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Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1958


All active players as of December 31, 1958

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Smyslov, Vassily V27235221.4% #737.76
2 Botvinnik, Mikhail M27205220.4% #847.37
3 Bronstein, David I26995110.2% #1134.86
4 Tal, Mikhail2687526.8% #1422.14
5 Keres, Paul2686526.9% #1442.98
6 Reshevsky, Samuel H2682567.0% #1547.10
7 Gligoric, Svetozar2682505.6% #1535.91
8 Petrosian, Tigran V2668513.3% #1829.53
9 Spassky, Boris V2666533.3% #1921.91
10 Geller, Efim P2663522.9% #2033.82
11 Averbakh, Yury L2644521.3% #2536.89
12 Taimanov, Mark E2636520.8% #2832.89
13 Zurakhov, Vladlen Y2627722.8% #3728.61
14 Korchnoi, Viktor L2622520.4% #3327.77
15 Szabó, László2622510.4% #3341.78
16 Najdorf, Miguel2621560.7% #3448.70
17 Byrne, Donald2621651.4% #3728.55
18 Kotov, Alexander A2620550.6% #3545.38
19 Kholmov, Ratmir D2618580.7% #3733.63
20 Boleslavsky, Isaak E2616530.4% #3639.55
21 Larsen, Bent2602520.2% #4223.82
22 Polugaevsky, Lev A2601560.3% #4424.11
23 Fischer, Robert J2596570.2% #4615.80
24 Matanovic, Aleksandar2593510.1% #4628.60
25 Euwe, Machgielis2590590.2% #4957.61
26 Aronin, Lev S2587620.2% #5338.45
27 Benko, Pal C2584560.1% #5230.46
28 Unzicker, Wolfgang2582550.1% #5333.51
29 Olafsson, Fridrik2581550.1% #5323.92
30 Schmid, Lothar M2579610.2% #5730.63
31 Pachmann, Ludek257853 #5434.63
32 Antoshin, Vladimir S2572580.1% #5929.62
33 Rossolimo, Nicolas2568670.2% #6548.84
34 Panno, Oscar R256252 #6323.78
35 Yanofsky, Daniel A2562630.1% #6833.76
36 Ivkov, Borislav256153 #6425.13
37 Filip, Miroslav255853 #6630.18
38 Lombardy, William J255755 #6821.07
39 Ilivitsky, Georgy A2556660.1% #7337.66
40 Bannik, Anatoly A255655 #6837.07
41 Trifunovic, Petar255354 #6948.33
42 Fuderer, Andrija255362 #7327.63
43 Stĺhlberg, Gideon255154 #7150.92
44 Tolush, Alexander K255054 #7148.66
45 Gipslis, Aivars254956 #7321.89
46 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid G254860 #7546.04
47 Furman, Semen A254754 #7338.08
48 Flohr, Salo2546660.1% #7950.13
49 Simagin, Vladimir P254561 #7839.52
50 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric254459 #7747.62
51 Evans, Larry M254160 #8026.77
52 Djuraševic, Božidar254057 #7925.67
53 Vasiukov, Evgeny A253765 #8425.81
54 Portisch, Lajos253556 #8221.73
55 Krogius, Nikolay V253257 #8528.44
56 Nedeljkovic, Srecko252864 #9135.07
57 Barcza, Gedeon252655 #8847.36
58 Rabar, Braslav252459 #9239.26
59 Goldberg, Grigory A252471 #9850.42
60 Eliskases, Erich G252354 #8945.87
61 Cherepkov, Alexander V252269 #9838.17
62 Pilnik, Herman252252 #8944.97
63 Matulovic, Milan251857 #9623.55
64 Zhukhovitsky, Samuil M250873 #11042.05
65 Cuéllar Gacharná, Miguel250760 #10442.12
66 Sanguinetti, Raúl C250652 #10025.90
67 Lisitsin, Georgy M250669 #10949.22
68 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I250455 #10425.13
69 Ragozin, Viacheslav V250262 #11050.23
70 Bilek, István250158 #10726.39
71 Milic, Borislav249954 #10833.20
72 Bisguier, Arthur B249657 #11129.23
73 Bogdanovic, Rajko249561 #11427.13
74 Sherwin, James T249458 #11325.18
75 Mikenas, Vladas249361 #11548.70
76 Fichtl, Jirí249262 #11737.87
77 Uhlmann, Wolfgang249156 #11523.75
78 Donner, Johannes H248953 #11531.48
79 Niephaus, Walter248675 #12735.75
80 Pfeiffer, Gerhard248061 #12635.54
