World Champion

From WikiChess

World Chess Champion is the highest title possible to earn in chess.

The official World Chess Champions are as follows (in order from first to latest): Wilhelm Steinitz, Emanuel Lasker, Jose Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vassily Smyslov, Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Vishwanathan Anand.

Contents 1 Wilhelm Steinitz 2 Emanuel Lasker 3 Jose Capablanca 4 Alexander Alekhine 5 Max Euwe 6 Mikhail Botvinnik 7 Vassily Smyslov 8 Mikhail Tal 9 Tigran Petrosian 10 Boris Spassky 11 Bobby Fischer 12 Anatoly Karpov 13 Garry Kasparov 14 Vladimir Kramnik 15 Vishwanathan Anand 16 The World Championship 2009

[edit] Wilhelm Steinitz

Steinitz was the first official World Champion. He held the title from 1886 to 1894.

[edit] Emanuel Lasker

Held the title from 1894 to 1921.

[edit] Jose Capablanca

Held the title from 1921 to 1927.

[edit] Alexander Alekhine

Alekhine won the Championship in 1927 and held it until 1935 when he lost it to Max Euwe. Two years later he earned it back and held it until his death in 1946. He was the only World Champion to die with the title still intact.

[edit] Max Euwe

Held the title only for two years from 1935 to 1937.

[edit] Mikhail Botvinnik

He won the title in a tournament match in 1948 after Alekhine's death and kept it until 1957, when he lost it to Vassily Smyslov. Just one year later he won it back and held it until 1960, when Mikhail Tal took it from him. Finally, he won it back in 1961 and held the title until 1963.

[edit] Vassily Smyslov

Held the title from 1957 to 1958.

[edit] Mikhail Tal

Held the title from 1960 to 1961.

[edit] Tigran Petrosian

Held the title from 1963 to 1969.

[edit] Boris Spassky

Held the title from 1969 to 1972.

[edit] Bobby Fischer

Held the title from 1972 to 1975, when it was won by forfeit by Anatoly Karpov because Fischer refused to play.

[edit] Anatoly Karpov

Held the title from 1975 to 1985.

[edit] Garry Kasparov

Held the title from 1985 to 2000.

[edit] Vladimir Kramnik

Held the title from 2000 to 2007.

[edit] Vishwanathan Anand

Holds the title currently after winning it from Kramnik in 2007.

[edit] The World Championship 2009

Later this year Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky will compete to decide who will go on to challenge World Champion Vishwanathan Anand.