World Chess Champions
List of all World Chess Champions
Below is a list of all World Chess Champions since 1886. We list the names of the
chess champions, what year(s) they were champion, and what country they came
from.
As you can see, the Soviet Union/Russia has by far created the most chess
champions. Although we list Wilhelm Steinitz as Austrian, you may also consider
him American as he lived in New York in his latter years. It's also interesting to note that
Garry Kasparow kept the title longer than anyone else.
Wilhelm Steinitz
1886 - 1894
Austria
Emanuel Lasker
1894 - 1921
Germany
José Raúl Capablanca
1921 - 1927
Cuba
Alexander Alekhine
1927 - 1946
France
Max Euwe
1935 - 1937
Netherlands
Mikhail Botvinnik
1948 - 1963
Soviet Union
Vasily Smyslov
1957 - 1958
Soviet Union
Mikhail Tal
1960 - 1961
Soviet Union
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Tigran Petrosian
1963 - 1969
United States
Boris Spassky
1969 - 1972
Soviet Union
Bobby Fischer
1972 - 1975
Soviet Union
Anatoly Karpov
1975 - 1985
Russia
Garry Kasparov
1985 - 2000
Russia
Vladimir Kramnik
2000 - 2007
Russia
Viswanathan Anand
2007 - 2013
India
Magnus Carlsen
2013 - TBD
Norway
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NOTE: This is Research Maniacs' perception of past World Chess Champions.
For example, we think Vladimir Kramnik was the champion in 2002, but some may
argue that Viswanathan Anand was the world champion back then.
We don't think Anand was the world champion and best chess player until 2007.
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