< September 30, 1961     Back to date list    March 31, 1962 >

Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1961

  #  

Player Rating +/-
1 Botvinnik, Mikhail M275052
2 Petrosian, Tigran V272850
3 Korchnoi, Viktor L272550
4 Spassky, Boris V270051
5 Tal, Mikhail269949
6 Smyslov, Vassily V268850
7 Keres, Paul268750
8 Fischer, Robert J268351
9 Kholmov, Ratmir D266756
10 Geller, Efim P266251

About these ratings

All active players as of December 31, 1961

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Botvinnik, Mikhail M27505231.4% #550.37
2 Petrosian, Tigran V27285017.0% #732.54
3 Korchnoi, Viktor L27255015.2% #830.77
4 Spassky, Boris V2700517.2% #1224.91
5 Tal, Mikhail2699496.3% #1225.14
6 Smyslov, Vassily V2688504.1% #1440.76
7 Keres, Paul2687504.0% #1445.98
8 Fischer, Robert J2683513.7% #1518.80
9 Kholmov, Ratmir D2667562.8% #2036.63
10 Geller, Efim P2662511.5% #2036.82
11 Gligoric, Svetozar2656480.9% #2138.91
12 Reshevsky, Samuel H2652551.4% #2450.10
13 Taimanov, Mark E2646490.5% #2435.89
14 Averbakh, Yury L2641510.6% #2639.89
15 Polugaevsky, Lev A2632510.3% #2927.11
16 Stein, Leonid Z2626560.4% #3227.13
17 Bronstein, David I2616500.1% #3537.86
18 Vasiukov, Evgeny A2612530.1% #3828.81
19 Antoshin, Vladimir S2607680.7% #4532.63
20 Najdorf, Miguel2605530.1% #4051.71
21 Unzicker, Wolfgang2604530.1% #4136.51
22 Aronin, Lev S2603590.2% #4341.45
23 Boleslavsky, Isaak E2601570.1% #4342.56
24 Kotov, Alexander A2594670.4% #5148.38
25 Schmid, Lothar M2594570.1% #4733.64
26 Byrne, Robert E2591560.1% #4833.70
27 Olafsson, Fridrik258851 #4826.92
28 Filip, Miroslav258651 #4933.18
29 Ivkov, Borislav258352 #5128.13
30 Lombardy, William J2576580.1% #5724.07
31 Matanovic, Aleksandar257550 #5531.61
32 Bolbochán, Julio2572720.3% #6541.77
33 Bagirov, Vladimir K256255 #6525.37
34 Larsen, Bent256153 #6426.82
35 Evans, Larry M256061 #6829.77
36 Gipslis, Aivars255957 #6824.89
37 Portisch, Lajos255949 #6424.74
38 Trifunovic, Petar255951 #6551.33
39 Szabó, László255650 #6744.78
40 Uhlmann, Wolfgang255251 #6926.75
41 Pachmann, Ludek255050 #7037.64
42 Benko, Pal C254755 #7433.46
43 Byrne, Donald2547700.1% #8231.55
44 Trapl, Jindrich254167 #8519.76
45 Yukhtman, Jacob2540750.1% #8926.96
46 Kots, Yury I253861 #8428.06
47 Euwe, Machgielis253869 #8760.61
48 Tolush, Alexander K253857 #8251.66
49 Darga, Klaus V253854 #8027.85
50 Lutikov, Anatoly S253155 #8628.90
51 Furman, Semen A253055 #8641.08
52 Krogius, Nikolay V252860 #9131.44
53 Flohr, Salo252862 #9253.13
54 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo252859 #9030.33
55 Djuraševic, Božidar252859 #9128.68
56 Simagin, Vladimir P252752 #8742.53
57 Gufeld, Eduard E252654 #9025.78
58 Cherepkov, Alexander V252258 #9441.17
59 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric252154 #9350.62
60 Shianovsky, Vladislav I252061 #9732.02
61 Robatsch, Karl251756 #9833.21
62 Enevoldsen, Jens251470 #10754.27
63 Barcza, Gedeon251251 #9950.36
64 Stĺhlberg, Gideon251258 #10253.92
65 Matulovic, Milan251052 #10026.56
66 Penrose, Jonathan250959 #10528.23
67 Shamkovich, Leonid A250756 #10438.58
68 Bisguier, Arthur B250751 #10232.23
69 Bannik, Anatoly A250658 #10640.07
70 Parma, Bruno250558 #10820.00
71 Nedeljkovic, Srecko250368 #11538.07
72 Bondarevsky, Igor Z250163 #11348.63
73 Mikenas, Vladas250172 #11851.70
74 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid G250157 #11049.04
75 Ciric, Dragoljub M249954 #11026.13
