Chess is hailed as the “Game of Kings” because the most significant chess piece in any chess match is the King. The game has a massive global fan following, i.e., millions of people indulge in chess matches every day in both the offline and online modes.
When it comes to the preferred mode of indulging in chess, chess online is preferred over the orthodox offline form of playing the game due to numerous reasons, including easy accessibility, opportunities to win rewards, etc.
Besides playing chess, individuals also follow major tournaments because they offer them the opportunity to witness some of the best chess players live in action. Here are some of the most legendary chess players who are renowned worldwide thanks to their skills:
Garry Kasparov is deemed the greatest chess player of all time by millions of diehard fans across the globe. The iconic chess player started ruling the world of chess from a very young and tender age. At only 22 years old, Kasparov clinched the title of “World Chess Champion”. He achieved the feat in 1985, and since then, he maintained his #1 position until he officially retired in 2005.
Garry Kasparov’s journey of becoming a chess prodigy started when he was only 10 years old. He was a student at Mikhail Botvinnik’s school of chess, where he learned all about the game. He participated in a chess tournament accidentally in 1978 and won. Kasparov has won many prestigious chess titles throughout his very successful career, which is what makes him one of the, if not the best, chess players of all time.
Any individual who follows chess or even has some basic idea about the game knows the name of Magnus Carlsen. Like Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen has had a highly successful career in chess. Throughout his professional career, Carlsen has won many titles. For starters, he clinched the title of a chess grandmaster in 2014, when he was only 13 years old. In 2010, he became the world’s best player, as per the FIDE rankings chart.
In 2013, Magnus Carlsen dethroned Viswanathan Anand, the reigning world champion, to clinch the title of World Chess Champion. In May 2014, he achieved one of the greatest feats in his career, i.e., he reached a peak rating of 2882. One of the most admirable things about Carlsen as a chess player is that he seems to have no blind spots or weaknesses, which is why opponents are always afraid of him during matches.
Jose Raul Capablanca is considered by many as the greatest blitz chess player of all time. The chess prodigy began playing chess when he was merely 4 years old. One of his first achievements was defeating the Cuban chess champion at the tender age of 13. When he turned 18, he gifted himself by winning against the US chess champion Frank Marshall with a demolishing score of 15-8.
In 1921, Capablanca defeated Lasker and clinched the title of World Chess Championship. After defeating Lasker, he defended his newly-acquired title for 6 years. In 1922, he surprised his fans by displaying an exceptional performance when playing against 13 simultaneously. The legendary player retired in 1931, but his achievements still inspire aspiring chess players worldwide.
When talking about legendary chess players, it is impossible not to mention the name of the Indian chess prodigy Vishwanathan Anand. The legendary chess player held the title of World Chess Champion for six consecutive years (2007 to 2013). During his reign as the best player, no other player could come close to his records and achievements. Vishy Anand has clinched every possible chess title a professional player can hope to win.
The legendary chess player boasts of an excellent FIDE rating of approximately 2800, which is why he is still considered to be one of the greatest professional chess players. In December 2017, he clinched the trophy for the Rapid World Chess Championships. Another exceptional achievement of Vishy Anand, which sets him apart from all other players, is that he became India’s first-ever grandmaster when he was only 18 years old.
Alexander Alekhine is another prominent name in the list of the world’s most legendary chess players. He was the fourth individual to clinch the title of world champion. He defended the prestigious title for 19 years, i.e., from 1935 to 1937. He was deemed the master of all trades in all areas of chess. However, he was feared among his opponents for his brilliant combinational play in difficult or complex positions. One of his career’s most significant achievements is that he defeated Jose Raul Capablanca in 1927 to clinch the title of World Champion.
Besides being a great player, he has also contributed to the world of chess by stating the game’s principles can be broken down if an individual has accurate analytical data of specific positions. When he was still the World Champion, he passed away in 1946. His career is an inspiration to all aspiring chess players, even today.
Over the years, many chess players have come and gone, but the ones mentioned above have managed to cement their names in the history books as some of the best chess players of all time. Each of the aforementioned players’ journeys is very inspiring, which is why they are still deemed icons among chess fans.