< October 31, 1979     Back to date list    January 31, 1980 >

Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1979

  #  

Player Rating +/-
1 Karpov, Anatoly E280250
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L276850
3 Tal, Mikhail273449
4 Portisch, Lajos271150
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A269150
6 Petrosian, Tigran V268249
7 Spassky, Boris V267950
8 Timman, Jan H267248
9 Geller, Efim P267151
10 Larsen, Bent266748

About these ratings

Top 500 active players as of December 31, 1979

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Karpov, Anatoly E28025055.3% #228.61
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L27685023.0% #548.77
3 Tal, Mikhail2734497.8% #1043.14
4 Portisch, Lajos2711503.4% #1642.74
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A2691501.6% #2445.11
6 Petrosian, Tigran V2682490.9% #2850.54
7 Spassky, Boris V2679500.8% #2942.91
8 Timman, Jan H2672480.6% #3228.05
9 Geller, Efim P2671510.7% #3454.83
10 Larsen, Bent2667480.4% #3544.82
11 Hübner, Robert2657490.3% #4231.15
12 Kasparov, Garry K2655530.4% #4516.72
13 Mecking, Henrique2653631.1% #5127.93
14 Vaganian, Rafael A2650500.2% #4628.21
15 Ribli, Zoltán2649500.2% #4828.32
16 Balashov, Yury S2646500.2% #5030.80
17 Romanishin, Oleg M2644490.1% #5127.97
18 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir2643490.1% #5229.16
19 Tukmakov, Vladimir B2643520.2% #5333.79
20 Gheorghiu, Florin2641500.1% #5435.73
21 Hort, Vlastimil2640480.1% #5335.96
22 Andersson, Ulf2640480.1% #5428.51
23 Vasiukov, Evgeny A2639580.3% #5946.82
24 Gulko, Boris F2638520.2% #5732.89
25 Sveshnikov, Evgeny E2634500.1% #5929.89
26 Beliavsky, Alexander G2632500.1% #6026.04
27 Lerner, Konstantin Z2625540.1% #7029.84
28 Dolmatov, Sergey V2622540.1% #7120.86
29 Savon, Vladimir A2622540.1% #7239.26
30 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly V262249 #6935.27
31 Smyslov, Vassily V261751 #7358.77
32 Smejkal, Jan261749 #7333.77
33 Kuzmin, Gennady P261650 #7433.94
34 Sax, Gyula261549 #7428.54
35 Kholmov, Ratmir D2615550.1% #7854.63
36 Unzicker, Wolfgang2613560.1% #8054.51
37 Kavalek, Lubomir261350 #7736.39
38 Dvoretsky, Mark I2609640.2% #8932.06
39 Kochiev, Alexander260752 #8323.77
40 Gligoric, Svetozar260750 #8256.91
41 Gufeld, Eduard E260656 #8643.78
42 Rashkovsky, Nukhim N260654 #8633.70
43 Dorfman, Iosif D260353 #8727.66
44 Liberzon, Vladimir M260052 #9042.77
45 Kurajica, Bojan259955 #9232.13
46 Sosonko, Gennadi259749 #9036.62
47 Kudriashov, Anatoly A2597710.2% #10537.70
48 Palatnik, Semen A2597600.1% #9829.76
49 Bagirov, Vladimir K259752 #9243.37
50 Bronstein, David I259754 #9355.87
51 Dzindzichashvili, Roman Y259654 #9535.65
52 Sanguinetti, Raúl C2595680.1% #10546.91
53 Makarichev, Sergey Y259452 #9526.12
54 Ivkov, Borislav259450 #9446.13
55 Georgadze, Tamaz V259451 #9632.14
56 Kupreichik, Viktor D259353 #9830.49
57 Razuvaev, Yury S259351 #9634.22
58 Gipslis, Aivars259158 #10242.90
59 Parma, Bruno258856 #10338.00
60 Chekhov, Valery A2587710.2% #11524.09
61 Mikhalchishin, Adrian B258753 #10425.12
