Chess legends who shaped the game

An Italian player who travelled to France, England and Spain, Greco wrote down short, sparkling games full of traps and attacks. His collection was copied and printed for centuries and taught generations how to attack a king that stays in the centre.

Philidor was the strongest player of the 18th century and a celebrated opera composer. His book Analyse du jeu des Échecs (1749) argued that pawns are the key to every position — an idea centuries ahead of its time.

The leading English player of the 1840s, Staunton won a famous match against France’s Saint-Amant in 1843, organised the first international tournament in London in 1851 and gave his name to the standard design of chess pieces.

A German mathematics teacher, Anderssen won the first international tournament in London in 1851 and played two of the most famous games in history — the “Immortal Game” and the “Evergreen Game” — full of breathtaking sacrifices.

A genius from New Orleans who, in 1857–59, beat every leading player he faced in America and Europe — then walked away from serious chess. His games show how rapid development and open lines destroy an unprepared opponent.

The first great Russian player, Chigorin twice challenged Steinitz for the world title. His dynamic, fighting chess and love of piece play inspired the Soviet school that later dominated the game.

Around 1912 Rubinstein was arguably the strongest player in the world, winning one major tournament after another. A title match with Lasker was planned but never happened. His rook endgames and opening ideas are still studied everywhere.

Author of My System (1925), one of the most influential chess books ever written. Nimzowitsch taught that the centre can be controlled from a distance, and introduced ideas such as prophylaxis, blockade and overprotection.

Keres won the great AVRO 1938 tournament ahead of world champions and challengers, and finished second in four consecutive Candidates tournaments. He is often called the strongest player never to play a world championship match.

Bronstein came within a whisker of the world title in 1951, drawing his match with Botvinnik 12–12. A highly imaginative player and author, he wrote one of the most loved tournament books ever, about Zürich 1953.

A fierce fighter who played two world championship matches against Karpov (1978 and 1981) and remained a top player into his seventies. Korchnoi is one of the greatest defenders and counter-attackers in chess history.

One of the most creative and knowledgeable players of the last forty years, Ivanchuk has beaten every world champion of his era, reached the 2002 FIDE championship final and won the 2016 World Rapid Championship.

Topalov won the FIDE world championship tournament in San Luis in 2005, was ranked world number one and played two title matches — against Kramnik in 2006 and Anand in 2010. He is famous for exchange sacrifices and uncompromising play.

Menchik won the first Women’s World Championship in 1927 and held it until her death in 1944. She also competed in men’s tournaments and beat several famous grandmasters, including Max Euwe.

Women’s world champion from 1962 to 1978 and the first woman to be awarded the full grandmaster title, in 1978. She made Georgia a powerhouse of women’s chess.

Chiburdanidze beat Gaprindashvili in 1978 to become women’s world champion at 17, and held the title until 1991. She became the second woman to earn the grandmaster title.

Polgár became a grandmaster at 15, breaking Bobby Fischer’s age record, and rose to number eight in the world. She chose to compete only against the overall elite and beat many world champions, including Kasparov in 2002.

Hou Yifan won the women’s world title at 16 in 2010 — the youngest ever — and won it four times in total. She combines top-level chess with an academic career as a university professor.

Women’s world champion since 2018, Ju Wenjun has defended her title in several matches, most recently in 2025. She is known for solid preparation and excellent nerves in long matches, and faces India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu in her next title defence.

Humpy became a grandmaster at 15 and was the second woman ever to pass a 2600 rating. She has won the Women’s World Rapid Championship twice (2019 and 2024) and remains one of the world’s top women players.

Divya Deshmukh won the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup, beating Koneru Humpy in the final, and earned the grandmaster title with that victory. She is one of the brightest young talents in the game.

Five-time US champion, one of the best blitz and bullet players ever, and the most popular chess streamer in the world. Nakamura has been ranked world number two in classical chess and reached a peak rating of 2816.

Caruana challenged Magnus Carlsen for the title in 2018 — all twelve classical games were drawn — and is famous for one of the greatest tournament performances ever: 7/7 at the start of the 2014 Sinquefield Cup.

Praggnanandhaa became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the 2023 World Cup final, where he lost to Magnus Carlsen only in tiebreaks. He and his sister Vaishali are the first brother and sister to both become grandmasters.