Typical tournament crosstable, showing individual and total scores This article depicts many of the strongest chess tournaments in history.
The following list is not intended to be an exhaustive or definitive record of tournament chess, but takes as its foundation the collective opinion of chess experts and journalists over the strongest tournaments in history. This list excludes World Chess Championship matches between two players but includes knockout FIDE World Championships as those are played between many players. Rapid & Blitz events and team events like the Chess Olympiad are also not included in this list.
Events that merit inclusion have been largely judged according to the strength (and relative strength in depth) of their participants. Other factors were taken into account, but have less influence; for example the quality of chess played, the closeness of the contest and the number of world top 10 or 'big reputation' players who took part, and the time control (no fast chess tournaments are listed). Inevitably, this introduces a degree of subjectivity, but the vast majority of tournaments in the list range from FIDE Category 10 to FIDE category 21 and beyond.
The names of the tournament winners have been included next to the year and venue. Many of the tournaments have had books written about them and whilst these will be mostly out of print, they are occasionally available at online auction sites, second-hand specialist book shops etc.
No attempt is made at comparing the relative strengths of tournaments in the list, as this is, and continues to be, the subject of inconclusive debate amongst experts.
While events are listed in year order, they are not listed chronologically within the same year.
Tournaments and winners
1850–1859
Year Tournament Location Winner Ref 1851 London 1851 chess tournament London Adolf Anderssen London Club Adolf Anderssen 1857 Manchester Johann Löwenthal American Chess Congress New York Paul Morphy 1858 Birmingham Johann Löwenthal
1860–1869
Year Tournament Location Winner Ref 1861 Bristol Louis Paulsen 1862 London 1862 chess tournament London Adolf Anderssen 1865 Dublin Wilhelm Steinitz 1867 Paris 1867 chess tournament Paris Ignác Kolisch Dundee Gustav Neumann 1868 WDSB Congress Aachen Max Lange 1869 NDSB Congress Hamburg Adolf Anderssen WDSB Congress Barmen Adolf Anderssen
1870–1879
Year Tournament Location Winner Ref 1870 Baden-Baden 1870 chess tournament Baden-Baden Adolf Anderssen 1871 WDSB Congress Krefeld Louis Paulsen 1872 NDSB Congress Altona Adolf Anderssen London Wilhelm Steinitz 1873 Vienna 1873 chess tournament Vienna Wilhelm Steinitz 1874 American Chess Congress Chicago George Henry Mackenzie 1876 New York George Henry Mackenzie American Chess Congress Philadelphia James Mason Clipper New York James Mason MDSB Congress Leipzig Adolf Anderssen London Joseph Henry Blackburne 1877 MDSB Congress Leipzig Louis Paulsen 1878 Paris 1878 chess tournament Paris Johannes Zukertort WDSB Congress Frankfurt Louis Paulsen 1879 London Henry Edward Bird DSB Congress Leipzig Berthold Englisch
1880–1889
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1880 Wiesbaden WDSB Congress Braunschweig Louis Paulsen 1881 Berlin 1881 chess tournament (DSB Congress) Berlin Joseph Henry Blackburne 1882 Vienna 1882 chess tournament Vienna 1883 London 1883 chess tournament London Johannes Zukertort DSB Congress Nuremberg Szymon Winawer 1885 Hamburg Isidor Gunsberg Hereford Joseph Henry Blackburne 1886 BCA Congress London Joseph Henry Blackburne Belfast William H. K. Pollock Nottingham Amos Burn 1887 DSB Congress Frankfurt George Henry Mackenzie London 1888 Leipzig Bradford Isidor Gunsberg 1889 Amsterdam Amos Burn American Chess Congress New York DSB Congress Breslau Siegbert Tarrasch
1890–1899
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1890 Manchester Siegbert Tarrasch Vienna Max Weiss Graz Gyula Makovetz Berlin 1891 Horatio Caro 1892 DSB Congress Dresden Siegbert Tarrasch London Emanuel Lasker 1893 New York Emanuel Lasker 1894 DSB Congress Leipzig Siegbert Tarrasch New York Wilhelm Steinitz 1895 Hastings 1895 chess tournament Hastings Harry Nelson Pillsbury 1895/96 Saint Petersburg 1895–96 chess tournament Saint Petersburg Emanuel Lasker 1896 Budapest Mikhail Chigorin Nuremberg 1896 chess tournament Nuremberg Emanuel Lasker 1897 Schachverein Centrum Berlin Curt von Bardeleben Berlin 1897 chess tournament Charousek 1898 Budapest Charousek DSB Congress Cologne Amos Burn Vienna 1898 chess tournament Vienna Siegbert Tarrasch 1899 London 1899 chess tournament London Emanuel Lasker 1899/1900 Vienna Géza Maróczy
1900–1909
St. Petersburg, 1909 Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1900 Paris 1900 chess tournament Paris Emanuel Lasker DSB Congress Munich 1901 Monte Carlo chess tournament Monte Carlo Dawid Janowski Russian Chess Championship Moscow Mikhail Chigorin 1902 Vienna Monte Carlo Géza Maróczy DSB Congress Hannover Dawid Janowski 1903 Monte Carlo Siegbert Tarrasch 1904 1904 Cambridge Springs International Chess Congress Cambridge Springs Frank Marshall Monte Carlo Géza Maróczy DSB Congress Coburg 1905 Ostend Géza Maróczy Barmen 1906 Ostend Carl Schlechter Stockholm DSB Congress Nuremberg Frank Marshall Russian Chess Championship Saint Petersburg Salwe 1907 Leopold Trebitsch Memorial Tournament Vienna Jacques Mieses Ostend 1907 chess tournament Ostend Siegbert Tarrasch Carlsbad 1907 chess tournament Carlsbad Akiba Rubinstein 1908 Vienna 1908 chess tournament Vienna Prague 1908 chess tournament Prague 1909 Chigorin Memorial St. Petersburg
