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Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1959


All active players as of December 31, 1959

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Tal, Mikhail27164917.3% #823.14
2 Keres, Paul27095013.8% #1043.98
3 Botvinnik, Mikhail M27085515.7% #1048.37
4 Smyslov, Vassily V27035011.7% #1138.76
5 Petrosian, Tigran V2691507.6% #1330.54
6 Spassky, Boris V2685516.5% #1422.91
7 Reshevsky, Samuel H2674596.3% #1848.10
8 Gligoric, Svetozar2663492.4% #1936.91
9 Kholmov, Ratmir D2657542.6% #2234.63
10 Averbakh, Yury L2655522.1% #2237.89
11 Korchnoi, Viktor L2646511.3% #2428.77
12 Geller, Efim P2646521.4% #2534.82
13 Bronstein, David I2645511.2% #2535.86
14 Taimanov, Mark E2645511.3% #2533.89
15 Najdorf, Miguel2636571.4% #2949.71
16 Fischer, Robert J2626500.5% #3116.80
17 Boleslavsky, Isaak E2624560.8% #3340.56
18 Byrne, Donald2618732.3% #4029.55
19 Kotov, Alexander A2618600.9% #3746.38
20 Pachmann, Ludek2608520.2% #3835.64
21 Szabó, László2606520.2% #3942.78
22 Polugaevsky, Lev A2606550.3% #4025.11
23 Ivkov, Borislav2593510.1% #4526.13
24 Fuderer, Andrija2584630.3% #5328.63
25 Unzicker, Wolfgang2582550.1% #5134.51
26 Euwe, Machgielis2582640.2% #5558.61
27 Aronin, Lev S2577600.1% #5539.45
28 Schmid, Lothar M2576640.2% #5831.64
29 Matanovic, Aleksandar257653 #5429.61
30 Antoshin, Vladimir S2571640.2% #6130.63
31 Filip, Miroslav256955 #5931.18
32 Larsen, Bent256752 #5924.82
33 Tolush, Alexander K256655 #6049.66
34 Olafsson, Fridrik256451 #6024.92
35 Vasiukov, Evgeny A256055 #6426.81
36 Panno, Oscar R256056 #6424.78
37 Yanofsky, Daniel A2560710.2% #7134.76
38 Lutikov, Anatoly S255456 #6826.90
39 Lombardy, William J255461 #7022.07
40 Ilivitsky, Georgy A2553750.3% #7738.67
41 Bannik, Anatoly A255360 #7038.07
42 Stĺhlberg, Gideon254859 #7351.92
43 Portisch, Lajos254652 #7122.74
44 Trifunovic, Petar254456 #7449.33
45 Flohr, Salo2542710.1% #8251.13
46 Yukhtman, Jacob254159 #7724.96
47 Evans, Larry M253867 #8327.77
48 Gipslis, Aivars253858 #7922.89
49 Barcza, Gedeon253852 #7748.36
50 Byrne, Robert E253768 #8531.70
51 Djuraševic, Božidar253661 #8126.68
52 Furman, Semen A253554 #8039.08
53 Eliskases, Erich G253457 #8146.87
54 Benko, Pal C253453 #8031.46
55 Simagin, Vladimir P253360 #8440.53
56 Uhlmann, Wolfgang253054 #8324.75
57 Mikenas, Vladas252961 #8749.70
58 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric252560 #9048.62
59 Rabar, Braslav251865 #9740.26
60 Gufeld, Eduard E251758 #9423.78
61 Cherepkov, Alexander V251768 #9939.17
62 Matulovic, Milan251658 #9524.56
63 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid G251056 #9847.04
64 Cuéllar Gacharná, Miguel250467 #10843.12
65 Krogius, Nikolay V250456 #10329.44
66 Böök, Eero250269 #11149.89
67 Bisguier, Arthur B250259 #10630.23
68 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I249954 #10526.13
69 Ragozin, Viacheslav V249970 #11351.23
70 Nedeljkovic, Srecko249865 #11336.07
71 Bilek, István249855 #10727.39
72 Milic, Borislav249356 #11134.20
73 Bogdanovic, Rajko249269 #11828.13
74 Penrose, Jonathan249160 #11526.23
75 Nikitin, Aleksander S248960 #11724.92
76 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo248660 #11728.33
77 Suetin, Alexey S248661 #11933.12
78 Donner, Johannes H248353 #11632.48
79 Sanguinetti, Raúl C247952 #12026.90
80 Ujtelky, Maximilián247960 #12444.70
81 Kupper, Josef247859 #12427.80
82 Bertok, Mario247757 #12430.33
83 Udovcic, Mijo247561 #12739.30
84 Padevsky, Nikola B247460 #12826.59
85 Niephaus, Walter247172 #13636.75
86 Sherwin, James T246960 #13126.18
87 Darga, Klaus V246967 #13525.85
88 Denker, Arnold S246873 #13945.85
89 Pilnik, Herman246852 #12845.97
90 Pfeiffer, Gerhard246664 #13536.55
91 Aronson, Lev A246572 #14035.99
92 Rossetto, Héctor D246554 #13137.31
