Top Rated Players
by Bill Wall
FIDE published it first official chess rating list in 1970. The top five players were Bobby Fischer (2720), Boris Spassky (2670), Viktor Korchnoi (2670), Efim Geller (2660), and Paul Keres (2650).
In 1971, the top three players were still Fischer (2760), Spassky (2690), and Korchnoi (2670). Bent Larsen also tied with Korchnoi (2670), followed by Petrosian (2640).
In 1972, Fischer topped the ratings (2785), followed by Spassky (2660), Petrosian (2645), Polugaevsky (2645), and Korchnoi (2640).
In 1973, Fischer remained in top with a 2780 rating (he lost 5 rating points after the Fischer-Spassky world championship match). Karpov and Tal were the 2nd and 3rd ranked with 2660, followed by Spassky at 2655 and Portisch at 2650.
In 1974, Fischer was inactive (and would remain inactive until 1992, but not for a FIDE rating). The top player was Karpov (2700), followed by Korchnoi (2670), Spassky (2650), and Portisch (2645).
In 1975, Karpov was rated 2705, followed by Korchni at 2655, Petrosian and Polugaevasky at 2645.
In 1976, after Karpov played Korchnoi, Karpov’s rating was 2695, followed by Korchnoi at 2670. Petrosian and Polugaevsky were rated at 2635, followed by Spassky at 2630.
In 1977, Karpov was rated 2690. Korchnoi and Petrosian were rated at 2645. Mecking came next at 2635, followed by Portisch at 2625.
In 1978, Karpov was rated 2725, followed by Korchnoi at 2665. Mecking, Potisch, and Spassky were rated 2630.
In 1979, after the world championship match between Karpov and Korchnoi, Karpov was rated 2705. Korchnoi was rated at 2695. Spassky and Poritsch were rated 2640, followed by Polugaevsky at 2625.
In 1980, Karpov was rated 2725. Tal came 2nd with 2705, followed by Korchnoi at 2695. Portisch was rated 655. Polugaevasky was rated 2635.
In 1981, Karpov was rated 2690. Korchnoi and Portisch were reated 2650. Huebner and Spassky were rated 2635.
In January 1982, Karpov was rated 2700, followed by Jan Timman at 2655. Korchnoi was rated 2645. Kasparov was 4th with 2640, followed by Portisch at 2630. By July 1982, Kasparov was 2nd with 2675, followed by Korchnoi at 2635, Huebner at 2630, and Portisch at 2625.
In 1983, Karpov was rated 2710, followed by Kasparov at 2690. Ljubojevic was rated 2645, followed by Ulf Andersson at 2640 and Huebner at 2625.
In 1984, Kasparov led the list with a 2710 rating, followed by Karpov at 2700. Korcnoi and Ljubojevic were rated 2635, followed by Andersson at 2630.
In January 1985, Kasparov was rated 2715, followed by Karpov at 2705. Timman was rated 2650, followed by Vaganian at 2640 and Belieavsky at 2635. By July 1985, Karpov moved up with a 2720 rating, followed by Kaspaorv at 2700, Beliavsky and Timman were at 2640, followed by Korchnoi at 2630.
In 1986, Kasparov was rated 2740, followed by Karpov at 2705. Yusupov was 3rd with 2660, followed by Korchnoi at 2650, Timman at 2645, and Huebner at 2620.
In 1987, Kasparov topped the list with 2740. Karpov was rated at 2710. Yusopov and Sokolov were rated 2645, followed by Korchnoi at 2630.
In 1988, Kasparov was at 2760 and Karpov was at 2725. Timman was rated 2675. Short and Beliavsky were at 2665. Korchnoi was rated 2640.
In 1989, Kasparov was rated 2775, followed by Karpov at 2755. Ivanchuk and Short were rated 2660, followed by Korchnoi at 2655.
In 1990, Kasparov was at 2800, followed by Karpov at 2730. Gelfand and Ivanchuk were rated 2680, followed by Timman at 2660.
In 1991, Kasparov was rated 2800 at the beginning of the year. Ivanchuk was rated 2735, followed by Karpov at 2730. Bareev was rated 2680, followed by Salov at 2665.
In 1992, Kasparov was rated 2790. Karpov was rated at 2725. Ivanchuk was rated at 2720. Shirov was rated 2710, followed by Anand at 2690.
In 1993, Kasparov was rated 2815, followed by Karpov at 2760. Anand moved up to 2725, followed by Ivanchuk and Kramnik at 2710. Gelfand was rated 2690.
In 1994, Kasparov remained at 2815, followed by Karpov at 2780. Shirov was rated at 2740, followed by Kramnik at 2725 and Anand at 2720. Ivanchuk was at 2710.
In 1995, Kasparov was rated at 2805 at the beginning of the year. Karpov was at 2775. Ivanchuk was at 2740, followed by Kamsky at 2735 and Kramnik at 2730.