81 Suetin, Alexey S247857 #12532.12
82 Byrne, Robert E247773 #13430.69
83 Bivshev, Vasily M247665 #13136.86
84 Bonch-Osmolovsky, Mikhail A247673 #13439.99
85 Padevsky, Nikola B247561 #12925.58
86 Kluger, Guyla247460 #12944.95
87 Bertok, Mario247263 #13329.33
88 Kupper, Josef246861 #13426.80
89 Aronson, Lev A246763 #13634.99
90 Torán Albero, Román246558 #13527.23
91 Nikitin, Aleksander S246476 #14523.92
92 Porat, Yosef246361 #13849.56
93 Shianovsky, Vladislav I246171 #14429.02
94 Penrose, Jonathan246160 #13925.23
95 Anderson, Frank R246075 #14630.99
96 Ciocaltea, Victor245969 #14526.95
97 Udovcic, Mijo245863 #14238.30
98 Neikirkh, Oleg N245856 #13944.81
99 Pirc, Vasja245658 #14251.03
100 Vukcevich, Milan R245660 #142
101 Alexander, Conel H245659 49.69
102 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo245663 27.33
103 Emma, Jaime J245557 20.95
104 Minev, Nikolay N245561 27.97
105 Blau, Max245460 40.03
106 Khasin, Abram I245360 35.87
107 Darga, Klaus V245262 24.85
108 Shamkovich, Leonid A245172 35.58
109 Maric, Rudolf245064 31.63
110 Reshko, Aron G244971
111 Teschner, Rudolf244869 36.87
112 Aloni, Izak244866
113 Ravinsky, Grigory Ionovich244772 49.20
114 Puc, Stojan244759 37.72
115 Tringov, Georgy P244766 21.81
116 Bastrikov, Georgy Vladimirovic244663
117 Tarasov, Vitaly G244561 35.94
118 Farré Mallofré, Miguel244569 22.85
119 Borisenko, Georgy K244557 36.59
120 Janoševic, Dragoljub244561 35.48
121 Nilsson, Zandor244575
122 Stoliar, Efim Samoilovich244462 35.80
123 Dueckstein, Andreas244458 31.41
124 Czerniak, Moshe244465 48.90
125 Sokolov, Vladimir244358 25.33
126 Chistiakov, Alexander N244268 44.94
127 Guimard, Carlos E244165 45.73
128 Rakic, Tomislav244170 24.14
129 Rossetto, Héctor D244054 36.31
130 Karaklajic, Nikola243956 32.85
131 Vukovic, Sava243768
132 Enevoldsen, Jens243672 51.27
133 Bouwmeester, Henk B243561 29.29
134 Estrin, Yacov B243470 35.69
135 Kozma, Julius243363 29.58
136 Clarke, Peter H243262
137 Szilágyi, György243162 37.49
138 Alster, Ladislav243165 31.74
139 Ciric, Dragoljub M242967 23.13
140 van Scheltinga, Tjeerd D242858 44.81
141 Kolarov, Atanas S242768 24.82
142 Sliwa, Bogdan242756 36.90
143 Fuchs, Reinhart242759 24.26
144 Sakharov, Yury N242667 36.29
145 Johannsson, Ingi Randver242465
146 Flórián, Tibor242463 39.82
147 Milev, Zdravko A242166 29.18
148 Prins, Lodewijk241871 45.92
149 Sandor, Bela241162 39.05
150 Bolbochán, Jácobo240961 52.01
151 Bhend, Edwin240861 27.31
152 Klaman, Konstantin M240863 41.02
153 Robatsch, Karl240773 30.21
154 Cuderman, Vinko240662
155 Mednis, Edmar J240568 21.77
156 Walther, Edgar240463 28.02
157 Gereben, Ernö240475 51.53
158 Sanchez, Luis A240370
159 Nievergelt, Erwin240165
160 Shaposhnikov, Yury Nikolaevich240170
161 Forintos, Gyözö V240061 23.42
162 Dimc, Dragutin239966
163 Sefc, Jan239966 34.06
164 Sokolsky, Alexey P239969 50.19
165 Golz, Werner239968
166 Ojanen, Kaarle Sakari239864
167 Kramer, Haije239766 41.10
168 Malich, Burkhard G239760 22.09
169 Troianescu, Octav239564 42.90
170 Vladimirov, Boris T239565 29.62
171 Wexler, Bernardo239460 33.74
172 Lengyel, Levente239363 25.54
173 Sterner, Olof239366
174 Golombek, Harry239160 47.83
175 Tot, Bora239072
176 Gufeld, Eduard E238971 22.78
177 Espinosa Flores, Rafael238864
178 Flores Alvarez, Rodrigo238474 45.36
179 Lehmann, Heinz Dr238468
180 Tarnowski, Alfred238372 41.82
