< November 30, 1996     Back to date list    January 31, 1997 >

Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1996

  #  

Player Rating +/-
1 Kasparov, Garry K286848
2 Anand, Viswanathan282647
3 Kramnik, Vladimir280347
4 Ivanchuk, Vassily279347
5 Karpov, Anatoly E275646
6 Topalov, Veselin274648
7 Kamsky, Gata274248
8 Bareev, Evgeny271349
9 Dreev, Alexey270748
10 Shirov, Alexei270746

About these ratings

Top 500 active players as of December 31, 1996

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Kasparov, Garry K28684861.2% #233.72
2 Anand, Viswanathan28264719.7% #427.05
3 Kramnik, Vladimir2803479.0% #521.52
4 Ivanchuk, Vassily2793476.2% #627.79
5 Karpov, Anatoly E2756461.3% #1245.61
6 Topalov, Veselin2746481.0% #1421.79
7 Kamsky, Gata2742480.7% #1522.58
8 Bareev, Evgeny2713490.2% #2730.11
9 Dreev, Alexey2707480.1% #2927.94
10 Shirov, Alexei2707460.1% #2924.49
11 Gelfand, Boris2705470.1% #3028.52
12 Salov, Valery B2690500.1% #4132.60
13 Rublevsky, Sergei268749 #4222.21
14 Adams, Michael268547 #4225.12
15 Short, Nigel D268248 #4531.58
16 Polgar, Judit268147 #4620.44
17 Beliavsky, Alexander G267747 #4943.04
18 Andersson, Ulf267351 #5545.51
19 Lautier, Joel267347 #5323.72
20 Akopian, Vladimir267248 #5525.07
21 Nikolic, Predrag267148 #5436.30
22 Georgiev, Kiril266649 #5931.09
23 Khalifman, Alexander266447 #6030.95
24 Azmaiparashvili, Zurab A266449 #6236.79
25 Chernin, Alexander M266148 #6436.82
26 Jussupow, Artur M265948 #6636.88
27 Speelman, Jonathan S265749 #6940.25
28 Seirawan, Yasser265353 #7536.77
29 Svidler, Peter265148 #7520.54
30 Piket, Jeroen264946 #7527.92
31 Tiviakov, Sergei264849 #7923.88
32 Yermolinsky, Alex V264549 #8138.72
33 Oll, Lembit264249 #8530.69
34 Rozentalis, Eduardas263949 #8933.59
35 Malaniuk, Vladimir P263947 #8739.44
36 Korchnoi, Viktor L263947 #8765.77
37 Gurevich, Mikhail N263949 #8837.86
38 Illescas Cordoba, Miguel263748 #9131.08
39 Ehlvest, Jaan263547 #9234.21
40 van Wely, Loek263547 #9124.23
41 Sadler, Matthew263149 #9722.63
42 Almasi, Zoltan263147 #9620.34
43 Portisch, Lajos262950 #10159.74
44 Sokolov, Ivan262947 #9828.55
45 Eingorn, Viacheslav S262851 #10340.10
46 Hracek, Zbynek262848 #10026.31
47 Timman, Jan H262848 #10045.05
48 Leko, Peter262347 #10617.31
49 Dvoiris, Semen I262350 #10938.16
50 Yudasin, Leonid G262248 #10837.40
51 Tkachiev, Vladislav262249 #11023.14
52 Smirin, Ilia262148 #11028.94
53 Aleksandrov, Aleksej262049 #11123.64
54 Vladimirov, Evgeny Y261968 #12739.94
55 Nunn, John D M261750 #11641.68
56 Vaganian, Rafael A261749 #11445.21
57 Sturua, Zurab261653 #12037.56
58 Hansen, Curt261549 #11732.29
59 Granda Zuńiga, Julio E261551 #11929.85
60 Gulko, Boris F261448 #11849.89
61 Zvjaginsev, Vadim261450 #11920.37
62 Vyzmanavin, Alexey261052 #12636.99
63 Hellers, Ferdinand260857 #13227.92
64 Lastin, Alexander260855 #13020.17
65 Torre, Eugenio260856 #13145.16
66 Psakhis, Lev B260748 #12638.09
67 Krasenkow, Michal260748 #12633.13
68 Epishin, Vladimir260748 #12631.47
69 Kožul, Zdenko260648 #12730.61
70 Morozevich, Alexander260651 #13019.45