1910–1919
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1910 DSB Congress Hamburg Carl Schlechter 1910/11 Vienna Carl Schlechter 1911 New York Frank Marshall San Sebastián chess tournament San Sebastián José Raúl Capablanca Carlsbad 1911 chess tournament Carlsbad Richard Teichmann 1912 San Sebastián Akiba Rubinstein Bad Pistyan Piešťany Budapest Russian Chess Championship Vilnius Akiba Rubinstein DSB Congress Breslau 1913 New York José Raúl Capablanca Havana Frank Marshall Vienna Carl Schlechter Vienna Club Rudolf Spielmann 1914 Russian Chess Championship St Petersburg St. Petersburg 1914 chess tournament Emanuel Lasker Baden bei Wien Rudolf Spielmann DSB Congress (Mannheim 1914 chess tournament) Mannheim Alexander Alekhine Vienna Carl Schlechter 1915 New York José Raúl Capablanca 1916/17 Vienna Carl Schlechter 1917/18 Milan Vidmar 1918 Berlin Emanuel Lasker Four Masters Milan Vidmar Kaschau Richard Réti New York José Raúl Capablanca 1919 Stockholm Rudolf Spielmann Hastings José Raúl Capablanca
1920–1929
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1920 Amsterdam Richard Réti Gothenburg Berlin Gyula Breyer 1921 Kiel Efim Bogoljubov Triberg Alexander Alekhine Budapest Alexander Alekhine The Hague Alexander Alekhine Triberg (2) Akiba Rubinstein 1922 Bad Pistyan Piešťany Efim Bogoljubov London José Raúl Capablanca Vienna Akiba Rubinstein Teplitz-Schönau Hastings Alexander Alekhine 1922/23 Hastings International Chess Congress Akiba Rubinstein 1923 Margate Ernst Grünfeld Carlsbad 1923 chess tournament Carlsbad Vienna Savielly Tartakower Moravská Ostrava 1923 chess tournament Ostrava Emanuel Lasker Copenhagen Aron Nimzowitsch 1924 New York 1924 chess tournament New York Emanuel Lasker Meran Ernst Grünfeld USSR Chess Championship Moscow Efim Bogoljubov 1924/25 Hastings 1925 Debrecen Hans Kmoch Baden-Baden Alexander Alekhine Paris Alexander Alekhine DSB Congress Breslau Efim Bogoljubov Marienbad Moscow 1925 chess tournament Moscow Efim Bogoljubov USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Efim Bogoljubov 1925/26 Hastings 1926 Hannover Aron Nimzowitsch Budapest Semmering Rudolf Spielmann Lake Hopatcong José Raúl Capablanca Chicago Frank Marshall Dresden Aron Nimzowitsch Berlin Efim Bogoljubov 1927 London Kecskemét Alexander Alekhine Bad Homburg Efim Bogoljubov DSB Congress Magdeburg Rudolf Spielmann New York 1927 chess tournament New York José Raúl Capablanca 1928 Budapest José Raúl Capablanca Vienna Richard Réti Dortmund Friedrich Sämisch Bad Kissingen Efim Bogoljubov Berlin José Raúl Capablanca BSG Aron Nimzowitsch 1929 Carlsbad 1929 chess tournament Carlsbad Aron Nimzowitsch Bradley Beach Alexander Alekhine Budapest José Raúl Capablanca Barcelona José Raúl Capablanca Rogaska Slatina Akiba Rubinstein 1929/30 Hastings José Raúl Capablanca
1930–1939
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1930 Frankfurt Aron Nimzowitsch Stockholm Isaac Kashdan San Remo 1930 chess tournament Sanremo Alexander Alekhine Scarborough Edgar Colle Amsterdam Henri Weenink Liège Savielly Tartakower 1930/31 Hastings Max Euwe 1931 New York 1931 chess tournament New York José Raúl Capablanca Rotterdam Salo Landau Bled 1931 chess tournament Bled Alexander Alekhine 1931/32 Hastings Salo Flohr 1932 Bad Sliač London Alexander Alekhine Pasadena Alexander Alekhine Bern Alexander Alekhine Mexico City 1932/33 Hastings Salo Flohr 1933 Paris Alexander Alekhine Scheveningen Salo Flohr 1933/34 Hastings Salo Flohr 1934 Syracuse Samuel Reshevsky Zurich Alexander Alekhine Ujpest Andor Lilienthal Leningrad Mikhail Botvinnik 1934/35 Hastings 1935 Moscow Margate Samuel Reshevsky 1935/36 Hastings Reuben Fine 1936 Margate Salo Flohr U.S. Chess Championship New York Samuel Reshevsky Bad Nauheim Zandvoort Reuben Fine Amsterdam Dresden Alexander Alekhine Moscow José Raúl Capablanca Nottingham 1936 chess tournament Nottingham Poděbrady Salo Flohr 1936/37 Hastings Alexander Alekhine 1937 Kemeri 1937 chess tournament Kemeri Pärnu Paul Felix Schmidt Margate Ostend Bad Nauheim, Stuttgart, Garmisch Max Euwe Semmering/Baden Paul Keres Moscow Reuben Fine 1937/38 Hastings Samuel Reshevsky 1938 Noordwijk Erich Eliskases U.S. Chess Championship New York Samuel Reshevsky AVRO 1938 chess tournament Netherlands 1938/39 Hastings László Szabó 1939 Amsterdam VARA Leningrad, Moscow Salo Flohr U.S. Open Chess Championship New York Reuben Fine Margate Paul Keres Stuttgart Efim Bogoljubov Bournemouth Max Euwe USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Mikhail Botvinnik
1940–1949
