WORLD CHAMPIONS

Name

World Championship Reign

Country

Born/Died

1

Wilhelm Steinitz

1886 - 1894

Czechoslovakia

1834 - 1900

2

Emanuel Lasker

1894 - 1921

Germany

1868 - 1941

3

José Capablanca

1921 - 1927

Cuba

1888 - 1942

4

Alexander Alekhine

1927 - 1935

USSR

1892 - 1946

5

Machgielis (Max) Euwe

1935 - 1937

Netherlands

1901 - 1981

Alexander Alekhine

1937 - 1946

USSR

1892 - 1946

6

Mikhail  Botvinnik

1948 - 1957

USSR

1911 - 1995

7

Vasily Smyslov

1957 - 1958

USSR

1921 -

Mikhail  Botvinnik

1958 - 1960

USSR

1911 - 1995

8

Mikhail Tal

1960 - 1961

USSR

1936 - 1993

Mikhail  Botvinnik

1961 - 1963

USSR

1911 - 1995

9

Tigran Petrosian

1963 - 1969

USSR

1929 - 1984

10

Boris Spassky

1969 - 1972

USSR

1937 -

11

Robert (Bobby) Fischer

1972 - 1975

USA

1943 -

12

Anatoly Karpov

1975 - 1985

USSR

1951 -

13

Garry Kasparov 

1985- 2000

USSR

1963 -

14

Vladimir Kramnik

2000 – Present

Russia

1975 -