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Famous Chess Players (N-Z)
A brief introduction to some of the most famous players of the royal game.
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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.
Najdorf, Miguel Poland/Argentina 1910 1997
Neumann, Gustav Germany 1838 1881
Nikolic, Predrag Bosnia 1960
Nimzovitch, Aron Russia/Denmark 1886 1935
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter Romania 1976
Nogueiras, Jesus Cuba 1959
Nunn, John England 1955
Olafsson, Fridrik Iceland 1935
Oll, Lembit Estonia 1966 1999
Onischuk, Alexander USA 1975
Panno, Oscar Argentina 1935
Paulsen, Louis Germany 1833 1891
Peng Xiaomin China 1973
Petrosian, Tigran Soviet Union 1929 1984
Petrov, Vladimir Latvia/USSR 1907 1945
Philidor, Francois Andre Danican France 1726 1795
Piket, Jeroen Netherlands 1969
Pillsbury, Harry United States 1872 1906
Pilnik, Hermann Ger./Argentina 1914 1981
Polerio, Giulio Italy 1550? 1610?
Polgar, Judit Hungary 1976
Polgar, Zsuzsa (Susan) Hungary 1969
Polugaevsky, Lev Soviet Union 1934 1995
Ponomariov, Ruslan Ukraine 1983
Ponziani, Domenico Italy 1719 1796
Portisch, Lajos Hungary 1937
Potter, William N England 1840 1895
Psakhis, Lev Soviet Union 1958
Qin Kanying China 1974
Radjabov, Teimour Azerbaijan 1987
Reshevsky, Samuel Poland/USA 1911 1992
Ribli, Zoltan Hungary 1951
Romanishin, Oleg Soviet Union 1952
Rozentalis, Eduardas Lithuania 1963
Rubinstein, Akiba Poland/Belgium 1882 1961
Rublevsky, Sergei Russia 1974
Rubtsova, Olga Russia 1909 1994
Rudenko, Liudmila Russia 1904 1986
Sadler, Matthew England 1974
Saint-Amant, Pierre Charles Fournier de France 1800 1872
Salov, Valery Russia 1964
Salvio, Alessandro Italy 1575? 1640?
Sarratt, Jacob Henry England 1772 1819
Savon, Vladimir Soviet Union 1940 2005
Sax, Gyula Hungary 1951
Schlechter, Carl Austria 1874 1918
Schmidt, Wladzimierz Poland 1943
Seirawan Yasser United States 1960
Shipov, Sergei Russia 1966
Shirov, Alexei Spain 1972
Short, Nigel England 1965
Smejkal, Jan Czechoslovakia 1946
Smirin, Ilia Israel 1968
Smyslov, Vasily Soviet Union 1921
Sokolov, Ivan Netherlands 1968
Sosonko, Gennadi USSR/Holland 1943
Spassky, Boris Soviet Union 1939
Speelman, Jonathan England 1956
Spielmann, Rudolph Austria 1883 1942
Stahlberg, Gideon Sweden 1905 1967
Stamma, Philippe Syria/France/England 1715? 1770?
Staunton, Howard England 1810 1874
Stefanova, Antoaneta Bulgaria 1979
Stein, Leonid Soviet Union 1934 1973
Steinitz, Wilhelm Bohemia 1836 1900
Sveshnikov, Evgeny Soviet Union 1950
Svidler, Peter Russia 1976
Szabo, Laszlo Hungary 1917 1998
Taimanov, Mark Soviet Union 1926
Tal, Mikhail Latvia/USSR 1936 1992
Tarrasch, Siegbert Germany 1862 1934
Tartakower, Saviely Poland/France 1887 1956
Teichmann, Richard Germany 1868 1925
Timman, Jan Netherlands 1951
Tiviakov Sergei Russia/Neth. 1973
Tkachiev, Vladislav France 1973
Topalov, Veselin Bulgaria 1975
Torre, Eugenio Philippines 1951
Tseshkovsky, Vitaly Soviet Union 1944
Tukmakov, Vladimir Soviet Union 1946
Uhlmann, Wolfgang East Germany 1935
Vaganian, Rafael Armenia 1951
Vallejo Pons, Francisco Spain 1982
Van Wely, Loek Netherlands 1972
Vasiukov, Evgeni Soviet Union 1933
Velimirovic, Dragoljub Yugoslavia 1942
Verdoni Italy/France 17xx 1804
Vidmar, Milan Austria/Yugoslavia 1885 1962
von Bardeleben, Curt Germany 1861 1924
von der Lasa, Tassilo Germany 1818 1899
Walker, George England 1803 1879
Weiss, Miksa Hungary/Austria 1857 1927
Williams, Elijah England u 1854
Winawer, Szymon Poland 1838 1920
Xie Jun China 1970
Xu Jun China 1962
Xu Yuhua China 1976
Ye Jiangchuan China 1960
Yermolinsky, Alex United States 1958
Yudasin, Leonid Israel 1959
Yusupov (see Jussupow)
Zhu Chen China 1976
Zukertort, Johannes Poland/England 1842 1888
Zvjaginsev, Vadim Russia 1976
Zvorikina, Kira Russia 1919