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1940 U.S. Chess Championship New York Samuel Reshevsky USSR Chess Championship Moscow 1941 USSR Absolute Championship Leningrad, Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik Mar del Plata Gideon Ståhlberg Munich 1941 chess tournament Munich Gösta Stoltz General Government chess tournament Kraków, Warsaw 1942 Mar del Plata chess tournament Mar del Plata Miguel Najdorf Salzburg 1942 chess tournament Salzburg Alexander Alekhine 1942 European Individual Chess Championship Munich Alexander Alekhine Prague 1943 Mar del Plata Miguel Najdorf Sverdlovsk Mikhail Botvinnik Baku Salo Flohr Prague Alexander Alekhine Salzburg 1944 Mar del Plata La Plata Miguel Najdorf Kyiv Salo Flohr USSR Chess Championship Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik 1945 Hollywood Samuel Reshevsky Mar del Plata Miguel Najdorf Buenos Aires Miguel Najdorf USSR Chess Championship Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik 1946 Mar del Plata Miguel Najdorf Groningen 1946 chess tournament Groningen Mikhail Botvinnik 1947 Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik Pärnu Paul Keres Warsaw Svetozar Gligorić Mar del Plata Miguel Najdorf Buenos Aires, La Plata Gideon Ståhlberg USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Paul Keres 1948 Mar del Plata Erich Eliskases Buenos Aires, La Plata Venice Miguel Najdorf World Chess Championship 1948 The Hague, Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik Interzonal Tournament Saltsjöbaden David Bronstein USSR Chess Championship Moscow 1948/49 New York Reuben Fine 1949 USSR Chess Championship Moscow
1950–1959
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1950 Amsterdam Miguel Najdorf Szczawno Zdrój Paul Keres Venice Alexander Kotov Candidates Tournament Budapest David Bronstein USSR Chess Championship Moscow Paul Keres 1951 New York Samuel Reshevsky Birmingham Svetozar Gligorić USSR Chess Championship Moscow Paul Keres 1952 Havana Budapest Paul Keres Interzonal Tournament Saltsjöbaden Alexander Kotov USSR Chess Championship Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik 1953 Bucharest Alexander Tolush Gagra Vasily Smyslov Candidates Tournament Zurich Vasily Smyslov 1954 Belgrade David Bronstein USSR Chess Championship Kyiv Yuri Averbakh 1954/55 Hastings 1955 Mar del Plata Borislav Ivkov Zagreb Vasily Smyslov Interzonal Tournament Gothenburg David Bronstein USSR Chess Championship Moscow Efim Geller 1955/56 Hastings Viktor Korchnoi 1956 Moscow Candidates Tournament Amsterdam Vasily Smyslov USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Mark Taimanov 1957 Moscow Mikhail Tal 1957/58 Hastings Paul Keres 1958 USSR Chess Championship Riga Mikhail Tal Interzonal Tournament Portorož Mikhail Tal 1959 Moscow Zurich Mikhail Tal Dresden Riga Boris Spassky Candidates Tournament Bled, Zagreb, Belgrade Mikhail Tal USSR Chess Championship Tbilisi Tigran Petrosian
1960–1969
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1960 Mar del Plata Buenos Aires Santa Fe Copenhagen Tigran Petrosian USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Viktor Korchnoi Córdoba Viktor Korchnoi Moscow 1961 USSR Chess Championship Moscow Tigran Petrosian Baku Boris Spassky Bled Mikhail Tal Zurich Paul Keres Dortmund Mark Taimanov Budapest Viktor Korchnoi 1961/62 Hastings Mikhail Botvinnik 1962 Capablanca Memorial Havana Miguel Najdorf Interzonal Tournament Stockholm Robert James Fischer Candidates Tournament Willemstad Tigran Petrosian USSR Chess Championship Yerevan Viktor Korchnoi 1962/63 U.S. Chess Championship New York Robert James Fischer 1963 Piatigorsky Cup Los Angeles Havana Viktor Korchnoi Moscow Vasily Smyslov Sochi Lev Polugaevsky USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Leonid Stein 1963/64 U.S. Chess Championship New York Robert James Fischer 1964 Belgrade Boris Spassky Buenos Aires Zonal Tournament Moscow Boris Spassky Interzonal Tournament Amsterdam 1964/65 USSR Chess Championship Kyiv Viktor Korchnoi 1965 Yerevan Viktor Korchnoi Havana Vasily Smyslov Santiago Vasily Smyslov Zagreb USSR Chess Championship Tallinn Leonid Stein 1965/66 U.S. Chess Championship New York Robert James Fischer 1966 Piatigorsky Cup Santa Monica Boris Spassky Mar del Plata Vasily Smyslov Moscow Tigran Petrosian Sochi Viktor Korchnoi Kislovodsk Efim Geller 1966/67 USSR Chess Championship Tbilisi Leonid Stein U.S. Chess Championship New York Robert James Fischer 1967 Beverwijk Boris Spassky Monte Carlo chess tournament Monte Carlo Robert James Fischer Havana Bent Larsen Winnipeg Venice Jan Hein Donner Moscow Leonid Stein Palma de Mallorca Bent Larsen Skopje Robert James Fischer Interzonal Tournament Sousse Bent Larsen USSR Chess Championship Kharkov 1968 Corus chess tournament Wijk aan Zee Viktor Korchnoi Monte Carlo Bent Larsen Bamberg Paul Keres Skopje, Ohrid Lajos Portisch Gori Mikhail Tal Palma de Mallorca Viktor Korchnoi 1968/69 USSR Chess Championship Alma-Ata Lev Polugaevsky 1969 Wijk aan Zee Buesum Bent Larsen San Juan Boris Spassky Palma de Mallorca Bent Larsen Belgrade USSR Chess Championship Moscow Tigran Petrosian 1969/70 Hastings Lajos Portisch
1970–1979
