The youngest world chess champion. Great chess players of the world

The first world chess champion was determined in the official match between Steinitz and Zukertort from January 11 to March 29, 1886 in three US cities (New York, St. Louis, New Orleans). Steinitz won this match with a score of +10 – 5 = 5 and was declared world champion.

Wilhelm Steinitz - Austrian and American chess player, the first official world chess champion (1886-1894). At the turn of the 1860s-1870s, having already received recognition as the strongest player of his time after winning a match against Adolf Andersen, Steinitz developed the doctrine of positional play, which replaced the dominant “romantic” combination school and significantly enriched chess.

Johann Hermann Zukertort is one of the strongest chess players in the world of the 2nd half of the 19th century, a contender for the world championship. Chess journalist, together with Adolf Andersen, founder of the Chess Monthly magazine.

The match began on January 11, 1886, at Cartier Hall, Fifth Avenue, in New York, and ended on January 20, when Zukertort scored 4 victories in a row after losing the first game. The match was resumed on February 3 in St. Louis. The judges were Ben R. Foster for Steinitz and William Duncan for Zukertort. The St. Louis match ended on February 10 after Steinitz had scored 3 wins and a draw.

After resting for almost 2 weeks, the match resumed in New Orleans on February 26. But carnival events led to the suspension of the match for several days. After the draw, Steinitz took the lead with two victories. Zukertort in the next 5 games: won 1, 3 ended in a draw and 1 loss. Steinitz then won the last 3 games, becoming the first official world champion, on March 29, 1886, the match ended with the final score (+10 -5 =5).

Let's look at the final 20 game of the match for the title of the first world chess champion between Steinitz and Zukertort in 1886.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 played out (diagram 1). 3...ef 4.d4 d5 5.ed Qh4+ 6.Kre2 Qe7+ (gave black nothing 6...Bg4+ 7.Nf3) 7.Kрf2 Qh4+ 8.g3 fg+ 9.Kрg2 N:d4(9...gh? 10.R:h2 Q:d4 11.dc Q:d1 12.K:d1 bc and White has a piece for three pawns and the opportunity to place his pieces more actively).

10.hg Qg4 11.Qe1+ Be7 12.Bd3 Nf5 13.Nf3 Bd7 14.Bf4 f6 15.Ne4 Ngh6 16.B:h6 N:h6 17.R:h6! an unexpected combination after which Black loses his queen or is left without a piece.17...gh 18.K:f6+ Kрf8 19.K:g4 and blacks admitted defeat.

Chess is one of the most favorite sports among intellectuals. "K" has prepared a rating of the best chess champions.

Alexander Alekhine- the first Russian world chess champion, is the 4th world chess champion in history. He received the title of world champion in 1927 in Buenos Aires, beating Jose Raul Capablanca. Out of 112 competitions, Alexander Alekhine won 81.

Anatoly Karpov- Twelfth world chess champion. In 1975 he was declared world champion after refusing American chess player Robert Fischer in the fight for the “chess crown”.

Garry Kasparov- thirteenth world chess champion. In 1985, the chess player won against Karpov with a score of 13:11 and received the title of best chess player.

Vladimir Kramnik- fourteenth world chess champion. In 2000, Garry Kasparov won. In 2004, the chess player defeated Peter Leko, in 2006 - Veselin Topalov, twice confirming the title of the best chess player.

Magnus Carlsen- sixteenth world champion. He won the world title in 2013, beating Viswanathan Anand. On at the moment the chess player remains the first and only champion in three categories: classical, blitz and rapid.

Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (1892–1946) - fourth world chess champion.

Born in Moscow in the family of the leader of the Voronezh nobility and the daughter of a textile manufacturer, owner of the Trekhgornaya Manufactory. At the age of seven, his mother introduced him to chess, but he began to seriously study the ancient game only at the age of twelve. At sixteen, Alekhine became the champion of Moscow, and at seventeen he received the title “Maestro”.

In 1914, having received the rank of titular councilor, Alekhine left for Mannheim for a chess tournament, but the first world war and he, along with other chess players, is sent to a German prison. After some time, local doctors declare him unfit for military service and release him.

For several years after this, the maestro, touring the country and conducting sessions of simultaneous blind play on several boards, transferred most of the fee to the fund for supporting chess players who remained in German captivity. In 1916, Alekhine volunteered to go to the front, where he received two shell shocks, two St. George medals and the Order of St. Stanislaus.

In 1917 after October Revolution Alekhine was stripped of his rank and fortune, and in 1919 he was sentenced to death as a counter-revolutionary spy. Only the intervention of a certain high-ranking official saved him. Later he had to work in the provincial executive committee in Odessa, in the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department, and as a translator at the Comintern (since he was fluent in several foreign languages).

In 1920, Alekhine took first place in the All-Russian Olympiad in Moscow, and in 1921 he and his Swiss wife left for Europe in order to raise money for the prize fund of the match for the chess crown. Despite the fact that Lasker was the champion at that time, Alekhine began to thoroughly prepare for the match with Capablanca, predicting his victory over the current champion. Having held a large number of successful tournaments, setting a world record for the number of simultaneous blind games (27 in 1925), he finds the necessary $15,000 and agrees to hold the match in Buenos Aires.

In 1927, the long-awaited match took place, during preparation for which Alekhine carefully analyzed all the opponent’s games and found them weak points and realized that I was ready to compete for the title of the strongest chess player. The efforts expended were not in vain: Capablanca lost, and Alekhine became the new chess king.