62 Psakhis, Lev B258558 #10821.09
63 Browne, Walter S258450 #10330.97
64 Miles, Anthony J258448 #10324.69
65 Antoshin, Vladimir S2583690.1% #11650.63
66 Olafsson, Fridrik258254 #10944.92
67 Szabó, László2579700.1% #12162.78
68 Adorján, András257450 #11329.75
69 Alburt, Lev O257355 #11834.36
70 Tarjan, James E257353 #11727.86
71 Veingold, Aleksander257260 #12226.22
72 Grigorian, Karen A257058 #12132.32
73 Yurtaev, Leonid256960 #12420.66
74 Panno, Oscar R256952 #12044.79
75 Ivanov, Igor V256965 #12832.97
76 Luczak, Andrzej256854 #12231.07
77 Zakharov, Alexander V2568750.1% #13536.23
78 Taimanov, Mark E256756 #12453.90
79 Suetin, Alexey S256557 #12753.12
80 Matanovic, Aleksandar256557 #12749.61
81 Nemet, Ivan256356 #12736.71
82 Byrne, Robert E256252 #12651.70
83 Jussupow, Artur M256253 #12719.88
84 Darga, Klaus V256163 #13445.85
85 Lein, Anatoly256151 #12748.76
86 Pachmann, Ludek255858 #13455.64
87 Tseitlin, Mikhail S255854 #13132.54
88 Pfleger, Helmut255756 #13336.40
89 Vogt, Lothar H255749 #13027.95
90 Tringov, Georgy P255760 #13642.82
91 Zaitsev, Igor A255658 #13541.59
92 Najdorf, Miguel255653 #13369.71
93 Zaltsman, Vitaly F255371 #14538.18
94 Panchenko, Alexander N255357 #13726.24
95 Rogoff, Kenneth S255262 #14226.77
96 Lombardy, William J255254 #13842.07
97 Timoshchenko, Gennady255153 #13730.68
98 Filip, Miroslav254860 #14451.18
99 Nikolac, Juraj254854 #14047.69
100 Knaak, Rainer F254851 #13926.79
101 Csom, István254750 39.58
102 Uhlmann, Wolfgang254651 44.76
103 Reshevsky, Samuel H254557 68.10
104 Matulovic, Milan254456 44.56
105 Kapengut, Albert Z254262 35.49
106 Evans, Larry M254167 47.77
107 Bukic, Enver254055 42.08
108 Klovans, Janis253964 44.73
109 Nunn, John D M253853 24.68
110 Torre, Eugenio253751 28.16
111 Ree, Hans253749 35.29
112 Shamkovich, Leonid A253652 56.58
113 Petrushin, Alexander I253569 32.81
114 Nei, Iivo253458 48.17
115 Platonov, Igor V253469 45.95
116 Knezevic, Milorad253352 43.17
117 Vokác, Marek253061 21.07
118 Anikaev, Yury253056 31.51
119 Stean, Michael F253050 26.32
120 Vitolinš, Alvis252958 33.54
121 Petrosian, Arshak B252963 26.04
122 Kaplan, Julio P252861 29.43
123 Peresipkin, Vladimir252862
124 Piasetski, Leon David252571
125 Ubilava, Elizbar E252571 29.34
126 Seirawan, Yasser252554 19.77
127 Quinteros, Miguel A252450 32.01
128 Velimirovic, Dragoljub252452 37.63
129 Gruenfeld, Yehuda252456 23.84
130 Ftácnik, Lubomír252352 22.17
131 Sigurjónsson, Gudmundur252353 32.27
132 Díez del Corral, Jesús252160 46.73
133 Bleiman, Yaacov252169 32.31
134 Faibisovich, Vadim Z251975 35.65
135 Hecht, Hans-Joachim251767 40.92
136 van der Wiel, John T H251756 20.39
137 Kovacevic, Vladimir251660 37.76
138 Lukin, Andrei M251669 31.34
139 Ivanov, Alexander V251558 23.66
140 Benko, Pal C251558 51.46
141 Stoica, Valentin251568 29.88
142 Zhuravliov, Valerij251473 41.05
143 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I251467 46.13
144 Lutikov, Anatoly S251459 46.90
145 Grefe, John A251363 32.32
146 Pintér, József251355 26.14
147 Yuferov, Sergey N251272 34.08
