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Top 10 active players as of August 31, 1978

  #  

Player Rating +/-
1 Karpov, Anatoly E278549
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L277049
3 Tal, Mikhail271049
4 Spassky, Boris V270551
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A270050
6 Petrosian, Tigran V268349
7 Larsen, Bent267950
8 Portisch, Lajos267950
9 Gulko, Boris F266849
10 Timman, Jan H266648

About these ratings

Top 500 active players as of August 31, 1978

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Karpov, Anatoly E27854944.8% #327.27
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L27704930.7% #447.44
3 Tal, Mikhail2710494.2% #1741.81
4 Spassky, Boris V2705513.8% #1941.59
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A2700502.9% #2143.78
6 Petrosian, Tigran V2683491.3% #2749.21
7 Larsen, Bent2679501.2% #3043.49
8 Portisch, Lajos2679501.2% #3041.41
9 Gulko, Boris F2668490.7% #3531.56
10 Timman, Jan H2666480.5% #3626.71
11 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly V2664500.6% #3833.93
12 Vaganian, Rafael A2662500.5% #4026.87
13 Balashov, Yury S2658490.4% #4229.47
14 Hort, Vlastimil2655480.3% #4334.64
15 Mecking, Henrique2654570.9% #4926.61
16 Vasiukov, Evgeny A2653590.8% #5045.49
17 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir2650500.3% #4727.83
18 Geller, Efim P2648500.3% #4953.50
19 Romanishin, Oleg M2642490.1% #5226.64
20 Kuzmin, Gennady P2641490.2% #5332.62
21 Tukmakov, Vladimir B2639500.1% #5532.46
22 Ribli, Zoltán2638510.1% #5626.98
23 Savon, Vladimir A2637520.2% #5737.92
24 Smyslov, Vassily V2637500.2% #5757.44
25 Hübner, Robert2635530.2% #6029.82
26 Kholmov, Ratmir D2634560.3% #6253.30
27 Dorfman, Iosif D2633500.1% #5926.33
28 Dzindzichashvili, Roman Y2633550.2% #6334.32
29 Beliavsky, Alexander G2632500.1% #6124.71
30 Gufeld, Eduard E2628580.2% #6842.45
31 Lerner, Konstantin Z2624560.2% #7028.51
32 Bagirov, Vladimir K2619520.1% #7342.04
33 Kurajica, Bojan2617530.1% #7530.79
34 Krogius, Nikolay V2617630.3% #8048.11
35 Bronstein, David I261752 #7454.53
36 Ivanov, Igor V2615640.3% #8331.65
37 Miles, Anthony J261348 #7523.36
38 Dvoretsky, Mark I2606570.1% #8730.73
39 Marangunic, Srdjan2605740.5% #9934.83
40 Gligoric, Svetozar260450 #8455.58
41 Gipslis, Aivars260454 #8741.56
42 Kupreichik, Viktor D260256 #8929.16
43 Razuvaev, Yury S260158 #9132.88
44 Parma, Bruno260155 #9136.67
45 Kavalek, Lubomir259950 #9035.06
46 Sanguinetti, Raúl C2598600.1% #9645.58
47 Sax, Gyula259850 #9027.20
48 Smejkal, Jan259750 #9232.44
49 Palatnik, Semen A259659 #9728.43
50 Pfleger, Helmut259457 #9835.07
51 Kochiev, Alexander259352 #9622.43
52 Ivkov, Borislav259350 #9544.80
53 Unzicker, Wolfgang2591620.1% #10453.18
54 Gheorghiu, Florin259153 #9834.40
55 Andersson, Ulf259148 #9527.18
56 Chekhov, Valery A2590600.1% #10422.76
57 Sveshnikov, Evgeny E258751 #10128.55
58 Taimanov, Mark E258752 #10252.57
59 Matanovic, Aleksandar258660 #10748.27
60 Liberzon, Vladimir M258654 #10441.44
61 Sosonko, Gennadi258450 #10335.29
62 Mikhalchishin, Adrian B258362 #11223.79