71 Novikov, Igor A260548 #12934.61
72 Pigusov, Evgeny260553 #13235.75
73 Hjartarson, Jóhann260548 #12833.90
74 Giorgadze, Giorgi260448 #12932.22
75 Savchenko, Stanislav260150 #13329.94
76 Sakaev, Konstantin260149 #13322.72
77 Magerramov, Elmar S259864 #14838.72
78 Yakovich, Yuri259850 #13734.09
79 Miles, Anthony J259747 #13641.69
80 Komarov, Dimitri259749 #13828.08
81 Spasov, Vasil259752 #14025.87
82 Graf, Alexander259750 #13934.35
83 Glek, Igor V259748 #13735.15
84 Dorfman, Iosif D259755 #14244.66
85 Lputian, Smbat G259649 #14038.88
86 Morovic Fernández, Iván E259551 #14233.77
87 Fominyh, Alexander259553 #14337.54
88 Lutz, Christopher259548 #14025.85
89 Korneev, Oleg259448 #14027.43
90 Hübner, Robert259448 #14148.15
91 Alterman, Boris259449 #14226.66
92 Polgar, Zsuzsa259451 #14427.70
93 Razuvaev, Yury S259349 #14251.22
94 Sveshnikov, Evgeny E259349 #14346.89
95 Adianto, Utut259151 #14531.79
96 Milov, Vadim259149 #14524.41
97 Huzman, Alexander259151 #14734.72
98 Rohde, Michael A259174 #16137.35
99 Tukmakov, Vladimir B259048 #14450.79
100 Kobalija, Mihail259052 #14818.66
101 Kaidanov, Gregory S259051 37.22
102 Benjamin, Joel L258950 32.80
103 Onischuk, Alexander258949 21.33
104 Agdestein, Simen258853 29.63
105 Iuldachev, Saidali258758 28.92
106 Dokhoian, Yury258761 32.18
107 Gavrikov, Victor N258753 39.42
108 Rogers, Ian258648 36.52
109 Kengis, Edvins258649 37.72
110 Lalic, Bogdan258448 32.81
111 Rechlis, Gad258453 29.90
112 Ftácnik, Lubomír258348 39.17
113 Dautov, Rustem258350 31.09
114 Vaisser, Anatoli258350 47.82
115 Fedorov, Alexei258252 24.26
116 deFirmian, Nicholas E258148 39.43
117 Shneider, Aleksandr258053 34.61
118 Timoshenko, Georgy258051 30.58
119 Pintér, József257951 43.14
120 Dolmatov, Sergey V257951 37.86
121 Shipov, Sergei257952 30.70
122 Lerner, Konstantin Z257752 46.84
123 Xu Jun257755 34.29
124 Sutovsky, Emil257650 19.28
125 Goldin, Alexander257649 31.84
126 Kharlov, Andrei257650 28.11
127 Kuzmin, Alexey257560 33.81
128 Sorokin, Maxim257451 28.94
129 Pétursson, Margeir257449 36.88
130 Ribli, Zoltán257450 45.32
131 Bologan, Viktor257348 25.05
132 Zaichik, Gennady L257259 39.89
133 Cámpora, Daniel H257250 39.50
134 Browne, Walter S257254 47.97
135 Wolff, Patrick G257153 28.88
136 Hickl, Joerg257049 31.71
137 Christiansen, Larry M257050 40.51
138 Peng Xiaomin256953 23.73
139 Kindermann, Stefan256948 37.01
140 Landa, Konstantin256951 24.61
141 Romanishin, Oleg M256848 44.97
142 Hodgson, Julian M256847 33.43
143 Kacheishvili, Giorgi256754 19.89
144 Cvitan, Ognjen256748 35.22
145 Milos, Gilberto256751 33.17
146 Sokolov, Andrey Y256649 33.78
147 Polugaevsky, Lev A256661 62.11
148 Kharitonov, Andrey Y256550 37.74
149 Kruppa, Yuri256552 32.53
150 Spassky, Boris V256458 59.91
151 Wahls, Matthias256448 28.92
152 Stefansson, Hannes256449 24.45
153 Makarov, Marat256351 33.65
154 Gleizerov, Evgeny256252 33.78
155 Stohl, Igor256149 32.26
156 Khenkin, Igor256049 28.78
157 Smagin, Sergey255952 38.31
158 Wang Zili255952 28.55
159 Chiburdanidze, Maia G255851 35.95