Over the next few years, Alekhine took part in ten international tournaments and did not lose a single one. And the most impressive is considered to be the 1930 tournament in San Remo, in which such chess luminaries as Nimzowitsch, Widmar, Maroczy, Bogolyubov and Rubinstein took part. Alekhine won 13 games out of 15 and drew two. His lead over second-place Nimzowitsch was as much as three points.

In 1935, Alekhine experienced a severe crisis. Perhaps that is why he loses the championship title to the Dutchman Max Euwe. But two years later, in a rematch, he regains his title.

A few years later, Botvinnik laid claim to the chess crown. Alekhine begins intensive preparations for the upcoming match, but in 1946 he suddenly dies at home, sitting at the chessboard. The cause of death was never established. He died an undefeated champion.

Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik (1911–1995) - sixth world chess champion.

He was born in the Finnish city of Kuokkala, but lived his entire adult life in the Soviet Union. He started playing chess quite late - at the age of 12, but at 14 he became famous, defeating Capablanca himself in a simultaneous game. Having won the USSR tournament in 1931, Botvinnik was recognized as the country's strongest chess player. This was followed by a series of very successful performances, where he took first places: the Leningrad International Tournament in 1934, the Moscow 2nd International in 1935, the Nottingham International in 1936, as well as the USSR Championships in 1941, 43, 44 m and 45 years.

Bright and strong victories Botvinnik was convinced by the world chess community that the Soviet genius was ready to challenge Alekhine for the championship title. But the current chess king suddenly died in 1946. Botvinnik begins to prepare for the world championship match.

In 1948, this match finally took place in The Hague. Botvinnik wins a brilliant victory, breaking away from his nearest opponent by three points, and receives the chess crown. The Soviet chess player is at the peak of his athletic form at this time. His playing is always distinguished not only by deep thought and careful preparation, but also by strong psychological impact on the opponent. Botvinnik, being a very firm person who did not tolerate objections, treated each game as last fight. In every opponent he saw an irreconcilable enemy whom he must destroy. This approach gave good results, and therefore became popular among young chess players in the country.

Three years later, Botvinnik plays in the match for the championship title with Bronstein and emerges victorious. In 1957 he cedes the crown to Smyslov, but after careful preparation brings her back a year later in a rematch. Three years later, Botvinnik again lost the championship title, this time to Tal, and again regained it in a rematch. By 1963, FIDE canceled rematches and, having lost the championship title to Petrosian, Botvinnik was never able to regain it.

The great chess player performed very successfully in tournaments for many years. He wrote a huge number of works on the strategy and tactics of the chess game. He was involved in the development of chess programs. Botvinnik was always an ardent communist and patriot, favored by the government. Over the years he was awarded such orders as the Badge of Honor, Lenin, Red Banner of Labor, and the October Revolution.

During his life, Botvinnik played 916 games in official competitions, of which:
- won - 420
- lost - 112
- draws - 384

Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov (1921) - seventh world chess champion.

At the age of six, he was introduced to chess by his father Vasily Osipovich, a first-category chess player. And at seventeen, Smyslov took 1st place in the all-Union tournament and shared 1–2 places at the Moscow championship.

Then he successfully competes in tournaments for several more years. Having taken 2nd place in the world championship candidates match in 1948, Smyslova is recognized as one of the strongest chess players on the planet.

In 1953 he won the next candidates match, and in 1954 he met with Botvinnik, but the tournament ended in a draw. In 1956 there was another candidate match and again he became the winner. Smyslov emerges from another battle with the chess king in 1957 and the 36-year-old chess player receives world fame and the title of seventh world champion.

Unfortunately, Vasily Vasilyevich did not stay in this rank for long. A year later, a rematch took place in which Botvinnik regained the chess crown.

After this, Smyslov continued to participate in tournaments for many years, taking prizes. As a member of the USSR team, he became the champion of ten chess Olympiads, five European team championships, and the world team championship. At the age of 70, he shared 1–2 places in the World Championships in Bad Worishofen.

In addition to playing chess, Smyslov was interested in singing. He successfully passed the first round in Bolshoi Theater in vocal class, making a strong impression on admissions committee with his magnificent baritone. Unfortunately, it was not possible to get to the second round due to the next chess championship. Nevertheless, Vasily Vasilyevich did not give up his hobby and during chess tours in New York and Amsterdam gave solo concerts, which enjoyed great success.

Smyslov wrote several books on chess, including the theory of openings and endgames: “A Guide for Beginning Chess Players” (1951), “In Search of Harmony” (1979), “The Theory of Rook Endgames” (1985), “Chronicle of Chess Creativity” ( 1993) and My Etudes (2001).

In 1988, the Italian Chess Association established a prize named after the outstanding chess player of the 17th century, Gioachino Greco. The first laureate of this prize was Vasily Vasilievich Smyslov.

In tournaments from 1936 to 2001, Smyslov played 2,656 games. Of these:

· won - 919

lost - 294

· draw - 1442

Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal (1936–1992) - eighth world chess champion.

He was called a genius even in childhood, because not every child at seven years old can multiply three-digit numbers in his head and repeat word for word the lectures on medicine given by his father. At ten, Mikhail became interested in chess, and at seventeen he became the champion of the Latvian SSR.