148 Peters, John A251258 28.89
149 Schneider, Lars Ake251056
150 Hulak, Krunoslav251062 28.60
151 Mariotti, Sergio250957 33.39
152 Moiseev, Oleg L250964 54.65
153 Biyiasas, Peter250954 29.12
154 Lputian, Smbat G250960 21.88
155 Regan, Kenneth250861 20.30
156 Weinstein, Norman250761 29.24
157 Rogulj, Branko250659 28.41
158 Kakageldyev, Amanmurad250563 30.01
159 Vukic, Milan250553 36.37
160 Faragó, Iván250549 33.75
161 Averkin, Orest N250566 35.85
162 Radulov, Ivan250255 40.98
163 Malich, Burkhard G250156 43.09
164 Kharitonov, Andrey Y250172 20.74
165 Diesen, Mark C249957
166 Rodriguez, Amador249855 23.31
167 Marangunic, Srdjan249760 36.17
168 Ungureanu, Emil249766 43.16
169 Marjanovic, Slavoljub249552 24.98
170 Schmidt, Wlodzimierz249552 36.72
171 Rajkovic, Dusan249557 37.54
172 Keene, Raymond249454
173 Vorotnikov, Vladislav V249264 32.37
174 Speelman, Jonathan S249254 23.25
175 Christiansen, Larry M249252 23.51
176 Bilek, István249160 47.39
177 Jansson, Borje249171 37.80
178 Donner, Johannes H249054 52.48
179 Ghinda, Mihail Viorel249053 30.43
180 Ciocaltea, Victor248957 47.95
181 Inkiov, Ventzislav248957 23.62
182 Simic, Radoslav248968 31.56
183 Hartston, William R248955 32.38
184 Suba, Mihai248854 32.58
185 Prandstetter, Eduard248752 31.04
186 Sunye Neto, Jaime248754 22.66
187 Lederman, Leon248769 32.60
188 Zilberstein, Valery I248661 36.72
189 Wedberg, Tom248556 26.10
190 Bisguier, Arthur B248461 50.23
191 Calvo Minguez, Ricardo248470 36.19
192 Forintos, Gyözö V248155 44.42
193 Tatai, Stefano248155 41.77
194 García Gonzáles, Guillermo248053 26.06
195 Ermenkov, Evgenij248054 30.26
196 Soltis, Andrew E247960 32.59
197 Lengyel, Levente247854 46.55
198 Piesina, Gintautas247866 27.73
199 Barczay, Laszlo247852 43.86
200 Jansa, Vlastimil247750 37.09
201 Kristiansen, Jens247758 27.60
202 Raicevic, Vladimir247656 30.66
203 Kirov Ivanov, Nino247654 34.31
204 Hazai, Laszlo247657 26.55
205 Ligterink, Gert247551 30.12
206 Zuckerman, Bernard247564 36.75
207 Gaprindashvili, Nona247559 38.66
208 Popov, Luben247556 43.92
209 Petkevich, Jusefs247462 39.03
210 Marovic, Dražen247456 41.96
211 Gavrikov, Victor N247464 22.42
212 Lechtynsky, Jiri247356 32.10
213 Commons, Kim S247165 28.44
214 Padevsky, Nikola B246963 46.59
215 Karner, Hillar246968 44.43
216 Kraidman, Yair246865 47.16
217 Godes, Dmitry R246874 40.43
218 Van Wijgerden, Cornelis246859 29.61
219 Nikolic, Zivoslav246771 26.05
220 Westerinen, Heikki MJ246653 35.68
221 Jelen, Iztok246661 32.94
222 Mednis, Edmar J246555 42.77
223 Karaklajic, Nikola246562 53.85
224 Szekely, Peter246463 24.90
225 Vadasz, Laszlo246453 31.92
226 Podzielny, Karl Heinz246473 25.31
227 Damjanovic, Mato246457 52.77
228 Espig, Lutz246450 30.98
229 Robatsch, Karl246457 51.21
230 Rytov, Boris246361
231 Martinovic, Slobodan246363 34.43
232 Podgaets, Mikhail Y246275 32.44
233 Vooremaa, Andres246262 35.45
234 Sahovic, Dragutin246153 39.40
235 Plachetka, Jan245950 34.87
236 Antunac, Goran245973 34.71
237 Qi Jingxuan245959 32.14
238 Hug, Werner245858 27.31
239 Hernandez, Roman245754 30.11
