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Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1956


All active players as of December 31, 1956

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Smyslov, Vassily V27355025.0% #635.76
2 Botvinnik, Mikhail M27335324.5% #645.37
3 Reshevsky, Samuel H27145916.6% #945.10
4 Bronstein, David I2696517.7% #1132.86
5 Keres, Paul2695507.0% #1140.98
6 Spassky, Boris V2672523.3% #1619.91
7 Petrosian, Tigran V2663512.0% #1827.53
8 Geller, Efim P2662511.9% #1831.82
9 Taimanov, Mark E2660511.9% #1930.89
10 Gligoric, Svetozar2659511.8% #1933.91
11 Kotov, Alexander A2651592.3% #2343.38
12 Averbakh, Yury L2629520.5% #2834.89
13 Najdorf, Miguel2627510.4% #2946.70
14 Matanovic, Aleksandar2618540.3% #3226.60
15 Lutikov, Anatoly S2615731.6% #3823.90
16 Boleslavsky, Isaak E2613550.3% #3437.55
17 Szabó, László2610500.1% #3439.78
18 Korchnoi, Viktor L2609530.2% #3525.77
19 Antoshin, Vladimir S2606540.2% #3727.62
20 Bolbochán, Julio2598600.3% #4236.77
21 Kholmov, Ratmir D2598570.2% #4131.63
22 Benko, Pal C2593580.2% #4328.46
23 Zurakhov, Vladlen Y2589590.1% #4526.61
24 Ivkov, Borislav2588540.1% #4523.13
25 Euwe, Machgielis2586590.2% #4755.61
26 Larsen, Bent2584600.2% #4821.82
27 Bannik, Anatoly A2583590.1% #4835.07
28 Furman, Semen A2579590.1% #5036.08
29 Unzicker, Wolfgang257253 #5231.51
30 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric256856 #5445.62
31 Filip, Miroslav256751 #5328.18
32 Byrne, Donald2565690.2% #6026.55
33 Tal, Mikhail256257 #5820.14
34 Schmid, Lothar M2562670.1% #6128.63
35 Pachmann, Ludek256051 #5732.63
36 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid G2557700.1% #6544.04
37 Ilivitsky, Georgy A255556 #6135.66
38 Evans, Larry M255362 #6424.77
39 Djuraševic, Božidar255263 #6523.67
40 Moiseev, Oleg L2552720.1% #6831.65
41 Flohr, Salo255157 #6348.13
42 Eliskases, Erich G255157 #6343.87
43 Stĺhlberg, Gideon255152 #6148.92
44 Simagin, Vladimir P254855 #6437.52
45 Olafsson, Fridrik254357 #6721.92
46 Fuderer, Andrija254358 #6825.63
47 Panno, Oscar R254253 #6621.78
48 Mikenas, Vladas253765 #7446.70
49 Cuéllar Gacharná, Miguel253565 #7540.12
50 Vasiukov, Evgeny A253465 #7523.81
51 Polugaevsky, Lev A253259 #7422.11
52 Trifunovic, Petar253056 #7446.33
53 Pilnik, Herman252951 #7342.97
54 Tolush, Alexander K252558 #7846.66
55 Pirc, Vasja252356 #7949.03
56 Ragozin, Viacheslav V252056 #8048.23
57 Padevsky, Nikola B251656 #8223.58
58 Bisguier, Arthur B251555 #8227.23
59 Janoševic, Dragoljub251369 #9033.48
60 Barcza, Gedeon251255 #8445.36
61 Rabar, Braslav251156 #8537.26
62 Lilienthal, Andor251066 #9045.65
63 Milic, Borislav251055 #8631.20
64 Lisitsin, Georgy M250756 #8847.22
65 Horowitz, Al250668 #9449.13
66 Kluger, Guyla249659 #9642.95