160 Makarichev, Sergey Y255863 43.12
161 Bischoff, Klaus255849 35.56
162 Ionov, Sergey255851 34.98
163 Fedorowicz, John P255756 38.26
164 Hansen, Lars Bo255750 28.27
165 Zezulkin, Jurij255773 25.37
166 Hebden, Mark255650 38.88
167 Beim, Valery255653 46.79
168 Sagalchik, Gennadij255658 27.69
169 Hertneck, Gerald255551 33.29
170 Movsesian, Sergei255549 18.16
171 Ruban, Vadim255457 32.55
172 Kosashvili, Yona255455 26.49
173 Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander255448 33.95
174 Smejkal, Jan255451 50.77
175 Ibragimov, Ildar255448 29.37
176 Bezgodov, Alexei255355 27.50
177 Shabalov, Alexander255351 29.30
178 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir255350 46.16
179 Pugachov, Alexey255358 31.34
180 Smikovski, Ivan255262 24.55
181 Anastasian, Ashot255250 32.46
182 Watson, William N255256 34.70
183 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly V255249 52.27
184 Schlosser, Philipp255249 28.37
185 Sermek, Drazen255248 27.91
186 Greenfeld, Alon255149 32.70
187 Atalik, Suat255149 32.22
188 Cebalo, Mišo255049 51.90
189 Spangenberg, Hugo255049 21.11
190 Kotronias, Vasilios254949 32.35
191 Lobron, Eric254948 36.65
192 Dizdar, Goran254949 38.07
193 Magem Badals, Jordi254849 29.35
194 Sherbakov, Ruslan254849 27.30
195 Baburin, Alexander254851 29.87
196 Gurevich, Ilya254761 24.90
197 Loginov, Valery A254749 41.05
198 Balashov, Yury S254749 47.80
199 Palac, Mladen254649 25.87
200 Bönsch, Uwe254650 38.21
201 Brodsky, Michail254650 27.76
202 Dzindzichashvili, Roman Y254653 52.65
203 van der Wiel, John T H254549 37.39
204 Aseev, Konstantin N254450 36.20
205 Kurajica, Bojan254350 49.13
206 Arkhipov, Sergey254355 42.52
207 Zagrebelny, Sergey254353
208 Knaak, Rainer F254354 43.79
209 Kuzmin, Gennady P254252 50.94
210 Yemelin, Vasily254251 20.91
211 Fishbein, Alexander254263 28.65
212 King, Daniel J254252 33.34
213 Dao Thien Hai254248 18.64
214 Podgaets, Mikhail Y254170 49.44
215 Nogueiras, Jesus254050 37.45
216 Ilincic, Zlatko254050 28.64
217 Kupreichik, Viktor D254049 47.49
218 Poluljahov, Aleksandr254050 31.57
219 Ye Jiangchuan253952 36.11
220 Ulibin, Mikhail253950 25.58
221 Gabriel, Christian253949 21.83
222 Maiorov, Oleg253854 25.44
223 Ivanov, Alexander V253853 40.66
224 Sax, Gyula253750 45.54
225 Rashkovsky, Nukhim N253652 50.70
226 Serper, Grigory253651 27.30
227 Arnason, Jon L253656 36.13
228 Spraggett, Kevin B253649 42.14
229 Neverov, Valery253651 32.53
230 Minasian, Artashes253650 29.94
231 Nikolenko, Oleg253554 37.53
232 Lanka, Zigurds253550 36.61
233 Babula, Vlastimil253551 23.25
234 Chandler, Murray G253554 36.74
235 Ginsburg, Gennadij253562 25.39
236 Van der Sterren, Paul253549 40.79
237 Popovic, Petar253551 37.88
238 Kotsur, Pavel253555 22.99
239 Orlov, Georgi253462
240 Vesselovsky, Serguei253458 44.92
241 Nijboer, Friso253449 31.60
242 Plaskett, Jim253471 36.79
243 Hulak, Krunoslav253450 45.60
244 Golubev, Mihail253452 26.59
245 Hort, Vlastimil253351 52.96
246 Dlugy, Maxim253271 30.92
247 Dizdarevic, Emir253250 38.75