240 Garcia Martinez, Silvino245758 35.49
241 Pytel, Krzysztof245660 34.63
242 Lukacs, Peter245552 29.48
243 Ornstein, Axel245456 27.69
244 Mnatsakanian, Eduard A245360 41.07
245 Messing, Hrvoje245365 39.43
246 Gutman, Lev245263 34.26
247 Dobosz, Henryk245260 26.78
248 Vladimirov, Evgeny Y245167 22.94
249 Spassov, Liuben245054 36.77
250 Toth, Bela244963 36.70
251 Bönsch, Uwe244852 21.21
252 Jakobsen, Ole244857 37.20
253 Langeweg, Kick244853 42.82
254 Schussler, Harry244753 22.52
255 Hennings, Artur244665 39.47
256 Minic, Dragoljub244674 42.82
257 Gerusel, Mathias244562 41.90
258 Rath, Ulrik244471 33.02
259 Planinc, Albin244354 35.70
260 Portisch, Ferenc244355 40.73
261 Zapata, Alonso244371 21.36
262 Plaskett, Jim244260 19.79
263 Mikenas, Vladas244170 69.70
264 Adamski, Jan244151 36.14
265 Sydor, Andrzej244174 42.99
266 Sideif Sade, Fikret I244161 27.99
267 Popovic, Petar244065 20.88
268 Zaichik, Gennady L243962 22.89
269 Hamann, Svend243965 39.23
270 Řgaard, Leif243960 27.98
271 Sznapik, Aleksander243952 28.89
272 Kuijpers, Franciscus Antonius243870
273 Poutiainen, Pertti243872
274 Malevinsky, Alexander A243873 29.85
275 Rukavina, Josip243763 37.09
276 Matera, Salvatore Joseph243765
277 Eslon, Jaan243772 27.82
278 Rodriguez, Ruben243761 33.07
279 Todorcevic, Miodrag243767 39.14
280 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo243664 48.33
281 Velikov, Petar243665 28.75
282 Ivanovic, Božidar243653 33.35
283 Strauss, David J243564 33.40
284 Wirthensohn, Heinz243463 28.66
285 Nogueiras, Jesus243464 20.45
286 Borik, Otto243463 32.27
287 Mestrovic, Zvonimir243471 35.20
288 Schweber, Samuel243360 43.46
289 Ghitescu, Theodor243356 45.93
290 Magerramov, Elmar S243369 21.72
291 Littlewood, Paul E243258 23.95
292 Castro Rojas, Oscar Humberto243159 26.65
293 Ostojic, Predrag243058 41.86
294 Minev, Nikolay N243071 48.97
295 Brinck Claussen, Bjorn243065
296 Liebert, Heinz242961 43.60
297 Garcia, Raimundo242970 43.59
298 Balinas, Rosendo Carrean242959
299 Doda, Zbigniew242969 48.86
300 Szmetan, Jorge242854 29.60
301 Sloth, Jorn242871 35.32
302 Dely, Peter242866 45.49
303 Spiridonov, Nikola242757 41.84
304 Skrobek, Ryszard242659 28.49
305 Flesch, Janos242670 46.25
306 Duer, Arne242666 20.47
307 Hoelzl, Franz242663 33.73
308 Trapl, Jindrich242561 37.77
309 Kuligowski, Adam242552 24.02
310 Mestel, A Jonathan242553 22.80
311 Groszpeter, Attila242556 19.56
312 Eolian, Levon S242573 20.29
313 Watson, John L242461 28.32
314 Jamieson, Robert Murray242466
315 Gofshtein, Leonid D242473 26.69
316 Zilberman, Nathan R242372 39.66
317 Garcia, Gildardo242360 25.81
318 Popov, Nikolay242367
319 Kaiumov, Dmitry D242374 30.84
320 Rocha, Antonio242362 35.55
321 Tompa, Janos242357 32.67
322 Honfi, Karoly242263 49.18
323 Krnic, Zdenko242267 32.25
324 Georgiev, Krum242171 21.60
325 Webb, Simon242160 30.56
326 Ruderfer, Mark B242175
327 Littlewood, John Eric242169
328 Bohm, Hans242052 29.95
329 Barle, Janez242056 27.78
330 Chiburdanidze, Maia G241959 18.95
331 Botterill, George Steven241857