63 Szabó, László258261 #11261.45
64 Byrne, Robert E258052 #10850.36
65 Uhlmann, Wolfgang257850 #10843.42
66 Olafsson, Fridrik257851 #10943.60
67 Panno, Oscar R257852 #11043.46
68 Georgadze, Tamaz V257760 #11630.81
69 Lein, Anatoly257656 #11547.43
70 Zaitsev, Igor A257562 #11840.26
71 Darga, Klaus V2574720.1% #12744.52
72 Browne, Walter S257351 #11429.64
73 Kapengut, Albert Z257266 #12434.16
74 Torre, Eugenio257252 #11526.82
75 Alburt, Lev O257151 #11633.03
76 Zakharov, Alexander V257063 #12434.89
77 Suetin, Alexey S257056 #12051.79
78 Averbakh, Yury L2570690.1% #12856.56
79 Rashkovsky, Nukhim N256754 #12232.37
80 Tarjan, James E256652 #12126.53
81 Panchenko, Alexander N256157 #12924.90
82 Knaak, Rainer F256151 #12625.46
83 Sakharov, A.256068 #137
84 Nei, Iivo256067 #13646.83
85 Ubilava, Elizbar E255667 #13928.01
86 Vitolinš, Alvis255460 #13832.21
87 Vokác, Marek255466 #14019.73
88 Makarichev, Sergey Y255364 #14024.79
89 Klovans, Janis255358 #13643.39
90 Tseitlin, Mark D2552740.1% #14734.93
91 Peters, John A255258 #13727.56
92 Rogoff, Kenneth S255156 #13725.44
93 Grigorian, Karen A255154 #13730.98
94 Pachmann, Ludek255059 #14054.30
95 Timoshchenko, Gennady255061 #14229.34
96 Csom, István255050 #13438.25
97 Bukic, Enver255053 #13740.75
98 Najdorf, Miguel254955 #13968.38
99 Lombardy, William J254853 #13940.74
100 Adorján, András254850 #13728.42
101 Matulovic, Milan254754 43.22
102 Karasev, Vladimir I254669 40.21
103 Evans, Larry M254661 46.44
104 Tringov, Georgy P254559 41.48
105 Tseitlin, Mikhail S254460 31.21
106 Radulov, Ivan254356 39.65
107 Malich, Burkhard G254355 41.76
108 Quinteros, Miguel A254350 30.68
109 Petrushin, Alexander I254164 31.47
110 Grefe, John A254164 30.98
111 Stean, Michael F254152 24.98
112 Filip, Miroslav253965 49.84
113 Velimirovic, Dragoljub253753 36.30
114 Sigurjónsson, Gudmundur253751 30.93
115 Nikolac, Juraj253555 46.36
116 Knezevic, Milorad253552 41.83
117 Platonov, Igor V253462 44.62
118 Shamkovich, Leonid A253253 55.25
119 Hecht, Hans-Joachim252864 39.59
120 Zhuravliov, Valerij252767 39.72
121 Weinstein, Norman252657 27.90
122 Luczak, Andrzej252366 29.74
123 Katalymov, Boris N252371
124 Vukic, Milan252353 35.03
125 Lutikov, Anatoly S252256 45.57
126 Reshevsky, Samuel H252054 66.76
127 Díez del Corral, Jesús251871 45.40
128 Faragó, Iván251750 32.41
129 Kovacevic, Vladimir251759 36.43
130 Vogt, Lothar H251752 26.62
131 Vukcevich, Milan R251664
132 Ree, Hans251649 33.95
133 Keene, Raymond251653
134 Schmidt, Wlodzimierz251552 35.39
135 Kasparov, Garry K251562 15.38
136 Benko, Pal C251554 50.13
137 Faibisovich, Vadim Z251367 34.31
138 Doroshkievich, Vladimir K251372 40.68
139 Donner, Johannes H251354 51.15
140 Peresipkin, Vladimir251260
141 Rajkovic, Dusan251255 36.21
142 Hulak, Krunoslav251155 27.27
143 Averkin, Orest N251171 34.52
144 Murey, Yakov251168 37.08
145 Petrosian, Arshak B251157 24.71
146 Regan, Kenneth250955 18.96
147 Pribyl, Josef250954 30.88
148 Maric, Rudolf250975 51.30
149 Antoshin, Vladimir S250972 49.30
150 Ciocaltea, Victor250955 46.62
151 García Gonzáles, Guillermo250856 24.73