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1970 IBM international chess tournament Amsterdam Rovinj, Zagreb Robert James Fischer Buenos Aires Robert James Fischer Leiden Boris Spassky Vinkovci Bent Larsen Interzonal Tournament Palma de Mallorca Robert James Fischer USSR Chess Championship Riga Viktor Korchnoi 1971 Wijk aan Zee Viktor Korchnoi Pärnu Leonid Stein Moscow Tallinn Amsterdam Vasily Smyslov Palma de Mallorca USSR Chess Championship Leningrad Vladimir Savon 1971/72 Hastings 1972 Wijk aan Zee Lajos Portisch Amsterdam Lev Polugaevsky Teesside Bent Larsen Kislovodsk Lev Polugaevsky Las Palmas Lajos Portisch Sarajevo László Szabó San Antonio Palma de Mallorca USSR Chess Championship Baku Mikhail Tal 1973 Amsterdam Tallinn Mikhail Tal Sochi Mikhail Tal Dortmund Las Palmas Madrid Anatoly Karpov Interzonal Tournament Leningrad Petropolis Henrique Mecking USSR Chess Championship Moscow Boris Spassky 1974 Manila Evgeni Vasiukov Las Palmas Ljubomir Ljubojević Solingen USSR Chess Championship Leningrad 1975 Wijk aan Zee Lajos Portisch Amsterdam Ljubomir Ljubojević Teesside Efim Geller Moscow Efim Geller Portorož, Ljubljana Anatoly Karpov Milan Anatoly Karpov Las Palmas Ljubomir Ljubojević Manila Ljubomir Ljubojević Budapest USSR Chess Championship Yerevan Tigran Petrosian 1976 Wijk aan Zee Interzonal Tournament Biel/Bienne Bent Larsen Manila Henrique Mecking Eugenio Torre Skopje Anatoly Karpov Sochi Las Palmas Efim Geller USSR Chess Championship Moscow Anatoly Karpov 1977 Leningrad Portorož, Ljubljana Bent Larsen Las Palmas Anatoly Karpov Tilburg chess tournament Tilburg Anatoly Karpov Sochi Mikhail Tal USSR Chess Championship Leningrad 1977/78 Hastings Roman Dzindzichashvili 1978 Wijk aan Zee Lajos Portisch Lone Pine International Lone Pine Bent Larsen Bugojno Reykjavík Walter Shawn Browne Nikšić Tilburg Lajos Portisch Montilla, Moriles Boris Spassky Vilnius Vladimir Tukmakov USSR Chess Championship Tbilisi 1979 Montreal Tilburg Anatoly Karpov Waddinxveen Anatoly Karpov Wijk aan Zee Lev Polugaevsky Bled, Portorož Jan Timman Munich Interzonal Tournament Riga Mikhail Tal Rio de Janeiro Tallinn Tigran Petrosian Lone Pine Banja Luka Garry Kasparov Buenos Aires Bent Larsen USSR Chess Championship Minsk Efim Geller
1980–1989
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1980 Wijk aan Zee Baden bei Wien Amsterdam Anatoly Karpov Lone Pine Roman Dzindzichashvili Bugojno Anatoly Karpov Bad Kissingen Anatoly Karpov Baku Garry Kasparov Phillips & Drew Kings London Tilburg Anatoly Karpov Buenos Aires Bent Larsen 1980/81 USSR Chess Championship Vilnius 1981 Amsterdam Jan Timman Lone Pine Viktor Korchnoi Johannesburg Ulf Andersson Las Palmas Jan Timman Linares International Chess Tournament Linares Moscow Anatoly Karpov Tilburg Alexander Beliavsky USSR Chess Championship Moscow 1982 Bugojno Garry Kasparov Phillips & Drew Kings London Sochi Mikhail Tal Lugano Viktor Korchnoi Wijk aan Zee Chicago Robert Hübner Mar del Plata Jan Timman Tilburg Anatoly Karpov Turin Interzonal Tournament Las Palmas Zoltán Ribli Moscow Garry Kasparov Toluca 1983 Wijk aan Zee Ulf Andersson Indonesia Jan Timman Tallinn Linares Boris Spassky Nikšić Garry Kasparov Tilburg Anatoly Karpov USSR Chess Championship Moscow Anatoly Karpov 1984 Lvov Oslo Anatoly Karpov Lugano Gyula Sax Wijk aan Zee Bugojno Jan Timman Phillips & Drew Kings London Anatoly Karpov Sarajevo Tilburg Tony Miles 1984/85 Reggio Emilia chess tournament Reggio Emilia Lajos Portisch 1985 Amsterdam Anatoly Karpov Portorož, Ljubljana Linares Lugano Vladimir Tukmakov Tilburg Wijk aan Zee Jan Timman Moscow Oleg Romanishin Zagreb Jan Timman Brussels Viktor Korchnoi Næstved Interzonal Tournament Tunis Artur Yusupov Taxco Jan Timman Biel/Bienne Rafael Vaganian Candidates Tournament Montpellier 1985/86 Reggio Emilia Ulf Andersson 1986 Wijk aan Zee Nigel Short Brussels Anatoly Karpov OHRA Garry Kasparov Bugojno Anatoly Karpov Vienna Lugano Viktor Korchnoi Sochi Amsterdam Ljubomir Ljubojević Tilburg Alexander Beliavsky Solingen Robert Hübner Sarajevo Phillips & Drew Kings London Glenn Flear 1986/87 Reggio Emilia Zoltán Ribli 1987 Wijk aan Zee Viktor Korchnoi Belgrade Ljubomir Ljubojević Bilbao Anatoly Karpov Sarajevo Predrag Nikolić Leningrad Rafael Vaganian Brussels Tilburg Jan Timman Reykjavík Nigel Short Max Euwe Memorial Tournament Amsterdam Interzonal Tournament Subotica Szirák Zagreb Viktor Korchnoi USSR Chess Championship Minsk Alexander Beliavsky 1987/88 Reggio Emilia Vladimir Tukmakov 1988 Wijk aan Zee Anatoly Karpov Optiebeurs Amsterdam Garry Kasparov Nigel Short GMA World Cup Brussels Anatoly Karpov Belfort Garry Kasparov Reykjavík Garry Kasparov Linares Jan Timman Tilburg Anatoly Karpov USSR Chess Championship Moscow 1988/89 Reggio Emilia Mikhail Gurevich Hastings Nigel Short 1989 Wijk aan Zee Amsterdam Jan Timman OHRA Alexander Beliavsky Lugano Clermont-Ferrand GMA World Cup Barcelona Rotterdam Jan Timman Skellefteå Linares Vassily Ivanchuk Tilburg Garry Kasparov Belgrade Garry Kasparov 1989/90 Reggio Emilia Jaan Ehlvest
1990–1999