332 Kaufman, Larry C241870 32.13
333 Iskov, Gert241759 31.43
334 Janoševic, Dragoljub241758 56.48
335 Ilic, Zoran241764 16.41
336 Pribyl, Josef241752 32.22
337 Vaisman, Volodia241668 42.02
338 Harandi, Khosro241660 29.33
339 Rossetto, Héctor D241569 57.31
340 Karlsson, Lars241560 24.47
341 Grinberg, Ricardo241569 31.96
342 Bronstein, Luis241456 33.58
343 Emma, Jaime J241457 41.95
344 Kestler, Hans-Günter241371 40.05
345 Haygarth, Michael J241375
346 Rubinetti, Jorge A241255 34.75
347 Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes241262 36.49
348 Rohde, Michael A241164 20.35
349 Taulbut, Shaun M241160 21.96
350 Bellin, Robert241154 27.50
351 Hase, Juan Carlos241164
352 Sisniega, Marcel241164 20.43
353 Bednarski, Jacek B241160 40.80
354 Wahlbom, Magnus241170 34.63
355 Vilela, Jose Luis241054 26.78
356 Nicevski, Risto241059 34.51
357 Augustin, Josef240954 37.62
358 Ambroz, Jan240959 25.54
359 Wittmann, Walter240963 31.80
360 Ciric, Dragoljub M240861 44.13
361 Djuric, Stefan240864 24.43
362 Bohosjan, Sarkis240761 38.76
363 Franco Ocampos, Zenon240760 23.63
364 Cvetkovic, Srdjan240761 33.84
365 Haik, Aldo240564 27.20
366 Ostermeyer, Peter240471 36.22
367 Enklaar, Bertus F240462
368 Soos, Bela240472 49.82
369 Pritchett, Craig William240473
370 Kagan, Shimon240454 37.73
371 Hausner, Ivan240364 27.71
372 Hoi, Carsten240256 22.95
373 Bradford, Joseph M240268 29.16
374 Taylor, Timothy239971 26.89
375 Swic, Waldemar239959 26.81
376 Debarnot, Roberto239965 32.40
377 Bouaziz, Slim239957 29.71
378 Joksic, Sinisa239973 39.22
379 Dueckstein, Andreas239963 52.41
380 Gonsior, Evzen239860 48.07
381 Cuartas, Carlos239766 39.38
382 Banas, Jan239754 32.58
383 Meduna, Eduard239658 29.30
384 Chandler, Murray G239656 19.74
385 Bukal, Vladimir Sr239668 40.16
386 Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel239656 29.65
387 Meyer, E.239567
388 Van der Sterren, Paul239553 23.79
389 Lombard, Andre239565 29.28
390 Lieb, Harald239565 45.02
391 Horner, Jeff239474 30.35
392 Pokojowczyk, Jerzy239456 30.86
393 Butnorius, Algimantas239474 33.11
394 Hartoch, Robert G239357
395 Goodman, David SC239362
396 Huss, Andreas239274 29.21
397 Deze, Anton239269
398 Law, Andrew P239067 29.48
399 Garcia Padron, Jose239067 21.77
400 Filipowicz, Andrzej238967 41.63
401 Sikora Lerch, Jan238955
402 Arnason, Jon L238956 19.13
403 Sibarevic, Milenko238961 34.80
404 Ilievski, Dimitar238971 38.35
405 Franklin, Michael J238868 48.91
406 Tischbierek, Raj238861 17.27
407 Fedder, Steen238769 28.55
408 Dzuban, Oleg I238771
409 Van Riemsdijk, Herman C238752 31.35
410 Pétursson, Margeir238757 19.88
411 Pavlov, Mircea238764 42.30
412 Biriescu, Ioan238673 26.18
413 Maksimovic, Branimir238563 24.37
414 Segal, Alexandru Sorin238557 32.24
415 Peev, Peicho Chonev238466 39.75
416 Lau, Ralf238463 20.20
417 Morris, Walter D238362 21.33
418 Bielczyk, Jacek238357 26.86
419 Filguth, Rubens A238359 23.77
420 Balshan, Amikam238365
421 Cuasnicu, Oscar238375 37.19
422 Visier Segovia, Fernando238364 36.91
423 Formanek, Edward W238165 37.65
424 Mortensen, Erling238164 24.74
