chess world champions (men)

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chess world champions (men)

Reign

Player

Country

1 Official world championship dates from 1888

2 Alekhine's death and the reorganization of the sport meant there was no champion 1946–48

3 Unbeaten: defaulted title after refusing to accept ICC rules for championship match

1866–1894

Wilhelm Steinitz1

Austria

1894–1921

Emanuel Lasker

Germany

1921–1927

José Capablanca

Cuba

1927–1935

Alexander Alekhine

France

1935–1937

Max Euwe

Netherlands

1937–19462

Alexander Alekhine

France

1948–1957

Mikhail Botvinnik

Soviet Union

1957–1958

Vassili Smyslov

Soviet Union

1958–1960

Mikhail Botvinnik

Soviet Union

1960–1961

Mikhail Tal

Soviet Union

1961–1963

Mikhail Botvinnik

Soviet Union

1963–1969

Tigran Petrosian

Soviet Union

1969–1972

Boris Spassky

Soviet Union

1972–1975

Bobby Fischer3

USA

1975–1985

Anatoli Karpov

Soviet Union

1985–2000

Gary Kasparov

Russia

2000– 

Vladimir Kramnik

Russia


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