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 1990 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1990 Wijk aan Zee John Nunn Linares Garry Kasparov Amsterdam Alexander Beliavsky Haninge Yasser Seirawan Rotterdam Viktor Korchnoi Prague Jan Timman Tilburg Pamplona Viktor Korchnoi Interzonal Tournament Manila USSR Chess Championship Leningrad 1990/91 Reggio Emilia Anatoly Karpov 1991 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1991 Wijk aan Zee John Nunn Amsterdam Harlingen Viktor Korchnoi Linares Vassily Ivanchuk Munich Larry Christiansen Belgrade Boris Gelfand Reykjavík Terrassa Tilburg Garry Kasparov Bled, Rogaska Slatina Predrag Nikolić 1991/92 Reggio Emilia Viswanathan Anand 1992 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1992 Wijk aan Zee Biel Chess Festival Biel/Bienne Anatoly Karpov Amsterdam Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting Dortmund Linares Garry Kasparov Madrid Anatoly Karpov Moscow Tilburg Michael Adams Baden-Baden Anatoly Karpov 1993 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1993 Wijk aan Zee Anatoly Karpov Amsterdam Dortmund Anatoly Karpov Linares Garry Kasparov Chalkidiki Boris Gelfand Las Palmas Ivan Morovic Fernandez Munich Alexei Shirov Madrid Interzonal Tournament Biel/Bienne Boris Gelfand PCA Candidates Qualifier Groningen Tilburg Anatoly Karpov 1994 Amsterdam Garry Kasparov Las Palmas Gata Kamsky Dortmund Jeroen Piket Horgen Garry Kasparov Linares Anatoly Karpov Munich Vassily Ivanchuk Madrid Judit Polgár Dos Hermanas Boris Gelfand Veliky Novgorod Tilburg Valery Salov 1995 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1995 Wijk aan Zee Alexey Dreev Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik León Madrid Viktor Korchnoi Belgrade Dos Hermanas Amsterdam Joël Lautier Donner Memorial Linares Vassily Ivanchuk Veliky Novgorod Garry Kasparov Riga Garry Kasparov Biel/Bienne Alexey Dreev Horgen Groningen Anatoly Karpov Russian Chess Championship Elista Peter Svidler 1996 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament 1996 Wijk aan Zee Vassily Ivanchuk Amsterdam Dortmund Dos Hermanas Las Palmas Garry Kasparov Donner Memorial Amsterdam Groningen Nigel Short Belgrade Evgeny Bareev Belgrade, Stara Pazova Anatoly Karpov León Madrid Veliky Novgorod Veselin Topalov Vienna Russian Chess Championship Elista Alexander Khalifman Tilburg 1997 Wijk aan Zee Valery Salov Belgrade Biel/Bienne Viswanathan Anand Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik Dos Hermanas Linares Garry Kasparov Madrid Polanica-Zdrój Sergei Rublevsky Veliky Novgorod Garry Kasparov Tilburg Russian Chess Championship Elista Peter Svidler FIDE Knockout Championship Groningen Viswanathan Anand 1998 Wijk aan Zee Dortmund Linares Viswanathan Anand Madrid Viswanathan Anand Polanica-Zdrój Boris Gelfand Elista Vassily Ivanchuk Tilburg Viswanathan Anand Russian Chess Championship Saint Petersburg Alexander Morozevich 1999 Wijk aan Zee Garry Kasparov Dortmund Peter Leko Dos Hermanas Michael Adams Linares Garry Kasparov Sarajevo Garry Kasparov FIDE Knockout Championship Las Vegas Alexander Khalifman
2000–2009
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 2000 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Garry Kasparov Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Montecatini Terme ITA Montecatini Terme Vassily Ivanchuk Rubinstein Memorial POL Polanica-Zdrój Boris Gelfand Chess World Cup CHN Shenyang Viswanathan Anand Sarajevo Bosnia BIH Sarajevo Garry Kasparov FIDE Knockout Championship IND New Delhi IRI Tehran Viswanathan Anand 2001 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Garry Kasparov Astana Chess Tournament KAZ Astana Garry Kasparov Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Viktor Korchnoi Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Garry Kasparov 2001/02 FIDE Knockout Championship RUS Moscow Ruslan Ponomariov 2002 Cannes Chess Open FRA Cannes Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Evgeny Bareev Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Garry Kasparov Candidates Tournament GER Dortmund Peter Leko Chess World Cup IND Hyderabad Viswanathan Anand 2003 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Viswanathan Anand Budapest Hunguest Hotels HUN Budapest Nigel Short Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Viktor Bologan Enghien-les-Bains FRA Enghien-les-Bains Evgeny Bareev Hrokurinn tournament ISL Reykjavík Alexei Shirov Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Russian Chess Championship RUS Krasnoyarsk Peter Svidler 2004 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Viswanathan Anand Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Viswanathan Anand Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Alexander Morozevich Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Vladimir Kramnik FIDE Knockout Championship LBA Tripoli Rustam Kasimdzhanov Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Garry Kasparov 2005 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Peter Leko Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Arkadij Naiditsch Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares M-Tel Masters BUL Sofia Veselin Topalov Chess World Cup RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Levon Aronian FIDE World Championship ARG San Luis Veselin Topalov Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Sergei Rublevsky 2006 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Alexander Morozevich Aerosvit chess tournament UKR Foros Sergei Rublevsky Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Morelia, Linares Levon Aronian Tal Memorial RUS