The 13 Greatest Soviet Chess Players of All Time
One state produced most of the twentieth century's best players and then made them fight each other for everything. Household names sit here beside players only the archives remember.
1Mikhail BotvinnikThe patriarch of Soviet chess, who taught both Karpov and Kasparov.1000pts
2Garry KasparovBorn in Baku, world champion from 1985, and the last Soviet-trained number one.906pts
3Efim GellerOpening theoretician with a plus score against several world champions.862pts
4Nona GaprindashviliWomen's world champion for 16 years and the first woman awarded the grandmaster title.764pts
5Tigran PetrosianThe Armenian champion whose defensive play was decades ahead of everyone.647pts
6Maia ChiburdanidzeWomen's world champion at 17 and holder of the title for 13 years.647pts
7Anatoly KarpovThe establishment champion of the Soviet era, holder of the title for a decade.503pts
8Leonid SteinThree-time Soviet champion whose career ended when he died at 38.503pts
9Mikhail TalThe attacking genius from Riga whose sacrifices are still analysed today.503pts
10Boris SpasskyUniversal-style champion who lost Reykjavik and kept his dignity doing it.503pts
11Viktor KorchnoiTwice a title challenger, then a defector who went on beating everyone anyway.503pts
12Paul KeresThe Estonian who finished runner-up in four Candidates cycles.503pts
13Vasily SmyslovWorld champion in 1957 and one of the finest endgame players the game has had.0pts
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