152 Jansa, Vlastimil250751 35.76
153 Piasetski, Leon David250562
154 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I250564 44.80
155 Calvo Minguez, Ricardo250467 34.85
156 Karaklajic, Nikola250270 52.52
157 Lengyel, Levente250154 45.22
158 Dueball, Juergen250076 33.42
159 Stoica, Valentin250060 28.54
160 Stanciu, Traian249972 42.96
161 Dolmatov, Sergey V249967 19.53
162 Nunn, John D M249853 23.35
163 Bilek, István249863 46.05
164 Schweber, Samuel249864 42.12
165 Schneider, Lars Ake249755
166 Tatai, Stefano249652 40.44
167 Yuferov, Sergey N249672 32.74
168 Espig, Lutz249551 29.65
169 Hermann, Manfred249568 35.99
170 Barczay, Laszlo249551 42.53
171 Lputian, Smbat G249371 20.55
172 Sanguinetti, Renato249368 62.36
173 Biyiasas, Peter249257 27.78
174 Radev, Nikolai249267 39.70
175 Prandstetter, Eduard249257 29.71
176 Bleiman, Yaacov249166 30.97
177 Kaplan, Julio P249058 28.10
178 Nemet, Ivan249070 35.38
179 Kirov Ivanov, Nino249053 32.97
180 Gaprindashvili, Nona248958 37.33
181 Soltis, Andrew E248858 31.26
182 Diesen, Mark C248853
183 Mariotti, Sergio248755 32.06
184 Simic, Radoslav248774 30.23
185 Lukin, Andrei M248768 30.01
186 Van Wijgerden, Cornelis248658 28.27
187 Rodriguez, Amador248658 21.97
188 Ghizdavu, Dumitru248470 29.28
189 Mohrlok, Dieter248373
190 Suba, Mihai248355 31.25
191 Mestel, A Jonathan248253 21.47
192 Pereszupkin, Alexander248172
193 Hartston, William R248157 31.05
194 Szekely, Peter248062 23.56
195 Lederman, Leon247861 31.27
196 Vadasz, Laszlo247852 30.59
197 Marovic, Dražen247860 40.63
198 Commons, Kim S247758 27.11
199 Mednis, Edmar J247754 41.44
200 Zuckerman, Bernard247658 35.42
201 Balinas, Rosendo Carrean247664
202 Podgaets, Mikhail Y247675 31.11
203 Jansson, Borje247675 36.47
204 Kraidman, Yair247559 45.83
205 Ungureanu, Emil247562 41.83
206 Ciric, Dragoljub M247575 42.80
207 Gerusel, Mathias247561 40.57
208 Ghinda, Mihail Viorel247458 29.10
209 Sofrevski, Jovan247463 43.04
210 Johannsson, Ingi Randver247374
211 Garcia Martinez, Silvino247258 34.16
212 Karner, Hillar247161 43.09
213 Mnatsakanian, Eduard A247065 39.73
214 Ermenkov, Evgenij247055 28.92
215 Antunac, Goran246973 33.37
216 Marjanovic, Slavoljub246755 23.65
217 Planinc, Albin246753 34.37
218 Dely, Peter246766 44.15
219 Padevsky, Nikola B246658 45.26
220 Sunye Neto, Jaime246558 21.33
221 Balshan, Amikam246365
222 Brinck Claussen, Bjorn246365
223 Barle, Janez246359 26.44
224 Atanasov, Petko246271 30.63
225 Bisguier, Arthur B246258 48.89
226 Forintos, Gyözö V246156 43.09
227 Langeweg, Kick246154 41.48
228 Hernandez, Roman246155 28.77
229 Sahovic, Dragutin246057 38.06
230 Rath, Ulrik246063 31.68
231 Spassov, Liuben246057 35.44
232 Hazai, Laszlo246055 25.21
233 Nikolaevsky, Yuri V245974
234 Portisch, Ferenc245954 39.39
235 Ftácnik, Lubomír245951 20.83
236 Lakic, Nikola245972 31.12
237 Martz, William E245872
238 Pintér, József245856 24.81
239 Zaichik, Gennady L245761 21.55
240 Martinovic, Slobodan245764 33.10
241 Christiansen, Larry M245755 22.18
242 Malaniuk, Vladimir P245673 21.11