93 Minev, Nikolay N246467 #13828.97
94 Fichtl, Jirí246258 #13738.87
95 Porat, Yosef246068 #14250.57
96 Kluger, Guyla246056 #13745.95
97 Bondarevsky, Igor Z245869 #14446.63
98 Bivshev, Vasily M245767 #14437.86
99 Bernstein, Sidney N245770 #14548.47
100 Pirc, Vasja245464 #14452.03
101 Alster, Ladislav245365 32.75
102 Kottnauer, Cenek245275 49.85
103 Sokolov, Vladimir245259 26.33
104 Maric, Rudolf245266 32.63
105 Milev, Zdravko A245162 30.18
106 Khasin, Abram I245067 36.87
107 Bagirov, Vladimir K244876 23.37
108 Vukcevich, Milan R244867
109 Seidman, Herbert244670 39.20
110 Rakic, Tomislav244668 25.14
111 Puc, Stojan244465 38.73
112 Janoševic, Dragoljub244461 36.48
113 Alexander, Conel H244361 50.70
114 Torán Albero, Román244357 28.23
115 Tarasov, Vitaly G244368 36.94
116 Borisenko, Georgy K244263 37.60
117 Kozma, Julius244260 30.58
118 Stoliar, Efim Samoilovich244269 36.80
119 Czerniak, Moshe244173 49.90
120 Aloni, Izak244074
121 Tringov, Georgy P243975 22.81
122 Bastrikov, Georgy Vladimirovic243871
123 Soos, Bela243865 29.81
124 Golz, Werner243662
125 Karaklajic, Nikola243655 33.85
126 Neikirkh, Oleg N243557 45.81
127 Pietzsch, Wolfgang W243459 29.03
128 Sakharov, Yury N243270 37.29
129 Espinosa Flores, Rafael243163
130 Sliwa, Bogdan243157 37.90
131 Bernstein, Ossip S243075 77.25
132 Mednis, Edmar J242966 22.77
133 Szilágyi, György242970 38.49
134 van Scheltinga, Tjeerd D242860 45.81
135 Foguelman, Alberto242858 36.22
136 Prins, Lodewijk242870 46.92
137 Guimard, Carlos E242567 46.73
138 Sanchez, Luis A242557
139 Fuchs, Reinhart242465 25.26
140 Lengyel, Levente242461 26.55
141 Blatny, Frantisek242466 26.75
142 Garcia, Raimundo242361 23.59
143 Dueckstein, Andreas242358 32.41
144 Bouwmeester, Henk B242364 30.29
145 Smederevac, Petar242265 37.35
146 Ciric, Dragoljub M242276 24.13
147 Wexler, Bernardo242155 34.75
148 Teschner, Rudolf242165 37.87
149 Bhend, Edwin242158 28.31
150 Bobotsov, Milko G241962 28.25
151 Flórián, Tibor241755 40.82
152 Clarke, Peter H241762
153 Kolarov, Atanas S241672 25.82
154 Johannsson, Ingi Randver241673
155 Tröger, Paul241669 46.51
156 Ojanen, Kaarle Sakari241169
157 Sandor, Bela240970 40.05
158 Navarovszky, Laszlo240864 26.74
159 Keller, Dieter240660 23.45
160 Klaman, Konstantin M240571 42.02
161 Vukovic, Sava240161
162 Letelier Martner, René240056 44.28
163 Cuderman, Vinko239869
164 Lehmann, Heinz Dr239669
165 Sefc, Jan239675 35.06
166 Nei, Iivo239669 28.17
167 Walther, Edgar239660 29.02
168 Kramer, Haije239471 42.10
169 Blau, Max239359 41.03
170 Troianescu, Octav239373 43.90
171 Dimc, Dragutin239275
172 Szily, József239164 46.25
173 Malich, Burkhard G238968 23.09
174 Forintos, Gyözö V238954 24.42
175 Sokolsky, Alexey P238975 51.19
176 Flores Alvarez, Rodrigo238865 46.36
177 Vladimirov, Boris T238674 30.62
178 Sterner, Olof238575
179 Ugrinovic, Dragan238063 28.84
180 Bely, Miklos238074 46.39
181 Emma, Jaime J238054 21.95
182 Marini, Luis238069 47.25
183 Golombek, Harry237258 48.83
184 Cortlever, Nicolaas237173 44.55
185 Bolbochán, Jácobo237057 53.01
186 Van den Berg, Carel Benjamin236962
187 Tarnowski, Alfred236567 42.82
188 Plater, Kazimierz236571 44.82
189 Hort, Vlastimil236471 15.96
190 Piazzini, Luis R236363 54.63
191 Koberl, Ferenc236265
192 Cardoso, Radolfo Tan236165
193 Lokvenc, Josef236162 60.66
194 Dunkelblum, Arthur235967 53.69
195 Roessel, Fritz235871
196 Wade, Robert Graham235763
197 Zinn, Lothar235667 21.78
198 Szabo, Julius235667 26.34
199 Dely, Peter235556 25.49
200 Behrensen, Jorge235468 29.67
201 Barden, Leonhard William235364
202 Bertholdt, Dieter235163
203 Lukic, Arsenije235163
204 Haag, Ervin235056 26.96
205 Shocron, Ruben235058 38.86
206 Johannessen, Svein234969 22.20
207 Honfi, Karoly234855 29.18
208 Weinstein, Raymond A234467 18.68
209 Mardle, Denis Victor234469
210 Nievergelt, Erwin234359
