Chess Grandmasters (GM): what they are and the best in history

Do you know what it means when someone has the letters GM in front of their name? It means they’ve reached the top. The title of Grandmaster (GM) is the highest distinction awarded by FIDE in competitive chess. A game played by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and only a few reach that level.

What it means to be a Grandmaster

Let’s look at exactly what FIDE requires to grant you the title. There are two conditions you must meet at the same time:

1. A rating of 2500 or higher on the official FIDE list
2. Three GM norms earned in tournaments with enough participation from internationally titled players (IM, GM) from different federations

And what is a GM norm? Simple: in a tournament of at least 9 rounds, you must perform as if you had a 2600 rating against opponents of sufficient level. It isn’t easy. Many players spend years chasing those three norms.

Best of all, the title is for life. Once you have it, you don’t lose it even if your rating drops. It’s yours forever.

Below GM there are other titles: International Master (IM, 2400+), FIDE Master (FM, 2300+), and Candidate Master (CM, 2200+).

The most influential Grandmasters in history

Let’s go through the best players in history. Each of them changed chess in their own way.

Wilhelm Steinitz (1836–1900)

He was the first official world champion, in 1886. Steinitz developed the principles of modern positional chess: the importance of weaknesses, the value of pawn structure, centralization. His work laid the foundation for almost everything that came after. If you play chess today, it’s partly thanks to him.

Emanuel Lasker (1868–1941)

He held the world title for 27 years (1894–1921), the longest reign in history. How did he manage it? He was the psychologist of the board: he chose positions uncomfortable for his opponent rather than objectively optimal ones. A doctor of mathematics, he also published philosophical works. A total genius.

José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942)

The Cuban who seemed unable to lose. World champion from 1921 to 1927, he was perhaps the technically purest player in history. His intuition in rook endgames remains a model worth studying if you want to improve.

Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946)

World champion in two spells (1927–1935 and 1937–1946). His tactical combinations had exceptional depth. His annotated game collections remain essential reading for any player who wants to improve.

Mikhail Tal (1936–1992)

The “Magician from Riga.” World champion in 1960, known for sacrifices impossible to calculate with exact precision that nonetheless left his opponent in a practically lost position. Tal popularized a very important idea: chess has an artistic dimension that goes beyond objective evaluation.

Bobby Fischer (1943–2008)

The American who broke Soviet dominance. His path to the 1972 world title, defeating Spassky in Reykjavik, is one of the sport’s most dramatic chapters. His understanding of open structures and bishop play was decades ahead of his time.

Anatoly Karpov (1951)

World champion from 1975 to 1985. A positive, technically flawless style: he converted minimal advantages into wins while giving his opponent almost no counterplay. His duels with Kasparov in the 1980s are the high point of rivalry in chess history.

Garry Kasparov (1963)

The Grandmaster with the greatest influence on modern history. World champion from 1985 to 2000. He combined Tal’s aggressive attacking play with Karpov’s systematic preparation, plus unprecedented depth of calculation. He founded an opening school that still shapes theory today. Studying Kasparov is studying modern chess.

Viswanathan Anand (1969)

India’s first Grandmaster, world champion on several occasions between 1995 and 2013. Extraordinary calculation speed — nicknamed the “Tiger of Madras” — and an open mind that let him adapt to every format: classical, rapid, and blitz.

Magnus Carlsen (1990)

World champion from 2013 to 2023, when he decided not to defend the title. His peak rating of 2882 in May 2014 remains the historical record. His weakness? He doesn’t have one. He’s equally dangerous in the opening, middlegame, and endgame, in tactical or strategic positions. He also leads the world rapid and blitz rankings.

Ding Liren (1992)

World champion since 2023, after defeating Nepomniachtchi in the title match. A player of extremely deep preparation and very solid technical endgames. He became the first Chinese champion in history.

Notable female Grandmasters

The title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) has different requirements and is exclusive to women. But some players have gone further and earned the general GM title, competing on equal footing with men:

• Judit Polgár (Hungary, 1976) — indisputably the best female player in history. She earned the GM title at age 15, breaking Fischer’s record. At her peak she ranked among the world’s top 10, defeating Fischer, Kasparov, and Karpov.
• Hou Yifan (China, 1994) — four-time women’s world champion and general GM at just 16 years old.

How does a player become a Grandmaster?

Now for the question that really matters to you: how do you get there? The typical path combines five key elements:

1. Early training — most modern GMs start between ages 5 and 9
2. A personal coach — almost every great talent works with one or more GMs
3. Regular tournaments — accumulating norms requires constant travel to international events
4. Opening preparation — with software (Stockfish, Leela) and game databases
5. Endgame work — endgame technique is what separates the IM from the GM

The full process usually takes between 10 and 15 years for players who start with exceptional talent, and longer for most. If you want to know how to improve, consistency in these five points is the key.

The youngest GMs in history

Read more

• World chess champions
• The 10 best players in history
• Professional chess players
• The rating system: what it is and how it works