243 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric245575 67.29
244 Clarke, Peter H245574
245 Kozlov, V.245567
246 Westerinen, Heikki MJ245551 34.34
247 Gusev, Vladimir A245471
248 Kristiansen, Jens245458 26.27
249 Hug, Werner245357 25.97
250 Vladimirov, Evgeny Y245365 21.61
251 Ghitescu, Theodor245256 44.60
252 Vaisser, Anatoli245274 29.49
253 Honfi, Karoly245259 47.84
254 Lechtynsky, Jiri245155 30.77
255 Zilberstein, Valery I245174 35.38
256 Jakobsen, Ole245165 35.86
257 Robatsch, Karl245063 49.87
258 Toth, Bela244863 35.37
259 Mikenas, Vladas244864 68.37
260 Cvetkovic, Srdjan244762 32.51
261 Bohosjan, Sarkis244764 37.43
262 Ligterink, Gert244752 28.79
263 Inkiov, Ventzislav244664 22.28
264 Dueckstein, Andreas244676 51.08
265 Popov, Luben244660 42.59
266 Minev, Nikolay N244664 47.65
267 Damjanovic, Mato244455 51.44
268 Lukacs, Peter244451 28.14
269 Ivanovic, Božidar244455 32.02
270 Minic, Dragoljub244365 41.49
271 Cuéllar Gacharná, Miguel244368 61.79
272 Haag, Ervin244375 45.64
273 Poutiainen, Pertti244263
274 Sydor, Andrzej244165 41.66
275 Rukavina, Josip244159 35.76
276 Krnic, Zdenko243970 30.91
277 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo243960 46.99
278 Brasket, Curt Justin243967
279 Piesina, Gintautas243964 26.40
280 Matera, Salvatore Joseph243861
281 Barcza, Gedeon243770 67.03
282 Mestrovic, Zvonimir243763 33.87
283 Kuijpers, Franciscus Antonius243662
284 Castro Rojas, Oscar Humberto243554 25.31
285 Hamann, Svend243468 37.89
286 Augustin, Josef243453 36.29
287 Grinberg, Ricardo243464 30.63
288 Seirawan, Yasser243364 18.44
289 Doda, Zbigniew243361 47.53
290 Messing, Hrvoje243374 38.10
291 Raicevic, Vladimir243256 29.33
292 Guimard, Carlos E243172 65.40
293 Spiridonov, Nikola243156 40.51
294 Szmetan, Jorge243155 28.26
295 Sznapik, Aleksander243153 27.56
296 Adamski, Jan243051 34.80
297 Eslon, Jaan243064 26.49
298 Gutman, Lev243066 32.92
299 Brond, Victor243075
300 Bohm, Hans242952 28.63
301 Bednarski, Jacek B242955 39.47
302 Flesch, Janos242962 44.91
303 Eising, Johannes242872 43.25
304 Biriescu, Ioan242866 24.84
305 Ornstein, Axel242854 26.35
306 Bronstein, Luis242758 32.25
307 Horner, Jeff242775 29.02
308 Rubinetti, Jorge A242660 33.42
309 Bellin, Robert242558 26.17
310 Garcia, Raimundo242563 42.26
311 Meduna, Eduard242559 27.97
312 Sloth, Jorn242367 33.98
313 Hase, Juan Carlos242361
314 Řgaard, Leif242356 26.65
315 Pytel, Krzysztof242362 33.29
316 Mascarinas, Rico242261 25.50
317 Rogulj, Branko242176 27.08
318 Plachetka, Jan242153 33.54
319 Partos, Charles242168 42.06
320 Kovacs, Laszlo M242159 39.90
321 Akvist, Hakan242067 36.84
322 Schussler, Harry242066 21.19
323 Ostojic, Predrag241956 40.53
324 Emma, Jaime J241960 40.62
325 Kagan, Shimon241954 36.40
326 Velikov, Petar241863 27.42
327 Williams, Arthur Howard241874
328 Chiburdanidze, Maia G241854 17.62
329 Speelman, Jonathan S241856 21.91
330 Gofshtein, Leonid D241766 25.36
331 Rossetto, Héctor D241761 55.97
332 Kotov, Alexander A241673 65.05
333 Pritchett, Craig William241567
334 Liebert, Heinz241556 42.27
335 Soos, Bela241567 48.48