Excellent mathematical abilities, speed and accuracy of calculating options for moves and the ability to take risks quickly yielded results. At twenty-one, Tal takes first place in the 24th USSR Championship and becomes the national champion. A year later, in the 25th championship, he again becomes the winner. A year later, he wins the international tournament in Zurich and the Candidates Tournament in Yugoslavia, which gives him the right to challenge Botvinnik for the title of chess king.

In 1961, Tal won the match of champions against Maitre with a score of 6:2 and, at the age of 25, became the eighth and youngest world champion in the history of chess.

Tal, bright and aggressive at the chessboard, was a soft and delicate person in life. He came to the rematch with Botvinnik sick, as he could not ask the famous grandmaster to reschedule the game. The result was a loss and the loss of the championship crown.

After these events, Mikhail Nekhemievich’s health deteriorated greatly. Most of his subsequent losses were due to bad physical condition during tournaments. Nevertheless, he remained an excellent chess player who became the national champion 6 times, won the World Olympiads 8 times as part of the national team, took 1st place in interzonal tournaments in Amsterdam (1964) and Riga (1974), in international tournaments in Tallinn (1971) and Monreale (1979). He won the first official blitz championship in 1988, defeating the current world champion Kasparov and ex-champion Karpov.

For his achievements in the field of chess, Tal received the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1960, and in 1981 the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal, for his talent, tact and sparkling sense of humor, has always enjoyed great popularity among the people. His witty articles, reports, interviews and comments on chess games left no one indifferent. Even in my youth, while working school teacher, he watched two students play a chess game during recess. After which an entry appeared in the diary of one of them: “I didn’t notice checkmate in four moves.”

Tal played 2397 games from 1953 to 1992, of which:

· won - 940

· lost - 259

· draws - 1198

Tigran Vartanovich Petrosyan (1929 - 1984) - ninth world chess champion.

Armenian by origin, Petrosyan was born in Tbilisi. He began to play chess at the Tbilisi Palace of Pioneers. For the first two years he showed no noticeable aptitude for chess. From 42 to 44, all his close relatives died. Staying with his grandmother, studying and working, young Tigran saved up money for Nimzowitsch’s book “My System in Practice.” Perhaps thanks to this book, perhaps thanks to his blossoming talent, Petrosyan began to do great success, sharing 1–3 places in the All-Union Youth Championships in 1945.

In 1950 he moved to Moscow. First, Petrosyan begins to take prizes in capital tournaments, then - in 1953 - he takes fifth place in the candidates' match. Three more times he took part in matches for the right to fight for the chess crown and only in the fourth (1962) he took first place.

In 1963, Petrosyan met Botvinnik in the championship match and beat him with a score of 5:2. In 1966, Spassky tries to challenge the championship title, but loses with a score of 3:4. And only in 1969 he manages to take the world champion title from Petrosyan.

Tigran Vartanovich has shown excellent results in all subsequent years. He takes first place in the international championship in the USA (1972), in the IBM tournament in Holland (1973), in the international championship in Spain (1973), in the 43rd USSR championship (1975), in the international championship in the USA (1976), in the Keres Memorial (1979), in the international championship in Brazil (1979).

Petrosyan was considered a brilliant defender. His playing style is for many years remained the basis for emulation by students of the Yerevan chess school. His textbook “Chess Lectures” is considered one of the most talented, deep and easy-to-understand textbooks on teaching the ancient game.

Tigran Vartanovich Petrosyan was the founder and editor-in-chief of the magazine “64”. For his chess services, he was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples and the Badge of Honor. And since 1987, All-Union youth team tournaments in memory of Petrosyan began to be held in Moscow.

Boris Vasilievich Spassky (01/30/1937) is the tenth world chess champion.

Spassky was born in the Urals, then moved to Leningrad. Started playing chess at the age of five. At sixteen, he shared 4th–6th places at the international tournament in Bucharest, fulfilling the norm of an international master. At eighteen, he took 1st place at the World Championship in Belgium among chess players under 20 years old. At nineteen, he shared 1–3 places in the 23rd USSR Championship.

At seventeen, Spassky became the youngest grandmaster in the history of chess. He was compared to Lasker because Boris Vasilyevich, like his great predecessor, was not only a universal player, but also an excellent psychologist. He subtly sensed the state and mood of his opponents and tried to play combinations that were most unpleasant for them.

Spassky studied at the Faculty of Journalism of Leningrad University. He combined his studies with constant training and participation in chess tournaments. The results were victories at the 28th and 29th USSR championships (1961), at international tournaments in Holland and Yugoslavia (1964), at the Pyatigorsky Cup in the USA (1966), at an international tournament in Holland (1967).

Having defeated Tal in the final of the candidates' match in 1965, Spassky a year later met Petrosyan in the match for the crown, but lost it with a score of 3:4. In his second attempt in 1969, Spassky won with a score of 6:4 and became the tenth world chess champion.

Three years later, Boris Vasilyevich met Fischer in the championship match. Moreover, the match took place somewhat unusually. At first, Spassky, who was in good shape, won with a score of 2:0. Before the next meeting, the American caused a scandal, and later did not show up for the match at all. Spassky did not boycott the match, but being thrown out of balance, as a result, he lost the championship title.

After the loss, Boris Vasilyevich began to participate in tournaments less. However, he almost always took prizes and was considered for many years one of the strongest players in the world.

