Best Chess Players of All Time
Who are the greatest chess players of all time? Explore the leading chess players in Sport Ranking’s historical Chess ranking, based on results from major international competitions across different eras.
Greatest Men’s Chess Players
Chess Open
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen | Norway | 577 |
| 2 | Garry Kasparov | Russia | 500 |
| 3 | Anatoly Karpov | Russia | 445 |
| 4 | Viswanathan Anand | India | 406 |
| 5 | Vladimir Kramnik | Russia | 239 |
| 6 | Viktor Korchnoi | Switzerland | 170 |
| 7 | Robert James Fischer | United States | 150 |
| 8 | Emanuel Lasker | Germany | 149 |
| 8 | Mikhail Botvinnik | Soviet Union | 149 |
| 10 | Alexander Alekhine | France | 146 |
Greatest Women’s Chess Players
Chess Women
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judit Polgár | Hungary | 364 |
| 2 | Hou Yifan | China | 355 |
| 3 | Maia Chiburdanidze | Georgia | 268 |
| 4 | Nona Gaprindashvili | Soviet Union | 242 |
| 5 | Ju Wenjun | China | 202 |
| 6 | Vera Menchik | Czechoslovakia | 174 |
| 7 | Zsuzsa Polgar | Hungary | 161 |
| 8 | Humpy Koneru | India | 154 |
| 9 | Xie Jun | China | 153 |
| 10 | Elisaveta Bykova | Soviet Union | 90 |
How the All-Time Ranking Works
The historical ranking is based primarily on the World Championship, Candidates Tournament and historical Elo rankings. Major international events and the strongest tournaments of each era are also included to ensure historical comparability. Classical chess carries the greatest weight, while rapid and blitz competitions receive a lower point value.
Learn more about Chess scoring →