211 Sumar, Julio234267
212 Juarez, CF.234276
213 Tomovic, Vasilje234176 53.64
214 Nikolaevsky, Yuri V234171
215 Zíta, František233973 50.09
216 Giustolisi, Alberto233869 31.78
217 Schweber, Samuel233876 23.46
218 Minic, Dragoljub233768 22.81
219 Djantar, Djordje233768 28.30
220 Opocenský, Karel233570 67.89
221 Smailbegovic, Hasan233373
222 Ader Hausman, Walter233264
223 Blagidze, Alexander233272
224 Pogats, Jozsef233060 31.47
225 Franz, Joachim232960 25.65
226 Milner-Barry, Philip S232974 53.28
227 Ivanvco, Imrich232971
228 Salas Romo, Julio232865
229 Klavins, Janis232765
230 Katalymov, Boris N232776
231 Foldi, Jozsef232765 26.10
232 Perez Perez, Francisco Jose232566
233 Kostro, Jerzy232568 22.93
234 Stoeckl, Ernst232269 47.60
235 Redolfi, Argentino Rodolfo232258
236 Beni, Alfred232260 36.58
237 Sofrevski, Jovan231963 24.37
238 Barendregt, Johan Teunis231867
239 Djaja, Dragutin231775 39.36
240 Petersons, Andrejs231672
241 Hofman, Vilem231271
242 Niemela, Ilmari230866
243 Brzozka, Stefan230670
244 Pelikán, Jorge230660 53.69
245 Vukovic, Vladimir230576 61.35
246 Dittmann, Sieghart229974
247 Jenei, Ferenc229665 44.19
248 Reinhardt, Enrique H229163 56.75
249 Jaeger, Walter229174
250 Rebaza228776
251 Casas, Fernando228771 33.36
252 Durao, Joaquim228073 29.18
253 Stupica, Janesz228067
254 Ivkovic, Dusan227863 29.24
255 Langeweg, Kick227669 22.81
256 De Greif, Boris227566 29.88
257 Shishov, Mikhail Vasilievich227472
258 Haygarth, Michael J227368
259 Prameshuber, Aleksander227374
260 Heemsoth, Hermann227273 50.03
261 García Vera, Romeo227174
262 Luckis, Marcos226869 54.95
263 Boskovic, Milorad226676
264 Jovanic, R.226676
265 Podgorný, Jirí226573 47.06
266 Idigoras Guisasola, Gregorio226070
267 Jauregui Andrade, Carlos225862
268 Füster, Géza225569 49.86
269 Brach, Julius225071
270 Jares, J.225071
271 Fabian, J.225071
272 Quinones, Oscar Carillo224976
273 Rubio Aguado, Fernando224875
274 Paoli, Enrico224863 51.96
275 Fairhurst, William A224775 56.36
276 Fazekas, Stefan224474 61.59
277 Puiggrós, Guillermo E224065 47.76
278 Kozomara, Vladimir223773
279 Burger, H.223473
280 Incutto, Carlos223166
281 Binner223076
282 Puig Pulido, Pedro222975
283 Cafferty, Bernard222974 25.51
284 Witkowski, Stefan222857 28.26
285 de Souza Mendes, Joăo221858 67.44
286 Gromek, Jozef221364 28.70
287 Palermo, Vicente221263 27.80
288 Espinoza, Carlos221276
289 Del Pozo, Nestor221276
290 Zapata Vinces, Mario221276
291 Llado Lumbera, Jaime221274 43.37
292 Augustin, Josef221171 17.62
293 Kupka, Slavoj221171 17.48
294 Wood, Baruch Harold221173
295 Olexa, Vilém220771 62.18
296 Pinzon Solis, Felipe220175
297 Winser, W.219673
298 Benkö, Francisco219573 49.52
299 Orbaan, Constant219464 41.60
300 Steinbaum, Fernando219376
301 Bielicki, Carlos219376 19.63
302 Rodriguez, Ros219376
303 Avirovic, Djordje219176
304 Pantaleev, Dimitar219176 29.55
305 Ault, Robin218573
306 Perez Alcocer, Jose218472
307 Olivera, Alfredo216871
308 Orendy, Emil216366
309 Bahamonde, Antonio215676
310 Stekel Grunberg, Moises213667
311 Hevizi, Laszlo213466 37.42
312 Sicilia, M.212776
313 Melamedoff, Manuel212176
314 Pritchard, David B210876

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1959, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1959 and December 31, 1959, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1958. 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, 1959. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1960.

+/- 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, 1960. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1960 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, 1960. 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, 1959. 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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