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1. Capablanca
2. Kasparov
3. Fischer
1. Alekhine
2. Kasparov
3. Fischer
4. Botvinnik
OOOO! OOOO! OOOO! Me first! 🙂
This is such a baited question, I almost think I shouldn’t dare try to give an answer…
Most, if not all of the listed players would be deserving of the distinction. However, three stand out more than the others:
Lasker – Held the title for 27 years, the longest so far, won a number of strong tournaments while champion, and successfully defended his title many times against several of the world’s top players of his era (Steinitz, Marshall, Tarrasch, Schlechter, Janowski).
Capablanca – Although his reign as champion was rather brief, his record of consecutive wins in professional chess showed he was clearly one of the best ever. What is even more amazing was his apparent lack of study or preparation, and yet seemed to win almost effortlessly. Perhaps he underestimated Alekhine, and Alekhine OVER-estimated Capablanca, but Alekhine was right to be afraid of a rematch with him. I personally feel that if a rematch occirred that Capablanca would have changed his tune and would have prepared for Alekhine and crushed him. He would have likely kept the title until his death.
Kasparov – arguably the best chess player, EVER. Although his reign as World Champion was shorter than Lasker, his utter domination of professional chess for the last twenty years indicates that he is also one of the most deserving for this recognition. And most think that he still has a number of great competative years within him and that he should have not retired.
That is my story and I am sticking with it! 😛
Regards,
Bill
Fischer
Kasparov
Capablanca
Karpov
Lasker
Botvinnik
Morphy
Alekhine
Steinitz
Fischer took on the whole Soviet Union and all of its greatest chess minds.
His invention of Random Chess also contributes to the legacy of chess.
Write in?? Laszlo Polgar
Topalov!
Steinitz.
#1 Kasparov
#2 Fischer
#3 Capablanca & Alekhine
This is a tough call
Kasparov for #1 coz he has maintained his supremacy in times when all and sundry theoritical lines in game have been analysed very Eruditely.
Close call on the rest 3 .but these are the players whose games I follow closely hence them
from playing style perspective My other fav are Smyslov,Portish & Keres.
But World Champ Truely Kaspy is the Best
Capablanca
Fischer
Kasparov
Alekhine
Morphy
Kasparov for how long he dominated at such an amazing level and for how much he has given back to chess.
The most brillant chess player could be Fisher or Morphy, but neither deserve the title of greatest.
Capablanca was the greatest. Imense talent and quick thinking.
Kasparov is the best ever. Like Ali, Pele, Schumacher, Gretzky he is the pinnacle of his sport.
Pele was great but not #1. That was PUSKAS!!!
(I did witness Pele make one of his patented bicycle kicks in NJ though)
A tie between Fischer and Kasparov.
1. Kasparov
2. Fischer
3. Capablaca
4. Alekhine.
MY CHOICE:
NUMBER ONE:GARRY KASPAROV
INCREDIBLE PLAYER
NUMBER TWO:BOTVINNIK
COMPLETE PLAYER
NUMBER THREE:BOBBY FISCHER
MARVELOUS PLAYER
statistics list the best players ever as 1. Kasparov, 1993 2. Fischer 1973, 3. Capablanca, 1921, 4. Lasker, 1896, 5. Botvinnik, 1948. – chessmetrics.com
I have been influenced most by the 7th greatest ever, however, Karpov.
Who is the Greatest World Champion ever?” ?
Capablanca, Fischer, Kasparov.
1)Capablanca, the specialist in dividing a problem in miniproblems: unmensurable talent, logic, strategy.
2)Fischer, the guy against the soviet system: willing to win from the firt move, first chess professional in aptitude, sharps openings to break down his opponents, never give up.
3)Kasparov, talent for the initiative: profesionalism, energy, willing, investigation.
I truly think Capablanca is the greatest
It depends…There is a difference between the greatest world champion and the greatest player. Perhaps Fischer was the greatest player, but he was not a good champion–among the worst. I don’t know who the best champion would’ve been…I suppose we would need to define which championship category in this case, and also whether doing things after being champion counts on a person’s champion credit…Then perhaps you (Susan Polgar) would be a candidate, hehe. As far as men go, Kasparov’s done a lot for chess…One could say Fischer has too, popularity-wise, but other things, and his failure to defend his title, diminish that aspect…
Lasker played so well for so long. Let us not forget that his strong 3rd place at Moscow 1935 was 14 years after he lost the World Championship title. And he was 67 years old! When one considers the general health conditions and the average life expectancy of 70 years ago, his chess longevity is particularly amazing. And Steinitz is right up there too. I’m less impressed by Fischer or Morphy who take their fame, and partly through absence, create a legend.
Best, HistoryTeaches
I think if you took a poll, Kasparov, Fischer, or Capablanca would be number one for 95% of respondents. Lasker, Botvinnik, Alekhine, and Karpov were huge, enormous chess players, but there was something about those three that was just scary.
If chess is an art, Alekhine. If chess is a science, Capablanca. If chess is a struggle, Lasker. – Saviely Tartakower (on who was the greatest chess player)
I’d say Kasparov for his domination of modern chess, looking at the way computers has raised the standard of chess. Kasparov had worthy opposition, and the strenght at which he played among them are worthy of much note.
Fisher may have been a brilliant chessplayer, but his behaviour and attituse does not make him a good chessPERSON.
I agree with Bill Kargel.
1. Kasparov
2. tie – Lasker and Capablanca
* Fischer
What is scary is how closely I echo his sentiments.
* Although Fischer did take on the Soviet block single-handedly and win the world chess title, and thus should be noted for his achievement, he did relinquish the title shortly after winning it without a single title defense, and thus does not deserve the title of “Greatest World Champion,” by default. Perhaps Fischer deserves the title: “World Chess Champion Who Overcame the Longest Odds, and Did the Most to Popularize Chess”
Footnotes:
i. As noted, Kasparov voluntarily retired while still no.1, something Lasker did not do, thus his slightly shorter reign.
Numero Uno is Paul Morphy. Alexander Alekhine is right there being the first to regain the championship.
And Garry Kasparov; he defeated the best AND their computers, and he kept playing in tournaments while defending the title time-to-time.
Susan Polgar deserves a top spot in this elite area for her hard work and just great chess at not only the World level, but Olympiads too. VERY very impressive
1. Kasparov
2. Fischer
3. Capablanca
4. Lasker
5. Morphy
6. Karpov
7. Steinitz
8. Alekhine
9. Botvinnik
Noone seems to comprehend that in turns of pure talent Fischer was a class above any other player who has ever lived. This was developed to the nth degree through obsessive work.