181 Lokvenc, Josef238364 59.66
182 Bobotsov, Milko G238263 27.25
183 Van den Berg, Carel Benjamin238164
184 Wade, Robert Graham237761
185 Letelier Martner, René237663 43.28
186 Shocron, Ruben237560 37.86
187 Redolfi, Argentino Rodolfo237459
188 Tröger, Paul237369 45.50
189 Marini, Luis237372 46.25
190 Cantero, Ronaldo237073
191 Foguelman, Alberto237060 35.22
192 Cardoso, Radolfo Tan236958
193 Plater, Kazimierz236863 43.82
194 Roessel, Fritz236663
195 Dunkelblum, Arthur236160 52.68
196 Garcia, Raimundo236166 22.59
197 Pogats, Jozsef235965 30.47
198 Bely, Miklos235971 45.39
199 Behrensen, Jorge235761 28.67
200 Giustolisi, Alberto235371 30.78
201 Beni, Alfred235263 35.57
202 Haag, Ervin234966 25.96
203 Ader Hausman, Walter234471
204 Grushevsky, Alexander V234273
205 Zíta, František234165 49.09
206 Smailbegovic, Hasan234165
207 Kalme, Charles I234076 19.13
208 Persitz, Rafael233670
209 Blagidze, Alexander233471
210 Honfi, Karoly232961 28.18
211 Barden, Leonhard William232567
212 Sumar, Julio232268
213 Raizman, Maurice232067 53.84
214 Rubel, Igor G231771
215 Mititelu, Gheorghe231470 24.17
216 Bertholdt, Dieter231368
217 Vukovic, Vladimir231367 60.35
218 Filep, Tibor231268 23.01
219 Reinhardt, Enrique H231258 55.75
220 Katalymov, Boris N231073
221 Bykov, Vladimir230976
222 Petersons, Andrejs230970
223 Zilber, Israel230870 25.51
224 Dittmann, Sieghart230766
225 Jezek, Jaroslav230674 32.80
226 Pelikán, Jorge230359 52.68
227 Thorbergsson, Freysteinn230073
228 Poliak, Abram B229976 56.51
229 Dely, Peter229964 24.49
230 Witkowski, Stefan229771 27.26
231 Palmason, Gudmundur229775
232 Casas, Fernando229563 32.36
233 Herink, Miroslav229475
234 Perez Perez, Francisco Jose229265
235 Pithart, Frantisek229175
236 Osnos, Viacheslav V229173 23.44
237 Durao, Joaquim228865 28.18
238 Lukic, Arsenije228665
239 Esposito, Alfredo228167
240 Prameshuber, Aleksander228065
241 Dworzynski, Roman228076
242 Paoli, Enrico227965 50.96
243 Rosenberg, Arie227876 23.41
244 Blumenfeld, Rudy227876 24.24
245 Nikolaevsky, Yuri V227872
246 De Greif, Boris227759 28.88
247 Spanjaard, Eduard227570 49.99
248 Ivkovic, Dusan227467 28.24
249 Sofrevski, Jovan227467 23.37
250 García Vera, Romeo227465
251 Stoeckl, Ernst227271 46.59
252 Luckis, Marcos227166 53.95
253 Bradvarevic, Aleksandar226973
254 Weinstein, Raymond A226476 17.68
255 Idigoras Guisasola, Gregorio226262
256 Estrada Degrandi, Walter225972
257 Mnatsakanian, Eduard A225873 20.07
258 Füster, Géza225861 48.86
259 Rubio Aguado, Fernando225666
260 Cintron, Rafael225476
261 Fairhurst, William A224966 55.36
262 Kozomara, Vladimir224565
263 Dyner, Israel224176
264 Sallay, Roland223468
265 Dreyer, Kurt222969 49.42
266 Pantaleev, Dimitar222473 28.55
267 Barczay, Laszlo222467 22.85
268 Tchelebi, Edgar222271
269 Branicki, Ignacy222172
270 Boutteville, Cesar221773 41.51
271 Campomanes, Florencio221774
272 Mangini, Jose Thiago221170
273 Llado Lumbera, Jaime220871 42.37
274 Puiggrós, Guillermo E220665 46.76
275 Benkö, Francisco219764 48.51
276 Orbaan, Constant219666 40.59
277 Buj, Pablo219573
278 Flesch, Janos219568 25.25
279 Bergraser, Volf219471
280 Catozzi, H.219276
281 Burstein, S.218772
282 Palermo, Vicente218569 26.80
283 Walsh, Chris217976
284 Lagha, Khelil217376
285 Olivera, Alfredo216464
286 Rubin, Mario215773
287 Varnusz, Egon215668 25.13
288 Benzaquen215071