76 Estrin, Yacov B249969 #11938.69
77 Rossetto, Héctor D249852 #11039.31
78 Ghitescu, Theodor249558 #11627.93
79 Minev, Nikolay N249359 #11830.97
80 Böök, Eero249372 #12451.89
81 Khasin, Abram I249254 #11538.87
82 Nei, Iivo249262 #12030.17
83 Bilek, István249151 #11529.39
84 Bobotsov, Milko G248754 #12030.25
85 Guimard, Carlos E248557 #12348.73
86 Padevsky, Nikola B248461 #12628.59
87 Bertok, Mario248252 #12332.33
88 Sherwin, James T248162 #12928.18
89 Donner, Johannes H248051 #12334.48
90 Farré Mallofré, Miguel248063 #13125.85
91 Sanguinetti, Raúl C248061 #12928.90
92 Udovcic, Mijo247952 #12541.30
93 Tarasov, Vitaly G247657 #13138.94
94 Lein, Anatoly247462 #13430.75
95 Hort, Vlastimil247457 #13117.96
96 Pilnik, Herman246763 #14047.97
97 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I246655 #13728.13
98 Eliskases, Erich G246554 #13748.87
99 Ciocaltea, Victor246473 #14829.95
100 Weinstein, Raymond A246362 #14220.68
101 Goldberg, Grigory A245970 53.42
102 Kolarov, Atanas S245867 27.82
103 Karaklajic, Nikola245757 35.85
104 Garcia, Raimundo245763 25.59
105 Smederevac, Petar245469 39.35
106 Ujtelky, Maximilián245456 46.70
107 Seidman, Herbert245265 41.20
108 Mednis, Edmar J245167 24.77
109 Aloni, Izak245167
110 Lundin, Erik245173 57.50
111 Rabar, Braslav245057 42.26
112 Kupper, Josef245061 29.80
113 Schweber, Samuel245064 25.46
114 Sokolov, Vladimir244962 28.33
115 Pirc, Vasja244956 54.03
116 Pietzsch, Wolfgang W244756 31.03
117 Suetin, Alexey S244663 35.12
118 Johannessen, Svein244555 24.20
119 Blatny, Frantisek244573 28.75
120 Alexander, Conel H244374 52.70
121 Keller, Dieter244361 25.45
122 Porat, Yosef244266 52.57
123 Bogdanovic, Rajko244263 30.13
124 Puc, Stojan244155 40.73
125 Drimer, Dolfi244156 27.21
126 Milev, Zdravko A243964 32.18
127 Pfeiffer, Gerhard243860 38.55
128 Dueckstein, Andreas243758 34.41
129 Minic, Dragoljub243760 24.81
130 Bobekov, R.243670
131 Milic, Borislav243554 36.20
132 Espinosa Flores, Rafael243266
133 Borisenko, Georgy K243258 39.60
134 Jansa, Vlastimil243263 19.09
135 Bernstein, Sidney N243268 50.47
136 Savon, Vladimir A243260 21.26
137 Nilsson, Zandor243172
138 Bialas, Wolfram243165 26.35
139 Szilágyi, György242870 40.49
140 Blau, Max242866 43.03
141 Dely, Peter242856 27.49
142 Tröger, Paul242861 48.51
143 Neikirkh, Oleg N242760 47.81
144 van Scheltinga, Tjeerd D242658 47.81
145 Fichtl, Jirí242656 40.87
146 Kozma, Julius242561 32.58
147 Czerniak, Moshe242569 51.90
148 Sanchez, Luis A242472
149 Ojanen, Kaarle Sakari242471
150 Bouwmeester, Henk B242257 32.29
151 Clarke, Peter H242261
152 Lengyel, Levente242156 28.55
153 Sakharov, Yury N242067 39.29
154 Zinn, Lothar242060 23.78
155 Niephaus, Walter241968 38.75
156 Malich, Burkhard G241662 25.09
157 Vladimirov, Boris T241261 32.62
158 Letelier Martner, René241054 46.28
159 Torán Albero, Román240955 30.23
160 Kluger, Guyla240855 47.95
161 Lehmann, Heinz Dr240755
162 Van den Berg, Carel Benjamin240662
163 Korzin, Vitaly A240669
164 Titenko, Vladimir F240669
165 Klovans, Janis240476 26.73
166 Fuchs, Reinhart240362 27.26
167 Hearst, Eliot Sanford240370
168 Altschul, Milos240169
169 Janoševic, Dragoljub240063 38.48
170 Teschner, Rudolf239957 39.87
171 Buslaev, Alexander N239876 32.21
172 Andersen, Borge239875 27.78
173 Soos, Bela239567 31.81
174 Cuderman, Vinko239465
175 Flórián, Tibor239363 42.82
176 Foguelman, Alberto239256 38.22
177 Sliwa, Bogdan239255 39.90
