Chess Grandmasters: a Standard of Excellence
- FIDE grandmaster title awarded only to players who achieve elite international performance standards and a peak Elo rating of at least 2500.
- Fewer than 2,000 worldwide hold the grandmaster title, making it one of the most exclusive distinctions in any competitive intellectual field.
- The last 20 years of World Chess Champions highlight an era of global dominance, featuring legends like Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren reshaping the game through innovation and extraordinary competitive success.
- Top chess grandmasters come from all over the world from places like China, Norway, India, Russia, the United States, and more, showing that chess is a truly international sport.
The global surge of interest in chess in recent years owes much to the cultural impact of The Queen’s Gambit. The production brought on legendary figures in the chess world to ensure authenticity, including former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and renowned American coach Bruce Pandolfini who, had also advised on the novel nearly four decades earlier.
Chess experts praised the show for capturing the intensity of high-level competition, even if it softened some of the harsher realities faced by professional players. Yet beyond artistic interpretation, the show sparked something real: a worldwide chess renaissance reminiscent of the excitement stirred by Bobby Fischer during the mid-20th century. For many viewers, a passing curiosity evolved into a genuine passion.
Chess has always had its legends: brilliant minds who see 20 moves ahead, turn chaotic boards into elegant victories, and inspire millions to chase mastery. These grandmasters shape the history of the game, leaving unforgettable mark on tournaments, theory, and culture.
In this article, we will explore who the greatest chess grandmasters are, their biggest achievements, and why they remain icons in the strategic world of chess. Whether you play just for fun at your local chess club or envision yourself one day being spoken of in the same reverent tones at today's hottest players, you will about the grandmasters of chess and how they ascended to the top of chess royalty.
Find an online chess course here on Superprof.
Who is the Current Reigning Chess Grandmaster?
The world of chess has seen thousands of titled players, but only a few stand above the rest as dominant, era-defining grandmasters. These are the thinkers who changed the way chess is played: the innovators, the champions, the prodigies. So, what is a chess grandmaster?
A chess grandmaster is the highest title a player can earn in the world of competitive chess, awarded by FIDE, the International Chess Federation. It recognizes exceptional skill, strategic mastery, and consistently strong performance in international tournaments.
To become a grandmaster, a player must achieve a series of elite-level results known as GM norms and reach a minimum Elo rating of 2500 at some point in their career. Only a small percentage of competitive players ever reach this level, making the grandmaster title a symbol of excellence and remarkable dedication to the game.
Learn more about local chess tutorials on Superprof.
Ding Liren
Ding Liren learned chess at age 4 in Wenzhou, a city known for producing chess prodigies. His rise to international prominence was the result of rigorous study and perseverance. Despite challenges, including travel restrictions and tournament cancellations, he fought his way into the 2022 Candidates by playing a series of intense, officially rated matches in China to meet FIDE’s tournament requirements. His victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023 made him China’s first-ever male World Champion.
In 2024, India's Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Liren to become the most current world champion.
Check out the numbers of grandmasters and their distinctions in our companion article.
Ding Liren is the first world champion in history to win the title without ever having previously played in a traditional head-to-head Candidates-style match experience.
Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen grew up in Norway. His father introduced him to the game at age 5, and by age 13, he had become one of the world’s youngest grandmasters. His nearly unmatched success in classical, rapid, and blitz has made him one of the most universally respected international chess players of all time.
Garry Kasparov
Born in Baku (now Azerbaijan), Kasparov was the product of the legendary Soviet chess school, known for producing some of the most dominant chess grandmasters in history. He trained with elite coaches from a young age and won the USSR Championship, one of the most difficult tournaments in history. After retiring from competitive play, Kasparov became an author, activist, and global chess ambassador.
“Courage is the first of human qualities because it guarantees all others.”
Garry Kasparov
If you're interested in chess lore, you should read all about the Kasparov touch-move controversy as well as other female grandmasters' feats.
Bobby Fischer
Born in Brooklyn, Fischer learned chess at age 6 and became the youngest American Champion at 14. His victory over Boris Spassky in 1972 in Reykjavik ended Soviet global dominance and made him an international icon. Fischer’s influence extended beyond tournaments: he helped popularize modern chess theory, introduced new opening systems, and inspired generations of American players.
There is a way to tell which countries have the most chess grandmasters. Fortunately, the method is rather straightforward; why not find out how it's done?
Judit Polgár
Judit Polgár learned chess at a young age: her father believed world-class skill could be trained from early childhood. Judit and her sisters learned chess at home and quickly began beating top players. She refused to compete in women’s-only events, believing that talent knows no gender, and she proved it, defeating champions from around the world across her career.
Chess demolishes differences. It's a language of different generations.
Judit Polgár
Find out who holds the top-rated grandmaster spot and World Champion titles.
Who is the Current Reigning Chess Grandmaster?
Chess is more like the martial arts than other sports like football or rugby; more than one player can be grandmaster at a time.
Doesn't that make you wonder: if there are so many chess grandmasters, what's the point of being one?
There are lots of reasons to aim for the ultimate in recognition in chess, not the least of which is being able to add your title to your name on signed documents, much like doctors or lawyers do. That's just a superficial perk, though. The real question is: why wouldn't you want to attain the highest level possible?
| Years Held | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Gukesh Dommaraju, India | In December 2024, at just 18 years old, Gukesh won the World Chess Championship, making him the youngest undisputed world champion ever. |
| 2023 – Present | Ding Liren, China | First Chinese male World Chess Champion; won title after Magnus Carlsen declined to defend. |
| 2013 – 2023 | Magnus Carlsen, Norway | One of the greatest players ever; defended the title four times (vs Anand, Karjakin, Caruana, Nepomniachtchi). |
| 2007 – 2013 | Viswanathan Anand, India | Held the unified world title; won matches against Kramnik, Topalov, and Gelfand. |
| 2006 – 2007 | Veselin Topalov, Bulgaria | FIDE World Champion in 2005; lost reunification match to Kramnik. |
| 2000 – 2006 | Vladimir Kramnik, Russia | Defeated Garry Kasparov in 2000; reunified the title in 2006 by defeating Topalov. |
Leaving that question aside, let's consider what it takes to become a chess grandmaster. You have to have a certain Elo rating and complete three norms - specific criteria that prove you meet or exceed the required skill level, such as playing in tournaments against grandmasters from different countries.
Once you've met all of the requirements, your title is assured regardless of whether you Elo rating - your demonstrated strength as a chess player goes up or down. Let's take a look at the top chess grandmasters that have won the world championship in the last 20 years.
Chess Grandmasters Keep the Game Exciting
Ding Liren’s historic rise, Magnus Carlsen’s rating dominance, Fischer’s Cold War triumph and Polgár’s groundbreaking achievements continue to keep chess at the forefront of gaming. These chess grandmasters have shaped the global landscape of chess, reminding us that chess is truly an international sport powered by creativity, intellect, and passion.
References
- FIDE International Chess Federation. https://www.fide.com
- Chess.com Player Bios and Grandmaster Database. https://www.chess.com/players
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Chess Grandmasters". https://www.britannica.com/topic/chess
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