425 Cappello, Renato238061
426 Cramling, Dan237966 20.90
427 Van der Vliet, Fredrik237960
428 Szymczak, Zbigniew237960 27.98
429 Moehring, Guenther237853 43.10
430 Mascarinas, Rico237862 26.83
431 Helmers, Knut J237862 22.90
432 Horvath, Tamas237866 28.19
433 Rigo, Janos237757 31.18
434 Neckar, Lubomir237764 29.41
435 Schinzel, Wladyslaw237753 36.61
436 Djukic, Zeljko237671 20.55
437 Pavlovic, Dejan237671
438 Kopec, Danny237673 25.84
439 Rantanen, Yrjo A237459 29.69
440 Buljovcic, Ivan237267 43.01
441 Akvist, Hakan237170 38.18
442 Rajna, George237063 32.88
443 Cooper, John Grantley237070
444 Short, Nigel D236957 14.58
445 Bojkovic, Slobodan236966 34.43
446 Hebert, Jean236958 22.14
447 Andre, Wolfgang236674 26.79
448 Fedorowicz, John P236655 21.26
449 Jamroz, Zbigniew236563 45.55
450 Petran, Pal236559 33.29
451 Evans, Larry D236476
452 Frias, Victor J236470 23.89
453 Kirpichnikov, Vladimir S236473
454 Hesse, Peter236358 35.26
455 Birnboim, Nathan236370 29.09
456 Whiteley, Andrew J236165 32.56
457 Hebden, Mark235964 21.88
458 Lanc, Alois235972 31.87
459 Szilágyi, György235972 58.49
460 Day, Lawrence A235966 30.91
461 Cámpora, Daniel H235767 22.50
462 Fries Nielsen, Jens Ove235763 19.86
463 Odendahl, Steven M235662 20.18
464 Anelli, Antonio235672 35.64
465 Sapi, Laszlo235668 44.78
466 Niklasson, Christer235658 26.98
467 Steiner, Drako235671
468 Watzka, Horst235566 41.30
469 Shpilker, Boris235576 23.62
470 Basman, Michael J235464 33.79
471 Orso, Miklos235359 23.56
472 Trois, Francisco RT235254
473 Bjelajac, Milan235271 31.80
474 Garcia Palermo, Carlos235264 26.08
475 Kaiszauri, Konstanty235158 27.18
476 Przewoznik, Jan235063 22.29
477 Kovacs, Laszlo M234958 41.24
478 Despotovic, Momcilo234869 31.83
479 Ristic, Nenad234869 21.12
480 Duric, Slavko234876 25.61
481 Cebalo, Mišo234876 34.90
482 Tichy, Vladimir234666 33.25
483 Coudari, Camille234675 28.42
484 Barreras, Alberto234666 28.74
485 Olafsson, Helgi234358 23.38
486 Van Baarle, C John234271 34.70
487 Zoltek, Tadeusz234265 42.33
488 Wagman, Stuart234170 60.63
489 Witkowski, Stefan234158 48.26
490 Sharif, Mershad234073 27.47
491 Lanka, Zigurds234071 19.61
492 Bernard, Ryszard233965 35.36
493 Svensson, Bengt233976 19.48
494 Povah, Nigel E233859 27.45
495 Fuglsang, Flemming233876 25.70
496 Golubovic, Zoran233871 21.04
497 deFirmian, Nicholas E233767 22.43
498 Veinger, Itzhak233676 41.49
499 Gruchacz, Robert233670 26.09
500 Hess, Ralf233675 35.76

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1979, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1979, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1978. 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, 1979. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1980.

+/- 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, 1980. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1980 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, 1980. 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, 1979. 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