248 Chekhov, Valery A253252 41.09
249 Damljanovic, Branko253249 35.54
250 Shulman, Yuri253151 21.67
251 Arencibia, Walter253149 29.44
252 Mecking, Henrique253166 44.93
253 Gallagher, Joseph G253049 32.66
254 Donchev, Dimitar I253069 38.44
255 Timoshchenko, Gennady253052 47.68
256 Dokutchaev, Aleksander253059 24.58
257 Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav253053 30.79
258 Buturin, Vladimir253057 53.12
259 Ivanov, Alexander V2252966 40.66
260 Maksimenko, Andrei252949 27.07
261 Yuneev, Alexey252964
262 Kiselev, Sergey252850 35.30
263 Ivanov, Sergey252852 35.26
264 Budnikov, Alexandar252862 29.92
265 Solozhenkin, Evgeniy252751 30.42
266 Stangl, Markus252750 27.67
267 Frolov, Artur252757 26.42
268 Kavalek, Lubomir252666 53.39
269 Drasko, Milan252650 34.07
270 Muhutdinov, Marat252667 29.12
271 Zarubin, Pavel252560 28.88
272 Saltaev, Mihail252551 34.12
273 Gurevich, Dmitry252449 40.30
274 Chuchelov, Vladimir252451 27.26
275 Mikhalchishin, Adrian B252453 42.12
276 Groszpeter, Attila252449 36.56
277 Djurhuus, Rune252450 26.93
278 Mainka, Romuald252351 33.63
279 Moskalenko, Viktor252352 36.07
280 Rodriguez, Amador252350 40.31
281 Marin, Mihail252249 31.69
282 Gorelov, Sergey G252259 39.37
283 Vasiukov, Evgeny A252152 63.82
284 Avrukh, Boris252153 18.97
285 Conquest, Stuart252149 29.83
286 Blatny, Pavel252048 28.52
287 Moroz, Alexander252059 35.95
288 Alburt, Lev O252060 51.36
289 Shariyazdanov, Andrey252052 20.47
290 Rodriguez, Ad252073
291 Yurtaev, Leonid252059 37.66
292 Haba, Petr252050 31.98
293 Gausel, Einar251849 33.09
294 Notkin, Maksim251851 33.05
295 Liss, Eran251851 21.50
296 Tischbierek, Raj251851 34.27
297 Luther, Thomas251849 27.16
298 Smyslov, Vassily V251850 75.77
299 Burmakin, Vladimir251850 29.57
300 Kishnev, Sergey251856 40.16
301 Kosic, Dragan251851 26.88
302 Djuric, Stefan251853 41.43
303 Voitsekhovsky, Stanislav251764 32.40
304 Miladinovic, Igor251751 22.93
305 Davies, Nigel R251752 36.42
306 Horvath, Jozsef251747 32.38
307 Rodriguez, Andres251752 23.03
308 Rustemov, Alexander251651 23.48
309 Strikovic, Aleksa251649 35.63
310 Mariano, Nelson251666 22.51
311 Starosek, Konstantin251667 28.34
312 Cifuentes Parada, Roberto251649 39.03
313 Shabanov, Yury F251559 59.14
314 Kudrin, Sergey251555 37.32
315 Vaulin, Alexander251551 39.79
316 Slobodjan, Roman251349 21.99
317 Shchekachev, Andrei251350 24.18
318 Mokrý, Karel251353 37.90
319 Palatnik, Semen A251359 46.76
320 Golod, Vitali251356 25.51
321 Polovodin, Igor A251372 41.77
322 Lugovoi, Aleksei251251 21.82
323 Malisauskas, Vidmantas251252 33.41
324 Korzubov, Peter251274 34.99
325 Didishko, Vereslav251251 47.72
326 Kveinys, Aloyzas251249 34.48
327 Varavin, Viktor251155 29.61
328 Dvoretsky, Mark I251169 49.06
329 Rausis, Igors251149 35.73
330 Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter251151 20.41
331 Cramling, Pia251148 33.69
332 Tseitlin, Mark D251050 53.27
333 Milov, Leonid251057 30.90
334 Gyimesi, Zoltan251049 19.75
335 Sokolin, Leonid M251069
336 Ubilava, Elizbar E251052 46.34
337 Volkov, Sergey250955 22.90
