Wang Yue’s Unbeaten Streak
82 games and counting…
by Chessdom.com
Chinese top player and current FIDE Grand Prix leader, Wang Yue, is only weeks away from breaking Mikhail Tal’s record of the longest streak without a lost game. Since 4th March and the first round of Reykjavik Open against FM Bjorn Thorfinnsson (replay here), Wang Yue has remained unbeaten in the next 82 games!
According to our reader Kaleid, this score is equal to Vladimir Kramnik’s series of 82 games in the period January 1999 – July 2000. Mikhail Tal signed the top two records: 86 games in the period July 1972 – April 1973 and 93(!) games between October 1973 – October 1974. It should be added that the great Jose Raul Capablanca was immune from February 1916 until March 1924, but “only” over the course of 63 games.
If he survives the next FIDE Grand Prix, that has just been moved from Doha to Elista, undefeated, Wang Yue would surpass Tal on the all-times list of the “toughest” players. According to the provisional rankings, Wang Yue is presently world’s 9th player with 2750,6 points.
Source: Chessdom.com
Funny how Tal, who is known by anything else but good defense, is the record holder for most consecutive games without a loss. One would expect someone like Petrosian, Kramnik, Leko, Karpov or Andersson to hold that record.