Moscow M-Tel Masters BUL Sofia Veselin Topalov 2007 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Morelia, Linares Viswanathan Anand M-Tel Masters BUL Sofia Veselin Topalov Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik Aerosvit chess tournament UKR Foros Vassily Ivanchuk Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Magnus Carlsen Chess World Cup RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Gata Kamsky Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Vladimir Kramnik World Chess Championship 2007 MEX Mexico City Viswanathan Anand Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Alexander Morozevich 2008 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Morelia, Linares Viswanathan Anand Grand Prix 2008–2010 AZE Baku RUS Sochi Levon Aronian RUS Elista M-Tel Masters BUL Sofia Vassily Ivanchuk Aerosvit chess tournament UKR Foros Magnus Carlsen Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Peter Leko Karen Asrian Memorial ARM Yerevan Levon Aronian Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Vassily Ivanchuk Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Veselin Topalov Pearl Spring Chess Tournament CHN Nanjing Veselin Topalov Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Peter Svidler 2009 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Sergey Karjakin Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Grand Prix 2008–2010 RUS Nalchik Levon Aronian ARM Jermuk Vassily Ivanchuk M-Tel Masters BUL Sofia Alexei Shirov Kings Tournament ROM Bazna Vassily Ivanchuk Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Levon Aronian Pearl Spring Chess Tournament CHN Nanjing Magnus Carlsen Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Vladimir Kramnik Chess World Cup RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Boris Gelfand London Chess Classic GBR London Magnus Carlsen Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Alexander Grischuk
2010–2019
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 2010 Corus Chess Tournament (A) NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Linares International Chess Tournament ESP Linares Veselin Topalov Grand Prix 2008–2010 RUS Astrakhan Pavel Eljanov Kings Tournament ROM Mediaș Magnus Carlsen Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Ruslan Ponomariov Shanghai Masters CHN Shanghai Alexei Shirov Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Vladimir Kramnik Pearl Spring Chess Tournament CHN Nanjing Magnus Carlsen Tal Memorial RUS Moscow London Chess Classic GBR London Magnus Carlsen Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Ian Nepomniachtchi 2010/11 Reggio Emilia chess tournament ITA Reggio Emilia Vugar Gashimov 2011 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Hikaru Nakamura Kings Tournament ROM Mediaș Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Magnus Carlsen Chess World Cup RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Peter Svidler Bilbao Chess Masters Final BRA São Paulo ESP Bilbao Magnus Carlsen Tal Memorial RUS Moscow London Chess Classic GBR London Vladimir Kramnik Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Peter Svidler 2011/12 Reggio Emilia chess tournament ITA Reggio Emilia Anish Giri 2012 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Levon Aronian Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Magnus Carlsen Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Wang Hao Grand Prix 2012–2013 GBR London UZB Tashkent Bilbao Chess Masters Final BRA São Paulo ESP Bilbao Magnus Carlsen Kings Tournament ROM Bucharest Vassily Ivanchuk London Chess Classic GBR London Magnus Carlsen Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Dmitry Andreikin 2013 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Grenke Chess Classic GER Baden-Baden Viswanathan Anand Grand Prix 2012–2013 SUI Zug Veselin Topalov GRE Thessaloniki Leinier Domínguez Pérez CHN Beijing Shakhriyar Mamedyarov FRA Paris Zurich Chess Challenge SUI Zurich Fabiano Caruana Alekhine Memorial FRA Paris RUS Saint Petersburg Levon Aronian Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Boris Gelfand Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Michael Adams Candidates Tournament GBR London Magnus Carlsen Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Sergey Karjakin Chess World Cup NOR Tromsø Vladimir Kramnik Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Magnus Carlsen Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Levon Aronian Kings Tournament ROM Bucharest Fabiano Caruana Russian Chess Championship RUS Nizhny Novgorod Peter Svidler 2014 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Levon Aronian Zurich Chess Challenge SUI Zurich Magnus Carlsen Candidates Tournament RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Viswanathan Anand Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Magnus Carlsen Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Sergey Karjakin Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Fabiano Caruana Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Fabiano Caruana Grand Prix 2014–2015 AZE Baku UZB Tashkent Dmitry Andreikin Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Viswanathan