World Chess Champions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mikhail Botvinnik

Botvinnik became world champion by winning a special tournament after Alexander Alekhine died as the title holder. He lost the title to Vasily Smyslov in 1957, but regained the title in a rematch in 1958. He lost the title in 1960 to Mikhail Tal, but again regained the title in a rematch in 1961.

Answer: Anatoly Karpov

Criticized because he gained the title without defeating Fischer, Karpov demonstrated his resilient strength in strong tournament results and tenacious title defenses.

Answer: Wilhelm Steinitz

Steinitz sought out and played the strongest players of his time to establish his recognized dominance. His 1886 match with Zuckertort was a cash match with the winner to be recognized as world champion.

Answer: Bobby Fischer

Bobby Fischer was an incredible genius of chess analysis who played to create winning positions....always playing to find a way to win. He truly "walked the walk." In his later years, his politically incorrect rants cost him friends and popular support, but his body of work in chess remains unassailable.

Answer: Max Euwe

Max Euwe was a true statesman of world chess. When he defeated Alekhine to win the world title, many thought it to be a result of lack of preparation by the world champion. Analysis of their games show differently with an ongoing battle over certain lines of the Dutch Defense.

Answer: Jose Capablanca

Capablanca was so strong that people suggested that he would be the end of chess by reducing it to its basic elements. Alekhine surprised the chess world by defeating him and introducing exciting new depths to the middle game.

Answer: Alexander Alekhine

Alekhine raised the bar for the strength of chess play. During World War II, he was widely shunned for publishing Nazi propagandist chess articles, but he may have been coerced in this to obtain documents to allow him to leave German controlled Portugal.

Answer: Emanuel Lasker

Lasker was a published author on mathematics, philosphy, chess, and other games and also was a close friend of Albert Einstein.

Answer: Mikhail Tal

Throughout his life, Tal demonstrated an ability to conjure attacks in games. Chess players wanting to improve their combination skills would be well served by studying that games of "Mischa" Tal.

Answer: Tigran Petrosian

Petrosian played within his comfort zone, content to play mistake free chess and waiting to capitalize on errors of his opponents. His style was not flamboyant, but the "Iron Tigran" wrote his chapter in chess history as world champion.