338 Asrian, Karen250954 16.69
339 Thorsteins, Karl250964 32.22
340 Ruzele, Darius250952 28.68
341 Istratescu, Andrei250950 21.08
342 Belikov, Vladimir250952 25.41
343 Filippov, Valerij250950 21.09
344 Zhuravliov, Valerij250865 58.05
345 Kiriakov, Petr250855 21.96
346 Guliev, Sarhan250850 28.75
347 Gasimov, Ragim250864 20.66
348 Zhelnin, Vladimir V250861 49.80
349 Kalinin, Alexander250764 28.60
350 Olafsson, Helgi250751 40.38
351 Yandemirov, Valeri250751 33.89
352 Manor, Ilan250753 27.18
353 Podzielny, Karl Heinz250757 42.31
354 Agrest, Evgenij250753 30.38
355 Xie Jun250649 26.17
356 Enders, Peter250650 33.91
357 Hector, Jonny250649 32.88
358 Kalinitschew, Sergey250554 40.91
359 Arbakov, Valentin250451 44.92
360 Emms, John M250449 29.80
361 Har Zvi, Ronen250452 20.22
362 Schandorff, Lars250450 31.70
363 Franco Ocampos, Zenon250352 40.63
364 Dyachkov, Sergej250353 20.15
365 Kosten, Anthony C250254 38.44
366 Zontakh, Andrey250254 26.16
367 Dimitrov, Vladimir250250 28.72
368 Zakharevich, Igor250252 33.46
369 Ye Rongguang250254 33.24
370 Ricardi, Pablo250250 34.85
371 Soffer, Ram250253 31.32
372 Nesterov, Jakov250166 30.10
373 Akhmadeev, Vadim250164 40.47
374 Mitenkov, Alexey250054 35.81
375 Wells, Peter K250048 31.70
376 Fomichenko, Eduard250073 27.96
377 Zapata, Alonso250051 38.36
378 Adorján, András250053 46.75
379 Khachian, Melikset249953 26.48
380 Brenninkmeijer, Joris249955 27.30
381 Antunes, Antonio249950 34.90
382 Kovalev, Andrei249951 35.15
383 Faragó, Iván249948 50.75
384 Legky, Nikolay A249951 41.72
385 Cherepkov, Alexander V249875 76.17
386 Horváth, Csaba249848 28.57
387 Li Wenliang249858 29.69
388 Vukic, Milan249854 53.37
389 Suba, Mihai249850 49.58
390 Jakubiec, Artur249860 23.08
391 Temirbaev, Serik249757
392 Vakhidov, Tahir249764
393 Li Zunian249772 38.97
394 Apicella, Manuel249750 26.70
395 Sosonko, Gennadi249752 53.62
396 Kaminski, Marcin249749 19.81
397 Maljutin, Evgeni249760 25.17
398 Kumaran, Dharshan249753 21.57
399 Pavlovic, Milos249751 32.98
400 Nielsen, Peter Heine249648 23.60
401 Gabdrakhmanov, Rafail249668 37.57
402 Nikolaidis, Ioannis249650 25.98
403 Mukhametov, Eldar249653 27.61
404 Kuporosov, Viktor249654 35.26
405 Khasin, Alexander249667 45.67
406 Malakhov, Vladimir249651 16.09
407 Kuczynski, Robert249650 30.70
408 Krogius, Nikolay V249658 66.44
409 Vogt, Lothar H249552 44.95
410 Kholmov, Ratmir D249550 71.63
411 Bagirov, Vladimir K249552 60.37
412 Lin Weiguo249465 26.43
413 Liang Chong249468
414 Zarnicki, Pablo249450 24.13
415 Najer, Evgeniy249353 19.52
416 Vorotnikov, Vladislav V249354 49.37
417 Keitlinghaus, Ludger249349 31.44
418 Yuferov, Sergey N249354 51.08
419 Koniushkov, Igor249358 34.09
420 Gavrilakis, Nikolaos249258 41.77
421 Gofshtein, Leonid D249250 43.69
422 Geller, Efim P249160 71.83
423 Sulskis, Sarunas249151 24.10
424 Lazarev, Vladimir249155 32.57
425 Panchenko, Alexander N249153 43.24
426 Ionescu, Constantin249151 38.30
427 Akesson, Ralf249150 35.90
428 Ryskin, Alexander249159 33.96
429 Uhlmann, Wolfgang249151 61.76
