Home • Learn to Play Chess • Improve Your Game • Chess History • Chess for Fun • Chess Blog

Famous Chess Players (A-M)

A brief introduction to some of the most famous players of the royal game.

Related Resources • A-M • N-Z This register is an introduction to many of the recognized masters of the royal game. It includes only over-the-board (OTB) players. Correspondence players, composers, writers, teachers, organizers, politicians, and other personalities who have had a profound impact on chess are not yet included. Name Nationality b. Adams, Michael England 1971 Adorjan, Andras Hungary 1950 Akhmilovskaya, Elena Russia 1957 Akopian, Vladimir Armenia 1971 Alburt, Lev O. United States 1946 Alekhine, Alexander Russia/France 1892 1946 Aleksandrov, Aleksej Belarus 1973 Alexandria, Nana Georgia 1949 Almasi, Zoltan Hungary 1976 Anand, Viswanathan India 1969 Anderssen, Adolph Germany 1818 1879 Andersson, Ulf Sweden 1951 Aronian, Levon Armenia 1982 Averbakh, Yuri Soviet Union 1922 Azmaiparashvili, Zurab Georgia 1960 Bacrot, Etienne France 1983 Balashov,Yuri Soviet Union 1949 Bareev, Evgeny Russia 1966 Beliavsky, Alexander Ukraine 1953 Benko, Pal Hungary/USA 1928 Bernstein, Ossip Russia/France 1882 1962 Bikova, Elizaveta Russia 1913 1989 Blackburne, Joseph England 1841 1924 Bogoljubow, Ewfim Russia/Germany 1889 1952 Boi, Paolo Italy 1528 1598 Boleslavsky, Isaak Soviet Union 1919 1977 Bologan, Viktor Moldavia 1971 Botvinnik, Mikhail Soviet Union 1911 1995 Bronstein, David Soviet Union 1924 2006 Browne, Walter United States 1949 Burn, Amos England 1848 1925 Byrne, Robert United States 1928 Capablanca, Jose Cuba 1888 1942 Carlsen, Magnus Norway 1990 Carrera, Pietro Italy 1573 1647 Ceron, Alfonso Spain 15xx 15xx Chandler, Murray England 1960 Charousek, Rudolph Bohemia/Hungary 1873 1900 Chernin, Alexander Hungary 1960 Chiburdanidze, Maia Georgia 1961 Chigorin, Mikhail Russia 1850 1908 Christiansen, Larry United States 1956 Cochrane, John Scotland 1798 1878 Damiano, Pedro Portugal/Italy 15xx 1544 del Rio, Domenico Ercole Italy 1718? 1802? Deschapelles, Alexandre France 1780 1847 Dolmatov, Sergey Russia 1959 Dorfman, Josef Soviet Union 1952 Dreev, Alexey Russia 1969 Duras, Oldrich Czechoslovakia 1882 1957 Dzindzichashvili, Roman United States 1944 Ehlvest, Jaan Estonia 1962 Englisch, Berthold Austria 1851 1897 Epishin, Vladimir Russia 1965 Euwe, Max Holland 1901 1981 Fedorov, Alexei Belarus 1972 Filip, Miroslav Czechoslovakia 1928 Fine, Reuben United States 1914 1993 Fischer, Robert United States 1943 Flohr, Salo Poland/USSR 1908 1983 Galliamova, Alisa Russia 1972 Gaprindashvili, Nona Georgia 1941 Gelfand, Boris Israel 1968 Geller, Yefim Soviet Union 1925 1998 Georgiev, Kiril Bulgaria 1965 Gheorghiu, Florin Romania 1944 Gianutio della Mantia, Orazio Italy 15xx 16xx Gligoric, Svetozar Yugoslavia 1923 Graf-Stevenson, Sonja Germany/USA 1914 1965 Greco, Gioacchino Italy 1600 1634? Grischuk, Alexander Russia 1983 Gufeld, Edward Y. Soviet Union 1936 Gulko, Boris Soviet Union 1947 Gunsberg, Isidor Hungary/England 1854 1930 Gurevich, Mikhail Belgium 1959 Harrwitz, Daniel Germany/France 1823 1884 Hjartarson, Johann Iceland 1963 Hort, Vlastimil Czechoslovakia 1944 Hracek, Zbynek Czech Rep 1970 Huebner, Robert West Germany 1948 Ioseliani, Nana Georgia 1962 Ivanchuk, Vassili Ukraine 1969 Ivkov, Borislav Yugoslavia 1933 Jakovenko, Dmitry Russia 1983 Janowsky, Dawid Poland/France 1868 1927 Jussupow, Arthur Germany 1960 Kamsky, Gata United States 1974 Karpov, Anatoly Russia 1951 Kashdan, Isaac United States 1905 1985 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam Uzbekistan 1979 Kasparov, Garry Russia 1963 Kavalek, Lubomir United States 1943 Keres, Paul Estonia/USSR 1916 1977 Khalifman, Alexander Russia 1966 Kieseritzky, Lionel Germany/France 1806 1853 Knaak, Rainer East Germany 1953 Kolisch, Ignatz Hungary/Austria 1837 1889 Korchnoi, Viktor Switzerland 1931 Kosteniuk, Alexandra Russia 1984 Kotov, Alexander Soviet Union 1913 1981 Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina Russia 1974 Kramnik, Vladimir Russia 1975 Krasenkow, Michal Poland 1963 Krogius, Nikolai. V Soviet Union 1930 Kupreichik, Viktor Soviet Union 1949 Kushnir, Alla Russia 1941 Kuzmin, Gennadi Soviet Union 1946 La Bourdonnais, Louis Charles France 1797 1840 Larsen, Bent Denmark 1935 Lasker, Emanuel Germany/England 1868 1941 Lautier, Joel France 1973 Legall, Sire de (M. de Kermeur) France 1702 1792 Leko, Peter Hungary 1979 Leonardo, Giovanni da Cutro Italy 1542 1587 Levitina, Irina Russia 1954 Lewis, William England 1787 1870 Lilienthal, Andrei USSR/Hungary 1911 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir Yugoslavia 1950 Löwenthal, Johann Hungary/England 1810 1876 Lolli, Giambattista Italy 1698 1769 Lopez de Segura, Ruy Spain 1530? 1580? Lucena, Luis Ramirez Spain 1497? 1530? Mackenzie, George Scotland/USA 1837 1891 Makogonov, Vladimir Soviet Union 1904 1993 Malakhov, Vladimir Russia 1980 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar Azerbaijan 1985 Maroczy, Geza Hungary 1870 1951 Marshall, Frank United States 1877 1944 Mason, James Ireland/USA 1849 1905 McDonnell, Alexander Ireland/England 1798 1835 Mecking, Henrique Brazil 1952 Menchik, Vera Russia/England 1906 1944 Miles, Tony England 1955 2001 Morozevich, Alexander Russia 1977 Morphy, Paul United States 1837 1884 Movsesian, Sergei Czech Rep 1978