) vs 2699   Kasparov-Miles Match (Basel), 1986
 #100    David Bronstein      2813 performance: 15/20 (75%) vs 2652   Gothenburg (Interzonal), 1955
NOTE: "Chessmetrics Performance Rating" is a Chessmetrics formula used to estimate the performance level of a player, based solely on the evidence of their results in one event. It only considers games against rated opposition, so the above summary excludes any games against unrated opponents.