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1958, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1958 and December 31, 1958, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1957. Players who have played an insufficient number of games in recent years will not appear on the list, even though you may see them on previous and/or subsequent lists. Any players who have been completely inactive for three years are removed from the list.

Definition of columns in the above list:

# refers to the player's world rank on this list.

Player is the full name of the player. Click on the player's name to see a career progression of the player's ratings.

Rating is the calculated rating for the player, as of December 31, 1958. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1959.

+/- is the standard deviation of the player's rating estimate. It is based on a geometric average of the number of rated games played in past years. Players who play very frequently will have a smaller +/- value, indicating a greater confidence in the accuracy of their rating. Players whose +/- value exceeds 76 are classified as "inactive" and removed from the ranking list due to their infrequent play against rated opponents. Mathematically, a player's rating is an estimate of their exact strength on January 1, 1959. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1959 should be within one standard deviation of their calculated rating approximately 68% of the time, and within two standard deviations of their calculated rating approximately 95% of the time.

Best? is the estimated likelihood that the player was actually the strongest player in the world on January 1, 1959. Since ratings are known to be inaccurate, it is possible that a lower-rated player is actually much stronger than their rating would indicate, and it is also possible that other players are weaker than their ratings would indicate. This number indicates the likelihood that the player is indeed the strongest player in the world. On a particular list, it will add up to 100% across the complete list of all players. This value is only calculated for the top 100 players on any rating list.

75%? gives a 75%-confidence world ranking for the player. Because ratings are known to be inaccurate, even if a particular player is rated third in the world, we cannot say with 100% certainty that they are truly one of the three strongest players in the world. This number indicates the world rank that we are 75% sure the player is "no worse than". Thus if a player has a value of #12 in this column, we are 75% sure that the player is one of the twelve strongest players in the world. This value is only calculated for the top 100 players on any rating list.

Age is the player's exact age in years, on December 31, 1958. If a player's age is displayed as a link, that means that this rating was active at the time of their next birthday. Click on the link to see the sorted list of all players' ratings on their birthdays when turning that same age.

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