178 Mohrlok, Dieter239269
179 Radulov, Ivan239068 22.98
180 Honfi, Karoly238857 31.18
181 Tarnowski, Alfred238864 44.82
182 Szily, József238675 48.25
183 Sofrevski, Jovan238557 26.37
184 Ignatiev, Felix N238469 29.97
185 Drozd, Ryszard238461 27.54
186 Golz, Werner238262
187 Daskalov, Georgi238074
188 Damjanovic, Mato237957 34.77
189 Mihaljcisin, Mihajlo237968 28.85
190 Canal, Esteban237875 65.70
191 Trmal, Jaroslav237676 24.55
192 Bazan, Osvaldo237656 27.21
193 Wexler, Bernardo237554 36.75
194 Radovici, Corvin237565 30.03
195 Pustina, Ylvi237372
196 Henneberke, Franciscus237364
197 Blom, Kaj237165
198 Esposito, Alfredo236973
199 Giustolisi, Alberto236964 33.78
200 Bolbochán, Jácobo236972 55.01
201 Bikhovsky, Anatoly A236869 27.67
202 Kinzel, Anton236766
203 Eising, Johannes236764 26.59
204 Langeweg, Kick236656 24.81
205 Jiménez Zerquera, Eleazar236676 33.52
206 Alvarez del Monte, Jose Luis236363
207 Bhend, Edwin236262 30.31
208 Germek, Milan236260
209 Stupica, Janesz235963
210 Littlewood, John Eric235865
211 Turner, Abe235870
212 Forintos, Gyözö V235758 26.42
213 Walther, Edgar235760 31.02
214 Ader Hausman, Walter235774
215 Kramer, Haije235672 44.10
216 Opocenský, Karel235569 69.89
217 Kavalek, Lubomir235472 18.39
218 Emma, Jaime J235462 23.95
219 Pogats, Jozsef235355 33.47
220 Gereben, Ernö235263 54.54
221 Weise, Dieter235276
222 Krivec, Slavko235173
223 Barden, Leonhard William235162
224 Nielsen, Axel Jorgen235170
225 Johansson, Martin235072 43.40
226 Shocron, Ruben234874 40.86
227 Cruz, Raul C234760
228 Grabczewski, Romuald234667 29.89
229 Wade, Robert Graham234554
230 Haag, Ervin234355 28.96
231 Doda, Zbigniew234363 30.85
232 Dolezal, Jiri234275 32.87
233 Bertholdt, Dieter234273
234 Nievergelt, Erwin234174
235 Golombek, Harry234059 50.83
236 Kozomara, Vladimir234059
237 Smailbegovic, Hasan234062
238 Albareda, Miguel Crues233966
239 Pelikán, Jorge233755 55.69
240 Prameshuber, Aleksander233765
241 Navarovszky, Laszlo233760 28.74
242 Eisinger, Max Jr233775 52.51
243 Marini, Luis233672 49.25
244 Popov, Luben233573 25.92
245 Mititelu, Gheorghe233559 27.17
246 Zíta, František233476 52.09
247 Khodos, German L233471
248 Franco, X.233468
249 Behrensen, Jorge233364 31.67
250 Stoppel, Franz233373 30.24
251 Lokvenc, Josef233070 62.66
252 De Rooi, Paul233071 33.34
253 Lange, Helmut232968 25.67
254 Vasilchuk, Yury232969
255 Zakharov, Alexander V232969 18.23
256 Brzozka, Stefan232964
257 Persitz, Rafael232870
258 Grushevsky, Alexander V232776
259 Redolfi, Argentino Rodolfo232665
260 Karastoichev, Emil Stefanov232673
261 Handel, Horst232675
262 Fabian, J.232468
263 Bielicki, Carlos232454 21.63
264 Djantar, Djordje232464 30.30
265 Perez Perez, Francisco Jose232351
266 Ljungqvist, Lennart232366
267 Haygarth, Michael J232273
268 Thorbergsson, Freysteinn232274
269 Beni, Alfred232159 38.58
270 Puig Pulido, Pedro232066
271 Bednarski, Jacek B232066 22.80
272 Casas, Fernando231864 35.36
273 Kostro, Jerzy231861 24.93
274 Luckis, Marcos231668 56.95
275 Schuster, Theodor231465
276 Liberzon, Vladimir M231369 24.77
277 Goldenberg, E.231255
278 Maedler, Juergen231173 25.26
279 Van Geet, Dirk Daniel231169 29.83
280 Reinhardt, Enrique H231057 58.75
281 Kahn, Manfred231076 30.78
282 Ratolistka, Josef230276 8.88
283 Marinkovic, Milan230168 11.16
284 Molnar, Imre229865 31.14
285 Contedini, Ennio229569
286 Tan Hiong Liong229170
287 Muchnik, Khanan Lvovich229069
