In no order, who are the top 5 chess players of all time? Mine are Fischer, Kasparov, Carlsen Botvinnik and Alekhine.
I think that Carlsen benefits from today’s technology, which basically wasn’t around for the other 4. The “benefit of coming after”, so to speak, which is kind of true of Kasparov as well.
Botvinnik had an entire country’s resources behind him plus the manipulation of the chess world which the Soviet Union basically controlled. But still a great player.
Alekhine and Fischer relied primarily on their talent alone. No computers or political systems to aid them. Plus the fact that, in Alekhine’s case especially there weren’t numerous decades of high level chess development to lean on.
It’s a subjective topic for sure. Like who’s the best quarterback of all time? Brady? The rules of football have changed since Johnny Unitas played and there are more games in a season so stats, that is to say accomplishments alone, are only part of the picture. Speaking of pictures.
The Chaturanga Chess Club 