336 Janoševic, Dragoljub241558 55.15
337 Pokojowczyk, Jerzy241555 29.53
338 Webb, Simon241453 29.22
339 Kosikov, Alexey I241371 29.52
340 Kestler, Hans-Günter241362 38.72
341 Bönsch, Uwe241355 19.87
342 Bertok, Mario241275 48.99
343 Franklin, Michael J241166 47.58
344 Eolian, Levon S241173 18.95
345 Enklaar, Bertus F241165
346 Godes, Dmitry R241075 39.10
347 Bukal, Vladimir Sr241073 38.83
348 Sikora Lerch, Jan241056
349 Jelen, Iztok241072 31.62
350 Witkowski, Stefan240859 46.92
351 Botterill, George Steven240856
352 Ostermeyer, Peter240869 34.88
353 Debarnot, Roberto240760 31.07
354 Ilievski, Dimitar240666 37.02
355 Zwaig, Arne240664
356 Deze, Anton240668
357 Taulbut, Shaun M240559 20.64
358 Wirthensohn, Heinz240458 27.32
359 Jamieson, Robert Murray240472
360 Cuartas, Carlos240462 38.04
361 Wockenfuss, Klaus240469 27.01
362 Moehring, Guenther240154 41.77
363 Trapl, Jindrich240170 36.44
364 Kuligowski, Adam240160 22.69
365 Hartoch, Robert G239855
366 Rajna, George239862 31.55
367 Garcia, Luis E239867
368 Nicevski, Risto239859 33.18
369 Butnorius, Algimantas239775 31.78
370 Kolarov, Atanas S239675 44.50
371 Tompa, Janos239657 31.34
372 Banas, Jan239455 31.24
373 Cuasnicu, Oscar239466 35.85
374 Rohde, Michael A239360 19.01
375 Watson, John L239373 26.98
376 Garcia Padron, Jose239360 20.44
377 Littlewood, Paul E239360 22.62
378 Pohla, Harry239270 38.16
379 Rocha, Antonio239269 34.22
380 Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes239257 35.16
381 Neckar, Lubomir239261 28.08
382 Grigorov, Jordan N239272 24.73
383 Dake, Arthur William239176 68.40
384 Filipowicz, Andrzej239160 40.30
385 Jussupow, Artur M239167 18.55
386 Schinzel, Wladyslaw239059 35.28
387 Skrobek, Ryszard239061 27.16
388 Peev, Peicho Chonev239057 38.41
389 Whiteley, Andrew J238959 31.23
390 Rigo, Janos238860 29.84
391 Vaisman, Volodia238860 40.68
392 Formanek, Edward W238858 36.32
393 Basman, Michael J238861 32.46
394 Alexandria, Nana238774 28.88
395 Veinger, Itzhak238768 40.15
396 Andre, Wolfgang238667 25.45
397 Garcia, Gildardo238664 24.48
398 Pétursson, Margeir238657 18.54
399 Van Riemsdijk, Herman C238557 30.01
400 Lombard, Andre238560 27.94
401 Silva, Fernando238571 28.07
402 Swic, Waldemar238558 25.47
403 Littlewood, John Eric238572
404 Goodman, David SC238467
405 Kaiszauri, Konstanty238360 25.84
406 Harandi, Khosro238372 27.99
407 Wedberg, Tom238268 24.76
408 Georgiev, Krum238074 20.27
409 Nogueiras, Jesus238064 19.12
410 Merdinjan, Agop238073 29.32
411 Gavrikov, Victor N237967 21.09
412 Visier Segovia, Fernando237958 35.58
413 Korsunsky, Rostislav R237973
414 Gasic, Bozidar237873 40.88
415 Kozma, Julius237871 49.25
416 Law, Andrew P237762 28.14
417 Horvath, Tamas237663 26.85
418 Iskov, Gert237662 30.09
419 Kataev, V.237576
420 Huss, Andreas237468 27.87
421 Kirpichnikov, Vladimir S237464
422 Hesse, Peter237059 33.92
423 Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel237053 28.31
424 Heuer, Valter237070 50.13
425 Segal, Alexandru Sorin236958 30.90
426 Mortensen, Erling236864 23.40
427 Olafsson, Helgi236757 22.04
428 Zinn, Lothar236771 40.45