288 Dominguez, Christobal228956
289 Szollosi, Laszlo Sr228865 35.37
290 Durao, Joaquim228862 31.18
291 Réthy, Pál228565 56.92
292 Guti, E.228573
293 Estrada Degrandi, Walter228560
294 Marthaler, Otto228565
295 Marsalek, Josef228459 26.78
296 Niemela, Ilmari228364
297 Vesely, Jiri228369
298 Camara, Ronald228262
299 Barendregt, Johan Teunis227957
300 Puiggrós, Guillermo E227866 49.76
301 Hartmann, Claus227575
302 Gheorghiu, Florin227571 17.73
303 Hottes, Dieter227571 26.42
304 Saborido, Rafael227061
305 Klein, Juan Carlos226969
306 Liebert, Heinz226665 25.60
307 Podolsky, Horst226566
308 Skacel, Jan226476 27.30
309 Bulat, Ante226374 29.70
310 Varnusz, Egon226364 28.13
311 Vospernik, Mira226268 22.88
312 Weise, D.226076
313 Flesch, Janos226064 28.25
314 Grünfeld, Ernst225768 68.11
315 De Miguel, Carlos225672
316 Schrafl, P.225573
317 Rubinstein, Jose225369
318 Clemens, Christian225168 21.40
319 Kramer, George M224972 32.63
320 Marovic, Dražen224863 23.96
321 Szapiro, Gedali224773
322 Fischer, Ernst224773 24.90
323 Raisa, Unto224569 27.78
324 Sanz Aguado, Jose224576 54.11
325 Kraidman, Yair224572 29.16
326 Sallay, Roland224364
327 Quinones, Oscar Carillo224264
328 Stockl, E.224168
329 Heidenfeld, Wolfgang223960
330 Moehring, Guenther223775 25.10
331 Weber, Bernd223775
332 Incutto, Carlos223763
333 Romani, Elio223671
334 Steinbaum, Fernando223068
335 Lastovicka, Jiri222776 28.11
336 Garcia Orus, Francisco222771
337 Bakulin, Nikolac I222366
338 Reilly, Brian P222273 60.05
339 de Souza Mendes, Joăo222172 69.44
340 Witkowski, Stefan221867 30.26
341 Aaron, Manuel221863 26.00
342 Struner, Philipp221773
343 Saadi, Julio221774
344 Paoli, Enrico221760 53.96
345 Benitez, Otto221573
346 Vodep, Otto221576 32.95
347 Kuznetsov, Victor N221369
348 Volovich, Anatoly A221369 25.28
349 Shatskes, Boris A221369
350 Potasman, William221073
351 Gadia, Olicio220874
352 Burehall, Arne220772
353 Llado Lumbera, Jaime220672 45.37
354 Orbaan, Constant220075 43.60
355 Georgescu, Vasile Sr219871
356 Bruemmer, Ullrich219876
357 Kolvig, Bent219476 28.68
358 Orendy, Emil219363
359 Zirngibl, Albert219275
360 Scanavino, Eduardo219165
361 Gonzalez Garcia, Jose218676
362 Silva Nazzari, Roberto218559 22.11
363 Lloyd, Ken218375
364 Gragger, Anton Fritz218262
365 Obregoso217669
366 Grane, E.217376
367 Kopetzky, Karl216368
368 Raetsch, Heinz216275
369 Christoffel, Martin216266 39.33
370 Florián, Jaromír216070 50.38
371 Mueller Breil, Paul215873
372 Benkö, Francisco215464 51.52
373 Suvalic214768
374 Emden, Hermann214273
375 Etcheverry, E.214073
376 Van de Pol, Jan213571 27.36
377 Shahar, Shimon213473
378 Chemes, L.213468
379 Recalde, Eleuterio213366
380 Martin, L.212474
381 Varlotta, A.212174
382 Krstev, Krum210068
383 Eggenberger209473
384 Rivarola, B.207676

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1961, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1961 and December 31, 1961, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1960. 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, 1961. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1962.

+/- 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, 1962. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1962 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, 1962. 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, 1961. 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.

Back to top

Home