Best player never to win the World Championship
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Best player never to win the World Championship
I often read in books, online, and in magazines, that the author rates one of the above players to be the best never to have won the World Championship.
Of course there are many different criteria that we might use to make such a judgment; natural giftedness, creative genius, fighting spirit, longevity at the top, periods of tournament domination, most world champion scalps etc. The list is pretty endless.
It would however be good to see and hear what forum users think. You might even want to venture a different candidate altogether - the choice is yours ...
Of course there are many different criteria that we might use to make such a judgment; natural giftedness, creative genius, fighting spirit, longevity at the top, periods of tournament domination, most world champion scalps etc. The list is pretty endless.
It would however be good to see and hear what forum users think. You might even want to venture a different candidate altogether - the choice is yours ...
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
Rubinstein deserves consideration
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
Bronstein for me as he was so desperately close in 1951. That's a rather biased view as he's my favourite player; Keres and Korchnoi were nearer the top for longer. Then there's Schlechter of course..
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
Add on Rubinstein in place of Larsen (never *quite* there, IMO) and that would be my shortlist too.
Though some who consider he never won a "legitimate" title may wish to include Topalov?
Though some who consider he never won a "legitimate" title may wish to include Topalov?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
How about Samuel Reshevsky ?
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
Paul Morphy. Sadly no World Championship around his time of playing. Would have won it and probably would have kept him playing longer.
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
According to Elo ratings, it's most likely Fabiano Caruana.
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
I was considering nominating Morphy, but if we go down that road don't we also end up saying Philidor and everybody else back to Greco?Ronnie Burton wrote:Paul Morphy. Sadly no World Championship around his time of playing. Would have won it and probably would have kept him playing longer.
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"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
You have to Paul Morphy in the list ! His play over the board and blindfold games clearly show he was ahead of his time and certainly could hold his own with players from 1860 to 1900 when world championship matches were played. Bobby Fisher rated him one of the greatest player ever to play Chess
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
The choices are too limited.
Cheers
Carl Hibbard
Carl Hibbard
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
I'd probably go with Caruana.
Best relative to his era never to have won the title is a different matter.
Best relative to his era never to have won the title is a different matter.
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
So it's not only at ECF elections when "None of the Above" can win
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Re: Best player never to win the World Championship
No, I *don't* think the list should include Morphy, Philidor and other pre-Steinitz de facto if not de jure champs
Reshevsky is a good one, though.....
Reshevsky is a good one, though.....
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)