Having married a Frenchwoman of Russian origin, Marina Shcherbacheva, in 1976, Spassky soon left for permanent residence to France.

In tournaments from 1953 to 2002, Spassky played 2292 games, of which:

· won - 733

· lost - 219

· draws - 1340

Anatoly Evgenievich Karpov (May 23, 1951) is the twelfth world chess champion.

Born in the Ural city of Zlatoust. His father taught him to play chess. In those years, the whole country was suffering from “chess fever.” Constant chess battles took place in courtyards, schools, and circles. The young talent was noticed and in the first grade he was taken to a chess studio, where at the age of 9 he received the first category, and at 14 he became a master of sports of the USSR.

After school I entered the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at Moscow State University, but after a while I transferred to the Faculty of Economics of Leningrad State University. Karpov perfectly combined studies and chess performances. After several victories in 1971, he was lucky enough to participate in the Alekhine Memorial in Moscow. The opponents were the strongest chess players of that time: ex-world champions Petrosyan, Tal and Smyslov and the current champion - Spassky. Karpov won, sharing 1–2 places with Leonid Stein. Botvinnik, having learned about what had happened, said: “Remember this day. Today a new chess star of the first magnitude has risen!”

Having won the candidates match in 1974, Karpov began to intensively prepare for the game with Fischer. But due to the latter’s intractability, the match never took place and Karpov was officially declared the twelfth chess king. For another two years he negotiated with the American to prove to the whole world that he deserved this title, but, as history has shown, Karpov was not destined to play a single game with his predecessor throughout his life.

Nevertheless, Anatoly Evgenievich performed brilliantly at tournaments, taking first places and proving to everyone that he really deserves the highest chess title. Twice - in 1978 and 1981 - he defended the championship title in matches with Korchnoi. But at this time a new star began to rise on the chess horizon - Garry Kasparov. The championship match between them took place in 1984. At first, Karpov was ahead with a score of 5:0. There was only one point left before victory, and Kasparov suddenly began to win. When the score became 5:3, the match was interrupted without explanation. In 1985, the meeting of the strongest rivals was repeated, and Kasparov became the new champion.

The loss of the crown did not break the brilliant chess player. He continued to participate in tournaments and take prizes. In 1994, he won the strongest tournament in Linares, and in 1998, in the FIDE Championship, he beat Vishy Anand in the final.

Anatoly Evgenievich has always been a favorite of the people and the government - in the late 70s, out of three Mercedes-350s in Moscow, one belonged to Karpov (the other two belonged to Brezhnev and Vysotsky). He was and remains chairman of the Peace Foundation. Leads an active economic and charitable activities. For his contribution to the development of chess sports, charitable programs and friendship between peoples, for organizing assistance to victims in Karpov, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, Lenin, Red Banner of Labor, and Order of Merit, 2nd degree (Ukraine), and in 1982 year with the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Garry Kimovich Kasparov (April 13, 1963) is the thirteenth world chess champion.

His paternal grandfather and uncle, the Weinsteins, were famous composers in Baku. But when a five-year-old child independently solved a chess problem from some magazine, the parents realized that it was necessary to develop chess abilities in the child, not musical ones. Kasparov inherited his chess talent from his mother, who was already beating adults at the age of six.

The boy studied at the Baku Palace of Pioneers. Thanks to the support of his relatives, a nine-year-old boy was able to go to an international youth tournament in France, the existence of which his coach did not even suspect. A year later, Harry went with the national team to the youth games in Vilnius, where he met his future coach Alexander Nikitin. He advised Kasparov to come to Dubna and take the exam at Botvinnik’s school. Harry not only passed the exam, but after some time became the ex-champion's assistant.

In 1979, under the patronage of Botvinnik, Kasparov, whose rating at that time was 2200, took part in the international chess tournament in Banja Luka, where the average rating of the participants was 2487. Harry won it, fulfilling the norm of an international master, and came under the personal tutelage of Heydar Aliyev . A year later he won another international tournament, held in Baku, and became the youngest grandmaster in the history of chess, surpassing even his predecessor Fischer.

In 1984, a world championship match took place between Kasparov and Karpov. At the request of the champion, the match had to continue to 6 points without a game limit. The match began on September 10 and ended on February 15, 1985. At first Karpov won with a score of 5:0, and then began to lose. At the score of 5:3 the match was interrupted. According to the official version, the champion’s deteriorating health was to blame. On September 1, 1985, a repeat match for the chess crown began. The rules were changed: the game was played up to 24 games. On November 10, Kasparov became the thirteenth world champion by winning the match with a score of 13:11. Three more times Kasparov had to prove to Karpov that he was stronger, and each time he succeeded.

Kasparov is called the creator of opening theory. Thanks to his phenomenal memory and deep analysis, he could keep a huge number of opening elaborations in his head. His talent and efficiency, coupled with a completely new approach to preparing for competitions (the chess player must only play, and all other issues - organizational, legal, psychological, medical - are decided by a team of professionals) gave amazing results. Kasparov became the winner of one tournament after another, in 1989 he became the highest-rated chess player (2780), surpassing Fischer himself, in the same year his rating exceeded 2800, and in 1999 he rose to a height that had not yet been achieved by anyone, 2851.