Anand Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Alexander Grischuk London Chess Classic GBR London Qatar Masters Open QTR Doha Yu Yangyi Russian Chess Championship RUS Kazan Igor Lysyj 2015 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Grenke Chess Classic GER Baden-Baden Magnus Carlsen Zurich Chess Challenge SUI Zurich Hikaru Nakamura Grand Prix 2014–2015 GEO Tbilisi Evgeny Tomashevsky RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Magnus Carlsen Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Veselin Topalov Grand Chess Tour GBR London Magnus Carlsen USA St. Louis Levon Aronian Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Fabiano Caruana Chess World Cup AZE Baku Sergey Karjakin Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Wesley So Qatar Masters Open QTR Doha Magnus Carlsen Russian Chess Championship RUS Chita Evgeny Tomashevsky 2016 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Candidates Tournament RUS Moscow Sergey Karjakin Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Shakhriyar Mamedyarov U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Fabiano Caruana Hainan Danzhou GMs CHN Danzhou Ian Nepomniachtchi Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Bilbao Chess Masters Final ESP Bilbao Magnus Carlsen Grand Chess Tour USA St. Louis Wesley So GBR London Wesley So Tal Memorial RUS Moscow Ian Nepomniachtchi 2017 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Wesley So Shenzhen Masters CHN Shenzhen Ding Liren Grand Prix 2017 UAE Sharjah RUS Moscow Ding Liren SUI Geneva Teimour Radjabov ESP Palma de Mallorca Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Shakhriyar Mamedyarov U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Wesley So Grenke Chess Classic GER Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden Levon Aronian Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Levon Aronian Hainan Danzhou GMs CHN Danzhou Wei Yi Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Radosław Wojtaszek Chess World Cup GEO Tbilisi Levon Aronian Grand Chess Tour USA St. Louis Maxime Vachier-Lagrave GBR London Fabiano Caruana 2018 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Candidates Tournament GER Berlin Fabiano Caruana Grenke Chess Classic GER Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden Fabiano Caruana Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Magnus Carlsen U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Samuel Shankland Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Fabiano Caruana Hainan Danzhou GMs CHN Danzhou Yu Yangyi Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Ian Nepomniachtchi Biel Chess Festival SUI Biel/Bienne Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Grand Chess Tour USA St. Louis GBR London Hikaru Nakamura Shenzhen Masters CHN Shenzhen 2019 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Prague Masters CZE Prague Nikita Vitiugov Shamkir Chess AZE Shamkir Magnus Carlsen Shenzhen Masters CHN Shenzhen Anish Giri Grenke Chess Classic GER Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden Magnus Carlsen U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Hikaru Nakamura Grand Prix 2019 RUS Moscow Ian Nepomniachtchi ISR Jerusalem Ian Nepomniachtchi LAT Riga Shakhriyar Mamedyarov GER Hamburg Alexander Grischuk Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen Grand Chess Tour CRO Zagreb Magnus Carlsen USA St. Louis Ding Liren GBR London Ding Liren Hainan Danzhou GMs CHN Danzhou Richárd Rapport Internationale Dortmunder Schachtage GER Dortmund Leinier Domínguez Pérez Chess World Cup RUS Khanty-Mansiysk Teimour Radjabov Grand Swiss IOM Isle of Man Wang Hao
2020–2029
Year Tournament Location Winner(s) Ref 2020 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Fabiano Caruana Prague Masters CZE Prague Alireza Firouzja Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen Russian Chess Championship RUS Moscow Ian Nepomniachtchi 2020/21 Candidates Tournament RUS Yekaterinburg Ian Nepomniachtchi 2021 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Jorden van Foreest Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Chess World Cup RUS Sochi Jan-Krzysztof Duda Russian Chess Championship RUS Ufa Nikita Vitiugov Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Wesley So Grand Swiss LAT Riga Alireza Firouzja 2022 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen Grand Prix 2022 GER Berlin {{hlist Hikaru Nakamura SER Belgrade Richárd Rapport GER Berlin Wesley So American Cup USA St. Louis Fabiano Caruana Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen Candidates Tournament ESP Madrid Ian Nepomniachtchi Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Alireza Firouzja U.S. Chess Championship Fabiano Caruana 2023 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Anish Giri WR Chess Masters 2023 GER Düsseldorf Levon Aronian American Cup USA St. Louis Hikaru Nakamura Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest Fabiano Caruana Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Hikaru Nakamura Chess World Cup AZE Baku Magnus Carlsen Qatar Masters Open QTR Doha Nodirbek Yakubboev Grand Swiss IOM Isle of Man Vidit