| # | Player | Championship Reign | Title Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilhelm Steinitz | 1886–1894 | 4 | 1886, 1889, 1890, 1892 |
| 2 | Emanuel Lasker | 1894–1921 | 6 | 1894, 1896, 1907, 1908, 1910*, 1910 |
| 3 | José Raúl Capablanca | 1921–1927 | 1 | 1921 |
| 4 | Alexander Alekhine | 1927–1935, 1937–1946 | 4 | 1927, 1929, 1934, 1937 |
| 5 | Max Euwe | 1935–1937 | 1 | 1935 |
| 6 | Mikhail Botvinnik | 1948–1957, 1958–60, 1961–63 | 5 | 1948t, 1951*, 1954*, 1958, 1961 |
| 7 | Vasily Smyslov | 1957–1958 | 1 | 1957 |
| 8 | Mikhail Tal | 1960–1961 | 1 | 1960 |
| 9 | Tigran Petrosian | 1963–1969 | 2 | 1963, 1966 |
| 10 | Boris Spassky | 1969–1972 | 1 | 1969 |
| 11 | Bobby Fischer | 1972–1975 | 1 | 1972 |
| 12 | Anatoly Karpov | 1975–1985 | 4 | 1975d, 1978, 1981, 1984# |
| 13 | Garry Kasparov | 1985–2000 | 6 | 1985, 1986, 1987*, 1990, 1993, 1995 |
| 14 | Vladimir Kramnik | 2000–2007 | 3 | 2000, 2004*, 2006** |
| 15 | Viswanathan Anand | 2007–2013 | 4 | 2007t, 2008, 2010, 2012** |
| 16 | Magnus Carlsen | 2013–2023 | 5 | 2013, 2014, 2016**, 2018**, 2021 |
| 17 | Ding Liren | 2023–2024 | 1 | 2023** |
| 18 | D. Gukesh Dommaraju | 2024–present | 1 | 2024 |
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONS (1886–2025)
1️⃣ Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900) – 1st World Champion
- Country: Austria/USA
- Reign: 1886–1894
- Defeated: Johannes Zukertort
- Known as “Father of Modern Chess Strategy”
- Introduced positional play theory vs romantic attacking style
- Formulated principles of king safety, pawn structure, weak squares
- Lost title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894
2️⃣ Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941)
- Country: Germany
- Reign: 1894–1921 (27 years – record longest)
- Defeated Steinitz
- Calculative + psychological style
- Big rivals: Capablanca, Tarrasch
- Mathematician + philosopher
- Lost title to Capablanca in 1921
3️⃣ José Raúl Capablanca (1888-1942)
- Country: Cuba
- Reign: 1921–1927
- Defeated: Lasker
- Nickname: “The Chess Machine”
- Known for effortless positional play + endgame mastery
- Rarely made blunders—natural talent
- Lost title to Alekhine, rematch never took place
4️⃣ Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946)
- Country: Russia/France
- Reign: 1927–1935 + 1937–1946
- Tactical genius, complex positions
- Defeated Capablanca in 1927
- Lost to Euwe (1935), regained title 1937
- Died as reigning champion (only one in history)
5️⃣ Max Euwe (1901-1981)
- Country: Netherlands
- Reign: 1935–1937
- World Champion + mathematics professor
- Defeated Alekhine in 1935 upset match
- Known for logical + scientific approach
- Lost rematch to Alekhine
6️⃣ Mikhail Botvinnik (1911–1995)
- Country: Soviet Union
- Reign: multiple periods (1948–1957, 1958–60, 1961–63)
- Founder of “Soviet Chess School”
- Defeated by Smyslov (1957) | regained 1958
- Defeated by Tal (1960) | regained 1961
- Mentor of Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik indirectly
- Known for scientific preparation + openings
- Country: Soviet Union
- Reign: 1957–1958
- Known for harmonious piece coordination
- Voice opera singer also
- Lost rematch to Botvinnik in 1958
8️⃣ Mikhail Tal (1936–1992)
- Country: Soviet Union
- Reign: 1960–1961
- Nickname: “The Magician from Riga”
- Famous for creative sacrifices + attacking brilliance
- Lost rematch to Botvinnik
- Legendary blitz icon
9️⃣ Tigran Petrosian (1929–1984)
- Country: Soviet Union
- Reign: 1963–1969
- Known for impenetrable defense, prophylaxis strategy
- Defeated Botvinnik
- Defended title against Spassky once
- Lost in rematch 1969
🔟 Boris Spassky (1937– )
- Country: Soviet Union
- Reign: 1969–1972
- Universal style (attacking + positional both)
- Lost to Fischer in 1972 Cold War match
11️⃣ Bobby Fischer (1943–2008)
- Country: USA
- Reign: 1972–1975
- Defeated Spassky in Iceland: cultural Cold War symbol
- Raised chess popularity worldwide
- Famous 6-0 sweep vs Larsen + Taimanov
- Declined to defend title → lost by forfeit
12️⃣ Anatoly Karpov (1951– )
- Country: Soviet Union / Russia
- Reign: 1975–1985
- Positional endgame specialist
- Dominated tournaments 70s–80s
- Fierce rivalry with Kasparov
- Lost title 1985
13️⃣ Garry Kasparov (1963– )
- Country: Russia
- Reign: 1985–2000
- Defeated Karpov
- Regarded by many as Greatest of All Time
- Revolutionized opening theory with computer prep
- World No.1 for ~20 years
- Left FIDE in 1993 (split era)
14️⃣ Vladimir Kramnik (1975– )
- Country: Russia
- Reign: 2000–2007
- Defeated Kasparov without losing a single game in match
- Reunified split world title in 2006
- Innovated Berlin Defense popularity
15️⃣ Viswanathan Anand (1969– )
- Country: India
- Reign: 2007–2013
- Classical victories vs Kramnik, Topalov, Gelfand
- First Indian World Champion
- Known for rapid play + opening versatility
- Lost title to Carlsen in 2013
16️⃣ Magnus Carlsen (1990– )
- Country: Norway
- Reign: 2013–2023
- Defeated Anand
- One of strongest players ever
- Broke FIDE rating peak 2882
- Known for endgame mastery + grinding ability
- Refused to defend title 2023
17️⃣ Ding Liren (1992– )
- Country: China
- Reign: 2023–2024
- Defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi
- China’s first male world champion
- Calm positional + defensive resilience
18️⃣ Dommaraju Gukesh (2006– )
- Country: India
- Reign: 2024–present
- Defeated Ding Liren in 2024 match
- Became youngest classical world chess champion in history
- Known for: deep prep + fearless attacking style
- Represent historic rise of Indian chess
🏆 2024–25 ka World Chess Champion (Classical Format)
🔹 D. Gukesh Dommaraju (India) ne World Chess Championship 2024 match jeet kar classical World Chess Champion ban gaye. Unhone Ding Liren ko 7½–6½ se haraaya aur 18 saal ki umar me duniya ke sabse yuva World Champion bane.
✔️ 2024–25 (present) ke World Chess Champion: D Gukesh Dommaraju (India)
✔️ Pehle Champion tha: Ding Liren (China) lekin unko 2024 me Gukesh ne hara diya.
🔥Current Champions (2025)
🟡 Classical World Champion (Men):
👉 D. Gukesh Dommaraju (India) – World Chess Championship Winner 2024–25 (youngest ever)
🟡 Women’s World Chess Champion (Classical):
👉 Ju Wenjun (China) ne Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 jeeta aur title retain kiya.