In 1993, Kasparov organized an alternative organization to FIDE, the Professional Chess Association (PSA), disagreeing with the former's policies, including the fact that it receives a percentage of the prize fund of each match. FIDE excluded Kasparov from its rating lists and revoked his title of world champion. Under the auspices of the PSA, the first world championship was held between Kasparov and Short, in which Kasparov won. In 1995, Kasparov beat Anand, and in 2000 he lost the championship title to Kramnik. In 2004, after the PCA ceased its activities, Kasparov took part in the Russian Championship, won it and announced that he was leaving professional chess in order to engage in social and political activities.

Criticizing Putin's rule, Kasparov created and headed the opposition United Civil Front in 2005. He actively participated in the Dissent Marches. In 2007, he began pre-election work in order to run for president from the “Other Russia” coalition. But he was unable to register himself as a candidate, since seven organizations refused to rent the premises for the congress to the initiative group. In 2008, Kasparov became one of the founders of the opposition movement Solidarity.

Garry Kimovich Kasparov won the chess Oscar seventeen times. He wrote several books, including the five-volume book “My Great Predecessors,” in which he talks about all the world champions. Also in 2007, he wrote the book “Chess as a Model of Life,” the rights to which were purchased in 17 countries.

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik (June 25, 1975) is the fourteenth world champion in classical chess from 2000 to 2006 and the absolute champion from 2006 to 2007.

He started playing chess at the age of three. Everyone in Tuapse knew about the brilliant child who, at the age of five, beat experienced players. At thirteen, Vladimir became a master, and at seventeen, a grandmaster.

Chess luminaries noticed him immediately. It was enough for Botvinnik to watch only two games of young Kramnik to enroll him in his school. Kasparov made every effort to ensure that the seventeen-year-old boy was included in the country's Olympic team. The result of 8.5 out of 9 made the chess community respect the young player.

What follows is a series of very strong performances in candidates’ matches, which, unfortunately, do not end in victory. He confirms his place in the chess elite by beating Kasparov in rapid chess at the Kremlin Stars tournament in 1994. In 2000, Kasparov invited Kramnik to fight in a match for the championship title. Kramnik wins with a score of 8.5:6.5 and becomes the new world champion in classical chess.

He decided to take part in the next championship match only in 2004. The meeting with Leko took place in the Swiss city of Brissago. Only in the last game, Kramnik, who was losing, managed to catch up with his opponent. The match ended with a score of 7:7 and the champion retained his title.

In 2006, he became the best on the first board at the Turin Olympics, and in September of the same year, after the unification of chess organizations, he met Topalov in a match for the title of absolute world champion. Unfortunately, representatives of the opponent accused Kramnik of receiving computer tips from someone under the pretext of going to the toilet. No evidence of this accusation was ever forthcoming, but the organizers of the match accommodated the “injured” side by changing some of the tournament rules. As a sign of protest, Kramnik did not show up for the next round, as a result of which he lost a point. Unsettled, Vladimir was nevertheless able to draw the main match, but won the tiebreaker with a score of 2.5:1.5 and became the new absolute world champion.

Only in September 2007 in Mexico City did he lose the chess crown to Vishy Anand, sharing 2–3 places with Gelfand. In the rematch of 2008, Anand remains undefeated.

Vladimir Kramnik received the chess Oscar twice, in 2000 and 2006. Now lives in France. Married to a Frenchwoman, Marie-Lo. In January 2009, his daughter Daria was born.

The average chess player sees 5–10 moves ahead; The elite calculates not only their own actions, but also those of their opponents, and possesses tactical and strategic thinking. But even among them there are unique personalities, for example Magnus Carlsen, the 2017 men's world chess champion.

World Chess Champion 2017 - Magnus Carlsen

His play is amazing, but even more surprising is the speed of development of the young grandmaster's talent. Magnus passed interesting way to the pinnacle of glory.

The best chess player on the planet was born in Norway in 1990. His family for a long time lived in the provincial town of Tensberg. Besides him, the family has three daughters.

Magnus became acquainted with chess at the age of five, and then learned to play. At first it was nothing more than self-indulgence and was not taken seriously. However, my father, a strong first-class student, laid a good foundation for future achievements.

As a result, children's fun gave Carlsen a start in life. Today he is not only the strongest chess player, but also, perhaps, the most media-rich of them all. Almost 100 thousand people follow his Instagram account.

His atypical appearance for a chess player and wild popularity in his homeland allowed Magnus to sign a million-dollar contract with the G-Star clothing brand. His face can be seen on advertising posters and covers fashion magazines. Carlsen worked in the same frame with Liv Tyler, Lee Cole and Gemma Arterton. Once he was even invited to Hollywood, but the US Migration Service refused to issue a visa to the champion.

Magnus happily gives interviews and often visits various TV shows. On the air of the British program Skavlan in 2014, he beat founder of Microsoft. It took Carlsen 11 seconds and 9 moves to checkmate the far from stupid Bill Gates!

In the professional sphere, many note Magnus’s unsurpassed style. He is strong at all stages of the game. Although there is an opinion that Magnus is not good enough at mobilizing forces in the early game.

After Magnus lost the competition in 2011, chess star and youngest grandmaster in history Sergei Karjakin said that his opponent made almost no mistakes and played almost perfectly.

The famous chess player Viktor Korchnoi believed that Magnus Carlsen’s successes were explained not only by tactics and strategy.

“He gets into his opponent’s head, hypnotizes him and practically forces him to make mistakes. His confidence in victory is disarming and makes you nervous,”- said the professional.