In January 1996, Kasparov and Kramnik were both rated 2775, followed by Karpov at 2770. Ivanchuk and Kamsky were rated 2735. By July 1996, Kasparov moved up to 2785, followed by Karpov at 2775, Kramnik at 2765, Topalov at 2750, and Kamsky at 2745.
In 1997, Kasparov was at 2820. Kramnik was next at 2770, followed by Anand at 2765, Karpov at 2760, Topalov at 2745, and Ivanchuk at 2740.
In 1998, Kasparov was at 2825. Anand was at 2795, followed by Kramnik at 2790. Ivanchuk and Topalov were rated at 2740, followed by Karpov at 2725.
In 1999, Kasparov’s rating went up to 2851 (the highest ever). Anand was 2781, followed by Kramnik at 2760. Shirov and Morozevich were rated 2726.
In 2000 the FIDE ratings came out three times a year. Kasparov was rated 2851 in January 2000, followed by Anand at 2774 and Kramnik at 2770. Morozevich was rated 2756, followed by Adams at 2755 and Shirov at 2751. Leko was rated 2748.
In 2001, the FIDE ratings came out 4 times a year. Kasparov’s highest rating during that year was 2849. Kramnik maxed out at 2809. Anand was rated 2794. Adams was at 2750. Morozevich was rated at 2749. Leko was rated 2745.
In 2002, Kasparov was 2838 throughout the year. Kramnik peaked at 2809. Anand was 2757, followed by Adams at 2752. Topalov’s rating was 2745. Morozevich was at 2742.
In 2003, Kasparov was rated 2847 at the beginning of the year. Kramnik was rated 2807, followed by Anand at 2774 and Leko at 2746. Adams was at 2745. Topalov was at 2743. Bareev was at 2739 and Shirov was at 2737.
In 2004, Kasparov topped the list at 2831. Anand was 2nd at 2782. Kramnik was 2777, followed by Morozevich at 2758. Topalov’s rating was 2757. Svidler was rated 2747, followed by Leko at 2741 and Shirov at 2736.
In 2005, Kasparov was at 2812, followed by Anand and Topalov at 2788. Leko was rated 2763, Kramnik at 2754, and Ivanchuk at 2752.
In 2006, Kasparov was no longer active, having retired. Kasparov was ranked #1 in the world 54 times, or 255 months. Topalov was rated the highest at 2813. Anand was 2803, followed by Svidler at 2675. Aronian was rated 2756. Leko was at 2751. Ivanchuk was rated 2748. Morozevich’s rating was 2747. Kramnik’s rating was 2743.
In 2007, Anand’s rating was 2801, followed by Ivanchuk at 2787. Topalov was rated at 2783. Kramnik was rated at 2785. Morozevich was at 2762, then Aronian at 2759, then Leko at 2755, and Mamedyarov at 2754.
In 2008, Anand’s rating was 2803, followed by Kramnik at 2799. Topalov was rated 2791. Morozevich was rated at 2788 and Ivanchuk and Magnus Carlsen were rated at 2786. Anand fell to 2783. Svidler was rated at 2763.
In 2009, Topalov topped the list with 2813. Carlsen was at 2801. Anand was rated at 2791. Aronnian was rated 2786. Ivanchuk was rated 2779. Kramnik was rated 2772. Morozevich was rated at 2771. Yakovenko was rated 2760, followed by Radjabov at 2756.
In 2010, Carlsen was number 1 ranked at 2826, followed by Topalov at 2805. Anand was at 2800. Kramnik was at 2790. Aronian was rated 2783.
In 2011, Anand was 2817. Carlsen was 2815. Aronian was rated at 2808. Kramnik was 2785. Ivanchuk was 2779. Karjakin was rated 2776.
In November 2012, the highest rated player was Magnus Carlsen at 2848. For 2012, Aronian was rated at 2821, Kramnik at 2795, Radjabov at 2793, Caruana and Nakamura at 2786, Anand and Karjakin at 2780.
In January 2013, the top 10 players were Carlsen at 2861, Kramnik at 2810, Aronian at 2802, Radjabov at2793, Carauna at 2781, Karjakin at 2780, Anand at 2772, Topalov at 2771, Nakamura at 2769, and Mamedyarov at 2766.
In January 2014, the top 10 players were Carlsen at 2872, Aronian at 2812, Nakamura at 2789, Kramnik at 2787, Topalov at 2785, Caruana at 2782, Grischuk at 2777, Gelfand at 2777, Anand at 2773, and Karjakin at 2759.
In January 2015, the top players were Magnus Carlsen at 2862, Fabiano Caruana at 2820, Alexander Grischuk at 2810, Veselin Topalov at 2800, Vishy Anand at 2797, Levon Aronian at 2797, Anish Giri at 2784, Vladimir Kramnik at 2783, Hikaru Nakamura at 2776, Wesley So at 2762, and Sergey Karjakin at 2760.