429 Kostro, Jerzy236768 41.60
430 Bjelajac, Milan236674 30.46
431 Fedorowicz, John P236657 19.92
432 Ervin, Roy C236670 27.66
433 Filguth, Rubens A236661 22.44
434 Trabattoni, Franco236674 22.30
435 Szilágyi, György236659 57.16
436 Mishuchkov, Nikolai M236676 32.51
437 Szymczak, Zbigniew236563 26.66
438 Vilela, Jose Luis236570 25.45
439 Mihaljcisin, Mihajlo236465 45.53
440 Helmers, Knut J236358 21.57
441 Dobosz, Henryk236365 25.45
442 Rantanen, Yrjo A236265 28.36
443 Rosenlund, Thorbjorn236263 27.20
444 Hausner, Ivan236165 26.38
445 Lanc, Alois236176 30.54
446 Cámpora, Daniel H236161 21.17
447 Brueggemann, Joachim236069 26.90
448 Hoi, Carsten236063 21.62
449 Van der Sterren, Paul236053 22.46
450 Taylor, Timothy236069 25.56
451 Groszpeter, Attila236064 18.23
452 Plaskett, Jim235969 18.45
453 Orso, Miklos235864 22.23
454 Borkowski, Franciszek235866 21.08
455 Haik, Aldo235764 25.86
456 Cooper, John Grantley235774
457 Fedder, Steen235667 27.21
458 Sapi, Laszlo235658 43.45
459 Sibarevic, Milenko235672 33.47
460 Macles, Jacques235675 33.15
461 Tan Lian Ann235675
462 Bachtiar, Arovah235575 44.43
463 Tisdall, Jonathan D235462 20.01
464 Kim, V.235476
465 Lanka, Zigurds235465 18.28
466 Coudari, Camille235467 27.09
467 Meyer, E.235269
468 Silva Sanchez, Carlos235170 34.20
469 Povah, Nigel E235064 26.12
470 Anelli, Antonio235067 34.30
471 Estevez Morales, Guillermo234960
472 Fichtl, Jirí234966 57.54
473 Krivonosov, Oleg234773 17.30
474 Kopec, Danny234672 24.51
475 Boersma, Paulus A234571 30.12
476 Klaric, Zlatko234576 21.85
477 Maciejewski, Andrzej234471 27.14
478 Boudy, Julio234374 27.22
479 Minaya, Juan M234268
480 Van der Vliet, Fredrik234260
481 Sharif, Mershad234165 26.14
482 Ambroz, Jan234066 24.20
483 Kluger, Guyla233970 64.63
484 Trois, Francisco RT233861
485 Borngaesser, Rene233868 26.94
486 Lehmann, Heinz Dr233863
487 Bielczyk, Jacek233756 25.52
488 Van Baarle, C John233670 33.37
489 Baumbach, Friedrich233670 42.97
490 Petran, Pal233460 31.95
491 Lau, Ralf233376 18.86
492 Garcia Palermo, Carlos233363 24.75
493 Fuller, Maxwell L233271 33.59
494 Magerramov, Elmar S233076 20.39
495 Gruenberg, Hans Ulrich233069 22.64
496 Shirazi, Kamran G232967 25.78
497 Bernard, Ryszard232973 34.03
498 Leibovich, D.232973
499 Knox, Victor W232871 33.61
500 Rostalski, Walter232776 25.65

These ratings, calculated as of August 31, 1978, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between September 1, 1977 and August 31, 1978, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of August 31, 1977. 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 August 31, 1978. This represents the player's estimated strength on September 1, 1978.

+/- 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 September 1, 1978. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on September 1, 1978 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 September 1, 1978. 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 August 31, 1978. 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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