Experts also admire the champion’s phenomenal memory. Where most would agree to a draw, Carlsen pulls the game in his favor. It is difficult to suppress: it seems that Magnus has a nervous system of steel.

Note: In 2014, a postage stamp with Carlsen’s image was issued in Norway in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Chess Union.

It is interesting that until the age of eight, Magnus did not experience any particular craving for chess games. He preferred:

• basketball;
• tennis;
• football;
• alpine skiing.

As a youth, Carlsen won prizes in ski jumping competitions. Physical form and his skills allowed him to become a good football player, but he chose chess.

Magnus is an avid fan. In 2013–2014 his favorite team, Real Madrid, invited Carlsen to symbolically put the ball into play at the beginning of the match.

What is his path to the professional league? Despite his passion for football, Magnus did not give up playing chess. Already at the age of eight, he easily beat all family members. The guy got bored, and under the auspices of his parents, he began to develop his talent by participating in local and national competitions.

Very soon he came to international level. Seeing the boy’s success, the school administration released him from classes for a year so that he could participate in maximum quantity tournaments.

After two years, he needed a mentor. First, it was International Master Thorbjörn Hansen. However, pretty soon the coach could no longer teach him anything. Next, Simen Agdestein, a grandmaster and multiple champion of Norway, took on the young talent. By the way, he was a professional football player, which may have brought the coach and student closer together.

This cooperation allowed Magnus to show a decent result at the junior tournament in Spain. For this he received the title “Master” according to the International Chess Federation. At that time, the guy was barely 12 years old. Among chess players they began to call him Little Viking.

In 2003, management Microsoft, seeing the guy’s talent, fully paid for the world tour for Magnus and his family. During this time they had to rent out the house and sell the car.

Overall, the first season for Magnus was successful:

• At the tournament in Denmark, he fulfilled the prestigious IM standard for the third time, scoring 8 out of 10 points during the competition.
• He earned bronze at the junior competition in Montenegro.
• In Greece, his game against Jon Hammer so impressed expert Fred Wilson that he included it in his book " Simple plans attacks."
• Carlsen finished the tournament in Budapest in fourth place.

Interesting: At one of the championships, Magnus met at the same board with his teacher Simen Agdestein. However, Magnus was inferior to him in additional indicators.

Men's World Chess Champion: Magnus Carlsen's sporting achievements

The 2004 season was a turning point in Magnus' career. His brilliant play brought him into the elite of the chess world. The first tournament in the Netherlands ended in victory for Magnus. Having scored a total of 10.5 points out of 13 possible, he added 218 points to his personal Elo rating.

In March, he competed against the best grandmasters at a tournament in Iceland. The guy managed to beat the 12th world champion Anatoly Karpov and end the game in a draw against the legendary Garry Kasparov.

A month later, at a competition in Dubai, the chess prodigy became the second (after Sergei Karjakin) youngest grandmaster of all time. Magnus was then fully thirteen years and four months old. After such a triumph, Carlsen's career began to develop even faster.

At the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2005, the fifteen-year-old chess player took an honorable tenth place. An excellent result considering total quantity participants - 128 people. It is also notable that Magnus was rated below 60% of players.

For the next three years, Carlsen's career was not going well. in the best possible way. His strength of play did not allow him to consistently defeat experienced opponents.

Magnus Carlsen's best results from 2006–2008 the following:

• Victory at the Glitnir Blitz tournament.
• Second place at the tournament in Oslo.
• Silver at tournaments in Spain and the Netherlands.

Professionals noticed significant improvements in Carlsen's playing strength in 2009. At a tournament in China, he won an early victory. The young man repeated the same thing at the London Chess Classic competition. At the end of the year, he became number one in the world rankings.

Many experts say that Magnus owes such significant growth to Garry Kasparov. It is very likely that they were secretly training. Thus, in the game of the Baby Viking, moves characteristic of the legendary champion were noticed. In addition, Carlsen was the first to use the “Scottish game”, which Kasparov often played.

A year later, Magnus confirmed his title as the best, again taking gold at the London tournament, although this time the victory was not so easy for him. He made up for a frankly weak start with a bright finish. Opponents complained: it played into Carlsen’s hands new system accrual of points. If points were calculated using the old method, Magnus would not have risen above third position.

2014 was a particularly successful year for Carlsen. After winning in Switzerland, he increased his maximum Elo score by nine points. Then the strength of Magnus's game surpassed that of the legendary Garry Kasparov in his best years.

At the tournament in United Arab Emirates The young grandmaster won two championship titles at once - in rapid chess and blitz. Less than three months had passed since Magnus confirmed his title as the best, winning an early victory over Viswanathan Anand.

Today Magnus Carlsen is the undisputed leader in chess. As professionals note, he is not just the best among equals, but is head and shoulders above his rivals. Since 2009, he has received the Chess Oscar five times in a row.

However, competitors do not allow Magnus to relax and rest on his laurels. Every year the level of the opponents grows, and they strive to take away the title. Now there is at least one person in the world who can do this - Armenian chess player Levon Aronian.

The guys have already met at the same board several times, and it cannot be said that Magnus dominated. Of course, there were victories, but Levon never gave up without a fight. Thus, Aronian won against the Norwegian for the first time in 2007, beating him in the qualifying match.

Carlsen was also inferior to him in 2009–2012. At the end of 2017, Levon Aronian, having defeated Carlsen in a personal meeting this summer, and also winning the World Cup, received the right to compete for the title of absolute champion.

