Who is the best chess player ever?

Answer 1

It is hard to say objectively who is the best player as strong players lived in different periods of time. World Champions: Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand. Many other strong players did not become world champion. Fischer and Kasparov are generally believed to be best.This is obviously an opinion but many contemporary feelings are that Gary Kasparov is the best ever. This is based on his style of play and dominance during his time as world champion. Some people go by way of the longest running world champions. Emanuel Lasker held the championship more years than anyone else, from 1894 to 1921. Alexander Alekhine held it from 1927 to 1935 and 1937 to 1946. Both men held the title longer than Kasparov did, but many feel that after studying the ways each of them played, that Kasparov would be likely to beat both of them.

There is room for other opinion on this.

I would say a nod should be given to Bobby Fischer even if he did go a little crazy towards the end being all anti-semitic and a little weird. In his heyday he would have given Kasparov a tough game.