The world champions
Every reign of the classical world title since the first official match in 1886. From 1993 to 2006 the title was split: the classical line (Kasparov, then Kramnik) and FIDE's own champions, shown underneath.
Every World Championship
Every match (and the few tournaments) for the title, with the final score. Ties went to the defending champion; the 1984–85 Karpov–Kasparov match was abandoned without a result.
Rivalries for the title
The pairs who met in World Championship matches, how many matches each one won and the games' combined score.
World number one
Who topped FIDE's rating list each month: classical since 1971, rapid and blitz since 2014. Months and years at number one, and the ribbon of every list.
Head to head
How the greatest players fared against each other in every game in their files, split into classical, rapid and blitz. Pick a player for their record against the others, or see the most-played rivalries.
The most-played rivalries
Rapid and blitz world champions
Every FIDE-recognized rapid and blitz world title, open and women's, including the early events (Fischer won the first blitz championship in 1970).
Most titles
Women's World Championship
Every women's world title since Vera Menchik won the first in 1927, in tournaments, matches and knockouts.
Most titles
Records
The longest reigns, the highest ratings, the youngest grandmasters and more.
The rating record, step by step
Highest peak rating by decade
Youngest grandmasters
Youngest grandmaster, as the record fell
Nations
Which countries produced the champions and the number ones, and won the Chess Olympiad. Players count for the federation they represented at the time.
The road to the title
The winners of the Candidates Tournament, which picks the challenger, and of the Chess World Cup.