He will have this opportunity if he wins the qualifying candidates tournament, which will take place in March 2018 in Berlin. If this happens, the outcome of his meeting with the champion is difficult to predict. On the one hand, Levon is stronger than Magnus in blitz, but on the other hand, the Norwegian is much more stable psychologically. It has happened more than once that Aronian “broke” under the pressure of competition.

Most likely, their meeting will still take place. Many chess fans are expecting an unprecedented spectacle from this match. How it will go is unknown, but one thing is certain: it will be very difficult for Magnus to defend the title of the best chess player in the world. May the best man win!

Every few years a new world chess champion appears. We have collected all the champions in one place and made a short description of each.

This article contains a complete list of all world chess champions to date. If the article is not relevant, it means that we have not yet managed to add new information. Please write in the comments. Here is a list for faster navigation:

Title	Who won	Year
1 world chess champion		1886 – 1894
2 world chess champion		1894 -1921
3 world chess champion		1921 – 1927
4 world chess champion		1927 – 1935, 1937 – 1946
5 world chess champion		1935 – 1937
6 world chess champion		1948 – 1957, 1958 – 1960, 1961-1963
7 world chess champion		1957-1958
8 world chess champion		1960-1961
9 world chess champion		1963-1969
10th world chess champion		1969-1972
11th world chess champion		1972-1975
12th world chess champion		1975-1985
13th world chess champion		1985-1993
14th world chess champion		2006 - 2007
15th world chess champion		2007 - 2013
16th world chess champion		2013 - present V.

Chess has been played for over 125 years. During this long time, the conditions of the game changed many times, and sometimes even the game. Therefore, it is quite natural that the criteria for becoming world chess champions also differed in different eras. For example, during Steinitz’s time, tournaments were held simultaneously in several cities. Or, for example, the strongest chess player might not agree to accept a challenge to a chess match from a potential new champion if, in his opinion, the opponent does not yet have enough skills to take over the title.

As for today, the conditions and criteria for including participants in the fight for the championship title have changed in many ways. Various qualifying tournaments are held in several stages, after which the two strongest players meet and compete with each other. Well, now let’s look at the list of world chess champions and short information about each of them about who went through what on the way to the championship.

1 world chess champion

The first chess champion - Wilhelm Steinitz. Place of birth: Prague, year: 1836. Steinitz won this title in 1886, after which he won the game against his main rival, I. Zukertort. Steinitz created a fundamentally new positional game of chess, and also made his own great contribution to the development of this area.

V. Steinitz began playing at the age of twelve, but the young man did not have the opportunity to show his talent. Wilhelm's first success in chess was a victory over his father's constant playing partner, a rabbi revered by many. The future champion began to study chess seriously only after reaching the age of 23 after graduating Polytechnic Institute in Vienna.

2 world chess champion

The second world chess champion was Emanuel Lasker. He was born in Poland in 1868 and won the title of champion in 1894. Lasker was the best player on the entire planet for 27 years. In addition, he is the author of numerous books on chess.

E. Lasker adopted his love for this amazing game from his older brother Berthold Lasker, starting to play at the age of 12. However, the future chess king began to play truly, professionally only during his first year at university. Most strengths The endgame and positional sense were considered a chess player's skill. During his career as a chess player, he repeatedly gave up the game for several years to study philosophy and mathematics.

He became the world champion based on the results of a match that took place over a long period (from mid-March to the end of May) in 1894 in Philadelphia, Montreal and New York, where, after playing 19 games, he defeated the first champion, Steinitz.

3 world chess champion

The third chess champion in the world became Jose Raul Capablanca, born in Cuba in 1888. He won his title by defeating Emanuel Lasker in a match held in 1921. He was often spoken of as an outstanding chess machine, since Capablanca was distinguished by his brilliant chess technique. The third champion learned to play at the age of four simply by watching his father play.

4 world chess champion

The fourth world chess champion was Alexander Alekhine, born in 1892. Alekhine learned the rules of the game and basic moves at the age of seven thanks to his mother and older brother. A. Alekhine was the greatest master of combination and considered chess an art. The chess player achieved his first successes during the St. Petersburg tournament in 1909, it was then, at the age of sixteen, that a high school student from Moscow won and was awarded the title of maestro.

A little later, the chess player begins to take part in professional tournaments for more than high level. Alekhine won the match for the world championship title against Capablanca in 1927 (Buenos Aires). After that, he defended his title two more times, holding it until his death.

5 world chess champion

The fifth world chess champion was Max Euwe, born in 1901 in Amsterdam. He learned the basics of the game at the age of 4, began performing in various amateur tournaments - at the age of twelve he became a member of the chess club in Amsterdam. He started playing professionally at the age of 18. Euwe won the championship match against Alekhine in 1935, but after two years he again lost the championship title to Alekhine.

6 world chess champion

The sixth champion was Mikhail Botvinnik, born in 1911. He first became acquainted with the game at the age of 12, after which he began studying from books. Numerous victories in tournaments and championships of the USSR brought forward young chess player among the best players in the country and soon showed that M. Botvinnik was ready to challenge the title of world champion.

The match tournament for the championship title took place in 1948 (The Hague-Moscow), and as a result, Botvinnik became the winner, ahead of the chess player who took second place by 3 points. During the tournament, he confidently beat all his opponents. For his achievements in the chess field, Botvinnik was awarded numerous orders.

