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Rybka for sure.
Adolf Hitler made a profound impact on modern chess.
Arthur Bisguier’s 1954 US Championship set the standard in which all other chess events are measured.
Workers involved in printing and photocopying had the greatest imapct on chess….their service is the greatest
Sounds like something that idiot Burt Lafferti and his twin brother Brenan Niermini would say.
On modern chess, I look at what a chess professional has done for the next generation and not what he/she accomplished in a particular match or reign as World Champion. Thus, I sincerely believe that GM Susan Polgar has (and history will prove this to be true) the most important impact upon chess due to her outstanding work with young players, especially girls, and giving inspiration and motivation to several future master level players, IM’s, GM’s and possibly even world champions.
We must look at the broad picture. Sure, computers can now defeat any grandmaster. The great names of Tal, Fischer (though an insane nutcase in every way but chess), Karpov, Kasparov, etc have all made history and will be remembered in 200 years.
Yet, the question is “the biggest impact…”
It is folly to think that the names of the men I just mentioned have had as positive of an impact upon the next generation of chess players and professionals as the name of POLGAR.
I say this not because I am a fan of GM Susan…I say it because she has dedicated her entire life to our sport and, furthermore, SUCCEEDED in so many ways in helping young people learn about chess.
Just think of the hundreds of schools across America GM Susan has visited. During each visit she may very well have inspired a future champion.
This is what matters. If it weren’t for her tireless dedication to chess, then the entire sport would be different and it would be different in a negative way. She and her sisters have made such an impact upon our sport that logic dictates that, considering the definition of “impact” in this context, GM Susan is by far the person that has had the biggest positive impact upon the chess community.
Thank you GM Polgar. Your name will be known in the history books in the centuries ahead. And, I have no doubt that hundreds of the children you have met, taught, and inspired will make their mark, also.
You are a hero. And you have made the biggest impact in modern chess. Period.
America and the world is a better place due to your tireless work and dedication to chess.
fischer without a doubt. He made chess famous. To the anon saying Susan Polgar, seriously!! She is doing a -lot- of good stuff, but keep it in context :).
given the impact of the Soviet school, maybe Stalin.
“Vinay said…
fischer without a doubt. He made chess famous. To the anon saying Susan Polgar, seriously!! She is doing a -lot- of good stuff, but keep it in context :).”
Fisher never did anything good for others but himself.
The question refers to modern chess… Chess for today and tomorrow.
Fischers chess was yesterday’s news and from what I hear, soon to be dead news. Bobby isn’t doing so well right now.
Susan not only popularizes chess, she makes it fun for all people.
I cannot imagine playing Bobby Fischers last public tirade about 9-11 for my children, but Susan is clearly a classy person who has created only family friendly chess instruction for children. My children love her DVDs.
Susan’s accomplishments came with a price: personal sacrifice, a hard working childhood, and a hard road as a World Champion and USCF Chairperson. She has done all of this for young people and girls, not herself.
If she were to have chess for only herself, she would be out there chasing paychecks at the tournaments not here letting you profane her blog. She does her work for the benefit of young chess playes and you too Vinay!
Blessing you,
Ramsamatman
When it comes to the world of chess, Susan Polgar is better than Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Mother Teresa all rolled into one! All hail Susan Polgar, Empress of Chess!!
Sam Sloan has had more impact than any other player, hands down. Just ask him.
they all made it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I say the biggest impact on chess was from the internet. Ten yrs back, to play chess, you needed to go to a local club (not many of them) and play with a few set of people. Today, you can just logon to ICC or playchess.com and play with anyone all over the world.
Also, the internet makes info / games available online.
3 cheers to the internet…
Robert Fischer hands done. He revolutionized chess in many ways, one of which was trying to win with BLK instead of the norm of the day of playing for the draw. Plus he put chess on the map worldwide and 30 years later people that even hate the man still talk about him. Fischer is also responsible for professional chessplayers of making better wages in their profession.
Ilyumzhinov/Campomannes, negatively.
They have been a total disaster.
I am shocked no one mentioned Botvinnik (besides Susan). After all, he created the training programs/schools that produced (among others) Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. He also beat Tal and Smyslov, plus retained the World Championship title vs Bronstein. And look at his contribution to opening theory! The Semi Slav, Caro, French, Sicilian, Pirc, Nimzo, Grunfeld, Dutch, etc all took a major leap forward due to his contributions.
Botwinnink. His “Algorythm for playing chess” (on which the chess programm ever was developed) impacted the chess of TODAY. Fischer belongs to the day before yesterday.
64 magazine didn’t want to publish his article saying it was a rubbish. But Botwinnik knew better 🙂
Fischer. Period.
Pawned!
Fischer took Botvinnik’s preparation to another level which impacted Karpov/Kasparov until computers played a significant role.
Some tongues firmly stuffed in cheeks in previous replies!
Botvinnik’s ‘Algorithm for playing chess’ was not only unimplemented, it was wrongly conceived.
Certainly the Web [not the Internet on which it depends], ChessBase, PlayChess and the leading chess engines [in which I include all WCCC champions plus a few others] have had a major effect. DEEP BLUE gave the impression that chess was now ‘past tense’ for humans.
As for humans, I focus only on competitive players. Fischer changed the chess-scene then, Kasparov, and the exciting players who ‘go for it’ now.
I don’t like chess much.
The fact that the anons saying susan have to type 500 words to support their choice says something about its validity.
Whoever invented Fritz/Rybka/Genius/ect. have had the biggest impact. They have busted openings, solved endgames, and made anti-cheating measures necessary.
I have to tell the TD where I will be when I take a smoke break because of them.
Ummhhh Susy…It’s you.
That photo;uf so yummy you are.
Claude Shannon?
dear susan,
do you think t’s appropriate to ask this question when bobby fischer is at the hospital ???
all the best
IBM
Dave Sagunsky
Well, if we talk about modern chess in the narrow sense, we have to pay tribute to Nimzowitsch. The difference between modern chess and premodern is that modern players take into account dynamic aspects while assessing static weaknesses. Of course, other players mastered Nimzowitsch‘s approach: Botvinnik (he proved e.g. the correctness of the Winawer Line), Petrosian (exchange sacrifice), and Kasparov (best modern chess). I prefer to honour the founder more than his successors. P.S. I agree with Larsen that the best player of all times is Philidor because he was more ahead of his contemporaries than any other player.
I respect Philidor greatly. However, I respectfully disagree with your assertion (and Larsen) that Philidor was the best of all time due to him being so far ahead of his contemporaries.
Paul Morphy was light years ahead of his contemporaries. He defeated the absolute best Europe had to offer in a stunning fashion. He was far better at “blindfold” chess than Philidor.
Morphy was simply the best ever when compared to those he played against.
Yet, Philidor was great and was far ahead of his contemporaries too. It is just my opinion that Morphy was, and is, the greatest natural chess talent that ever lived.
“gk said…
Ummhhh Susy…It’s you.
That photo;uf so yummy you are.”
Ummm gk,
GM Polgar is not a danish pastry, she is a human being. Please respect her personhood by not calling her “Susy” or “yummy”.
Thanking you,
Krisna
Capablanca, easily.
This comment has been removed by the author.
what time period is modern chess. if it means 19th and 20th centuary then many contributed. I cant think of one person that stands out above the rest.morphy, capablanca,alekhine, steinitz, lasker,botvinik,fischer,karpov,kasparov. these guys all had big impacts. to be honest the modern computer has had the biggest impact because of how it revolutionized the openings. it put emphasis on opening theory which now decides the game.