Originally posted by heinzkatUsing heinzkats idea, here is my revised list:
I think the real measure should be; how many of games of value have they produced? Playing some good games is wonderful promotion of chess and therefore plays a huge role in its popularisation
1. Boris Gulko. The greatest chess player in history. Holder of both the USSR and US champion title. Only player to have a positive score vs Kasparov
2. Bent Larsen. A truly great innovator second only to...
3. Wilhelm Steintz. The player who formalised the informal (if that is even possible)
4. Gary Kasparov. The product of genetic testing and robotics
5. Robert Fischer. Revived interest in chess in the United States
6. Mikhail Tal. Revered by the previous two players
7. Emanuel Lasker. The 'Doctor' of chess
8. Anatoly Karpov. Analytical genius
9. Vladimir Kramnik. I dont think I will ever be able to 'Play like Kramnik'
10. <Everyone I've missed out>
10. <Everyone I've missed out>"Only player to have a positive score vs Kasparov"
I doubt it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_beaten_Garry_Kasparov_in_chess
"The product of genetic testing and robotics"
I've heard several times he learned the movements of the pieces by just looking at the problems from the local newspaper his mother set up on a chess board. Isn't that wonderful?
Originally posted by heinzkatI stand corrected!
"Only player to have a positive score vs Kasparov"
I doubt it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_beaten_Garry_Kasparov_in_chess
Konstantin Lerner (U16) (+1-0=1) Total score: +1!
I will always be convinced that both Gary Kasparov and Paul McCartney were killed in 1966 and replaced by robots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_is_dead
Edit: I blame Gary's driving (since he was about 3 years old at the time). This post is getting off topic so I shall be quiet now
1- Boris Spassky - unlike Kramnik, Alekhine, Lasker etc. only Champion to not take the title and run when the opportunity presented itself.
2- Tal - one glorious year we had him as champion.
3- Bent Larsen - A gift to chess in the West. Periodically I play the Ng4 line of the Maroczy as a tribute.
4- Morphy - a nice alternative to Fischer. Gave us an easy to remember game to impress people who barely know anything about chess.
5- Kozul Zdenko - for giving me two years of victories in the Rossolimo by playing Na5.
6- Kasparov - Sort of like Sting, admirable but dificult to get along with.
7- Jan timman - got bumped up for New in Chess. Many interesting games, almost anything he comments on is golden.
8- Efim Geller - I constantly find that my play leads me into stem games that he played.
9- Capablanca/Alekhine - can't seperate them. Two sides of the same historical coin. Almost every game I have looked at of theirs I have learned something from.
10- Nimzowitsch - Unstable. My type of chess player.
honorable mention to the chess authors- yermo, rowson, dvoretsky, aargard, watson, silman, geoff chandler, tisdall, nunn, sadler, yusupov and the list goes on.
Originally posted by TiwakingHow is it possible not to be able to play like Kramnik? I've blundered to mate in one many times. Just last week I almost played like Kramnik, I blundered to a mate in 5 when I was two pieces up vs a player rated 2000 OTB. I was proud to play so similarly to a world champion.
9. Vladimir Kramnik. I dont think I will ever be able to 'Play like Kramnik'
Originally posted by Maxacre42Such irreverence will earn you a secure place for all eternity, but there will be no music there.
How is it possible not to be able to play like Kramnik? I've blundered to mate in one many times. Just last week I almost played like Kramnik, I blundered to a mate in 5 when I was two pieces up vs a player rated 2000 OTB. I was proud to play so similarly to a world champion.