7 world chess champion

A Soviet chess player also became the seventh champion Vasily Smyslov. He learned the rules of the game from his father at the age of six. Smyslov met Botvinnik 3 times during the world championship matches. Smyslov received the title of the strongest chess player on the planet in 1957, but a year later he lost to Botvinnik in a rematch.

Smyslov was the winner of a large number of World Olympiads, European team championships, as well as one World Championship.

8 world chess champion

The eighth world chess champion was Mikhail Tal, who was born in 1936 in Riga. From early childhood, Tal showed genius in many ways - at the age of three he could read well, at the age of 5 he could do multiplication three-digit numbers, had an amazing memory, after finishing the first grade he went straight to the third. There were many such achievements in Tal's childhood.

Mikhail Tal learned to play chess at the age of 10, already at 16 he became the champion of Latvia, at the age of 21 - the champion of the USSR. Tal became the youngest world champion, winning the title in 1960 from Botvinnik. Distinctive features Tal's games were aggressive and constant readiness take risks, which allowed him to achieve victory, despite the fact that soon, a year later, he lost again.

9 world chess champion

Tigran Petrosyan- ninth world chess champion. He was born in 1929 in Georgia. The boy learned to play at the age of 11, and at the age of 16 he became the Georgian chess champion. The chess player begins to play professionally after moving to Moscow.

Petrosyan won his victory over M. Botvinnik in 1963; he held his championship title for a period that lasted 6 years. For his achievements in chess, Petrosyan was awarded numerous medals and orders.

10th world chess champion

Boris Spassky- tenth world chess champion. Spassky learned the basics of the game at the age of 5. For the first time he became a participant in the championship Soviet Union in 1955, during the same period he was awarded the title of grandmaster (at the age of 17). Thus, the chess player at that time became the youngest grandmaster in the entire chess history. Spassky won the competition for the championship of the planet over Petrosyan in 1969 and held the title of tenth champion for 3 years.

11th world chess champion

Received the title of eleventh world chess champion Robert James Fisher, considered a child prodigy and genius. He learned to play at the age of six. By the age of twelve, Fischer becomes the American champion, and at the age of 15, an international grandmaster. No one before him in this early age did not achieve such high results. Fischer became world champion in 1972, after defeating B. Spassky.

12th world chess champion

Anatoly Karpov- Twelfth world chess champion. The chess player, born in 1951, learned to play when he was only 4 years old. He became a strong master at the age of 15, at the age of 18 the chess player became a champion in a youth tournament, and received the title of grandmaster at 19. Until the moment Karpov became the world chess champion, he was the winner of many international competitions. He received the title of 12th world champion in 1975. Anatoly Karpov significantly surpassed other famous chess players in history in the number of victories he won in numerous international tournaments, matches and competitions.

13th world chess champion

Famous chess player in the USSR and Russia Garry Kasparov is the thirteenth world chess champion. Place of birth: Baku, year: 1963. At the age of thirteen, he became the national champion in a youth tournament (in which 18-year-old chess players participated). At the age of 17, Kasparov received the title of grandmaster. The confrontation between the 12th and 13th champions, Karpov and Kasparov, was one of the most powerful in the entire chess history. In total, these two great chess players played as many as 5 matches for the world title. As a result, according to the results of the match, which lasted from September 1 to November 10, 1985, the chess player defeated Karpov with a score of 13:11, which brought him the title of the 13th world chess champion.

14th world chess champion

Vladimir Kramnik is the fourteenth world chess champion. He was born in 1975 in the city of Tuapse (Krasnodar Territory). In 1991, the chess player became the world champion in the youth tournament. At the end of the 90s, the 13th world champion Kasparov himself chose his opponent in the person of Kramnik, who at that time was second in the rankings. Their chess match took place in 2000, as a result of which Kramnik won and received the title of the 14th champion. After that, in 2004 and 2006, he defended his title twice, defeating Peter Leko and Veselin Topalov.

15th world chess champion

Viswanathan Anand– a native of India, from 2007 to 2013 he was the world chess champion, becoming the fifteenth holder of this title. Anand's mother taught him to play chess at the age of six, and since then the boy has shown good results in this sport. Already at the age of fourteen, Anand received the title of international master, becoming the youngest holder of the latter in India.

Rapidly moving up the ladder of chess achievements, Viswanathan Anand won the title of World Chess Champion in 2007. The tournament took place in Mexico. In subsequent years (2008, 2010 and 2012), the chess player confirmed his title. At the moment, Anand is the only champion in three different styles games: knockout system, round-robin tournament and head-to-head matches with competitors.

16th world chess champion

Magnus Carlsen- Norwegian, sixteenth (and currently last) world chess champion. He won the world title in 2013, fighting against the fifteenth world champion, Viswanathan Anand. The young champion began playing chess at the age of five with his father, and became seriously interested in the game at eight, beginning to study special literature and play the game for 2-3 hours a day.

Possessing extraordinary abilities, Magnus quickly developed professional skills. Experts predicted Magnus the champion title back in 2004. World-class grandmasters note that Magnus is not a unique strategist, but his ability to find solutions where others would agree to a draw, and to subtly sense the psychology of his opponent is amazing.

So far, Magnus Carlsen remains the first and only champion in three categories simultaneously: classical play, blitz and rapid.