Gujrathi Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Fabiano Caruana U.S. Chess Championship Fabiano Caruana Chennai Grand Masters IND Chennai Gukesh D 2024 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Wei Yi Prague Masters CZE Prague Nodirbek Abdusattorov Shenzhen Masters CHN Shenzhen Bu Xiangzhi American Cup USA St. Louis Levon Aronian Grenke Chess Classic GER Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden Magnus Carlsen Candidates Tournament CAN Toronto Gukesh D Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen UzChess Cup UZB Tashkent Nodirbek Yakubboev Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest Fabiano Caruana Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Alireza Firouzja U.S. Chess Championship Fabiano Caruana WR Chess Masters 2024 GBR London Arjun Erigaisi Chennai Grand Masters IND Chennai Aravindh Chithambaram 2025 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee R Praggnanandhaa Prague Masters CZE Prague Aravindh Chithambaram American Cup USA St. Louis Hikaru Nakamura Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest R Praggnanandhaa Norway Chess NOR Stavanger Magnus Carlsen UzChess Cup UZB Tashkent R Praggnanandhaa Chennai Grand Masters IND Chennai Vincent Keymer Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis Wesley So Grand Swiss UZB Samarkand Anish Giri Grand Chess Tour BRA São Paulo Fabiano Caruana U.S. Chess Championship USA St. Louis Fabiano Caruana Chess World Cup IND Goa Javokhir Sindarov 2026 Tata Steel Masters NED Wijk aan Zee Nodirbek Abdusattorov Prague Masters CZE Prague American Cup USA St. Louis Candidates Tournament Cyprus Pegeia TePe Sigeman SWE Malmö Superbet Chess Classic Romania ROM Bucharest Norway Chess NOR Oslo Sinquefield Cup USA St. Louis U.S. Chess Championship
Individual tournaments
AVRO 1938 chess tournament
Baden-Baden 1870 chess tournament
Berlin 1881 chess tournament
Berlin 1897 chess tournament
Bled 1931 chess tournament
Buenos Aires 1939 chess tournament
Cambridge Springs 1904 chess tournament Carlsbad 1907 chess tournament Carlsbad
Carlsbad 1911 chess tournamentCarlsbad
Carlsbad 1923 chess tournamentCarlsbad
Carlsbad 1929 chess tournamentCarlsbad
Dallas 1957 chess tournament
Groningen 1946 chess tournament
Hamburg 1910 chess tournament
Hastings 1895 chess tournament
Kemeri 1937 chess tournament
London 1851 chess tournament
London 1862 chess tournament
London 1883 chess tournament
London 1899 chess tournament
Mannheim 1914 chess tournament
Mar del Plata 1941 chess tournament
Montevideo 1938 chess tournament
Moravská Ostrava 1923 chess tournament
Moscow 1925 chess tournament
Munich 1941 chess tournament
New York 1924 chess tournament
New York 1927 chess tournament
New York 1931 chess tournament
Nottingham 1936 chess tournament
Nuremberg 1896 chess tournament
Ostend 1907 chess tournament
Paris 1867 chess tournament
Paris 1878 chess tournament
Paris 1900 chess tournament
Prague 1908 chess tournament
Salzburg 1942 chess tournament
San Antonio 1972 chess tournament
San Remo 1930 chess tournament
St. Petersburg 1914 chess tournament
Vienna 1873 chess tournament
Vienna 1882 chess tournament
Vienna 1898 chess tournament
Vienna 1908 chess tournament
Zurich 1934 chess tournament
Zurich 1953 chess tournament
Major recurring tournaments
Aerosvit chess tournament
American Chess Congress
Berlin City Chess Championship
Biel International Chess Festival
Grand Slam Masters Final
British Chess Congress
Capablanca Memorial
Chennai Grand Masters
Chigorin Memorial
Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting
DSB Congress
Euwe Memorial
General Government chess tournament
Gibraltar Chess Festival
Hastings International Chess Congress
IBM international chess tournament
Keres Memorial
Konex chess tournament
Leningrad City Chess Championship
Leopold Trebitsch Memorial Tournament
Linares chess tournament
London Chess Classic
Lone Pine International
Lublin Grandmaster Tournament
Mar del Plata chess tournament
Monte Carlo chess tournament
Moscow City Chess Championship
M-Tel Masters
Netanya chess tournament
North Sea Cup
Norway Chess
Paris City Chess Championship
Pearl Spring chess tournament
Phillips & Drew Kings
Qatar Masters Open
Reggio Emilia chess tournament
Rubinstein Memorial
San Sebastián chess tournament
Shamkir Chess
Shenzhen Masters
Schlechter Memorial
Silesian Chess Congress
Sinquefield Cup
Staunton Memorial
Tal Memorial
Tata Steel Chess Tournament
Tilburg chess tournament
Torre Memorial
Trebitsch Memorial
Triberg chess tournament
US Chess Championship
UzChess Cup
Vidmar Memorial
Vlissingen chess tournament
World Open chess tournament
Xtracon Chess Open
Zurich Chess Challenge
World Cup
Chess World Cup 2005
Chess World Cup 2007
Chess World Cup 2009
Chess World Cup 2011
Chess World Cup 2013
Chess World Cup 2015
Chess World Cup 2017
Chess World Cup 2019
Chess World Cup 2021
Chess World Cup 2023
Chess World Cup 2025
References
British Chess Magazine (January 1978) – Your Hundred Best Chess Tournaments To 1960 (by Ken Whyld)British Chess Magazine (August 1979) – Reflections on Montreal (by Raymond Keene)British Chess Magazine (November 1987) – The 'Super-tournaments' in chess history (by Romelio Milian Gonzalez)