430 Sher, Miron N249150 44.51
431 Johansen, Darryl K249157 37.91
432 Feygin, Michail249160 21.91
433 Borges Mateos, Juan249060 30.76
434 Volzhin, Alexander249051 25.91
435 Lau, Ralf249050 37.20
436 Klinger, Josef249064 29.57
437 Hamdouchi, Hichem249053 24.23
438 Gruenfeld, Yehuda248955 40.84
439 Garcia Ilundain, David248949 25.75
440 Ivanovic, Božidar248852 50.35
441 Jansa, Vlastimil248849 54.09
442 Petrosian, Arshak B248753 43.04
443 Liang Jinrong248759 36.61
444 Annageldyev, Orazly248757 36.78
445 Purtov, Andrei248761 38.72
446 Renet, Olivier248750 32.03
447 Ioseliani, Nana248651 34.88
448 Zaitsev, Igor A248650 58.59
449 Nevednichy, Vladislav248650 27.33
450 Miezis, Normunds248649 25.64
451 Nikcevic, Nebojsa248652
452 Howell, James C248651 29.62
453 Nadyrhanov, Sergey248657 33.26
454 Mesropov, Konstantin248563 25.59
455 Yegiazarian, Arsen248554 26.54
456 Zilberman, Yaacov248555 42.60
457 Barua, Dibyendu248553 30.18
458 Shmuter, Leonid248553 27.66
459 Blagojevic, Dragisa248452 30.99
460 San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo248450 26.89
461 Irzhanov, Ruslan248455 20.09
462 Nasybullin, Vladislav248474
463 Levin, Felix248452 38.15
464 Zagorskis, Darius248451 27.11
465 Hernandez, Gilberto248450
466 Batyrov, Sapar248469 29.09
467 Mueller, Karsten248453 26.11
468 Mestel, A Jonathan248365 39.80
469 Khlian, E.248371 37.22
470 Vasquez, Rodrigo248365 27.07
471 Dragomarezkij, Evgeni248353 43.94
472 Zlochevskij, Alexander248353 33.52
473 Chernyshov, Konstantin248354 29.55
474 Janjgava, Lasha248360 26.65
475 Larsen, Bent248355 61.82
476 Fercec, Nenad248355 35.72
477 Martinovic, Slobodan248253 51.43
478 Antonio, Rogelio Jr248256 34.87
479 Richter, Wolfgang248267 28.86
480 Iskusnyh, Sergei248151 22.32
481 Tisdall, Jonathan D248149 38.35
482 Gufeld, Eduard E248157 60.78
483 Teske, Henrik248149 28.84
484 Marinkovic, Ivan248154 29.46
485 Meister, Yakov248162 41.30
486 Lukin, Andrei M248156 48.34
487 Danielsen, Henrik248151 30.94
488 Petrienko, Vladimir248173 41.81
489 Tunik, Gennady248150 43.59
490 Tolnai, Tibor248149 32.27
491 Sevillano, Enrico248058
492 Mohr, Georg248049 31.91
493 Kovacevic, Vladimir248052 54.76
494 Hansen, Sune Berg248053 25.69
495 Badea, Bela248052 27.86
496 Stanec, Nikolaus248049 28.67
497 Frias, Victor J248064 40.89
498 Norwood, David248056 28.24
499 Karpman, Vadim247965 31.63
500 Markowski, Tomasz247949 21.42

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1996, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1996, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1995. 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, 1996. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1997.

+/- 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, 1997. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1997 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, 1997. 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, 1996. 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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