67 Bogdanovic, Rajko249470 #10225.13
68 Buslaev, Alexander N249273 #10527.21
69 Portisch, Lajos248561 #10419.73
70 Alexander, Conel H248565 #10647.69
71 Torán Albero, Román248557 #10325.23
72 Sanguinetti, Raúl C248559 #10423.90
73 Udovcic, Mijo248260 #10636.30
74 Bilek, István248260 #10624.39
75 Teschner, Rudolf248069 #11134.87
76 Penrose, Jonathan248059 #10723.23
77 Kan, Ilia A247964 #10947.65
78 Alster, Ladislav247961 #10929.74
79 Kieninger, Georg247670 #11554.56
80 Bivshev, Vasily M247658 #10934.86
81 Borisenko, Georgy K247557 #10934.59
82 Karaklajic, Nikola246956 #11330.85
83 Gusev, Yury S246266 #12235.27
84 Blau, Max246165 #12338.03
85 Ciocaltea, Victor246056 #11924.95
86 Rossetto, Héctor D245655 #12134.31
87 Pfeiffer, Gerhard245266 #12933.54
88 Czerniak, Moshe244862 #13046.90
89 Chistiakov, Alexander N244764 #13242.94
90 Guimard, Carlos E244457 #13043.73
91 Donner, Johannes H244454 #12929.48
92 Suetin, Alexey S244466 #13630.12
93 Sherbakov, Vitaly S244263 #1341.53
94 Krogius, Nikolay V244166 #13726.44
95 Bertok, Mario244063 #13627.33
96 Shamkovich, Leonid A243873 #14333.58
97 Lombardy, William J243862 #13719.07
98 Minev, Nikolay N243760 #13725.97
99 Uhlmann, Wolfgang243554 #13621.75
100 Szily, József243564 #14143.25
101 Bolbochán, Jácobo243467 50.01
102 Estrin, Yacov B243365 33.69
103 Khasin, Abram I243359 33.87
104 Szilágyi, György243061 35.49
105 Fichtl, Jirí243061 35.87
106 Bialas, Wolfram242673 21.35
107 Medina García, Antonio A242566 37.25
108 Letelier Martner, René242266 41.28
109 Kasparian, Genrikh M242175 46.84
110 Aloni, Izak241970
111 Ravinsky, Grigory Ionovich241968 47.20
112 Troianescu, Octav241767 40.90
113 Plater, Kazimierz241671 41.82
114 Puc, Stojan241566 35.72
115 Dueckstein, Andreas241464 29.41
116 Darga, Klaus V241362 22.85
117 Lange, Wilfried241375 46.85
118 Šajtar, Jaroslav241366 35.08
119 Clarke, Peter H241164
120 Enevoldsen, Jens240972 49.27
121 Lein, Anatoly240876 25.75
122 Balanel, Ion240760 30.56
123 Castaldi, Vincenzo240770 40.62
124 Cherepkov, Alexander V240773 36.17
125 Muffang, André240667 59.43
126 Robatsch, Karl240463 28.21
127 Tipary, Lajos240464 45.14
128 Gereben, Ernö240462 49.53
129 Sandor, Bela240461 37.05
130 Pavey, Max240375
131 Soloviev, Vladimir A240372 28.85
132 Milev, Zdravko A240172 27.18
133 Sliwa, Bogdan239953 34.90
134 Tarnowski, Alfred239771 39.82
135 Beilin, Mikhail Abramovich239668
136 Bouwmeester, Henk B239562 27.29
137 van Scheltinga, Tjeerd D239466 42.81
138 Flores Alvarez, Rodrigo239362 43.36
139 Ojanen, Kaarle Sakari239367
140 Yukhtman, Jacob239376 21.96
141 Golombek, Harry239154 45.83
142 Ujtelky, Maximilián239162 41.69
143 Prins, Lodewijk239059 43.92
144 Sefc, Jan239059 32.06
145 Wexler, Bernardo238959 31.74
146 Kramer, Haije238761 39.10
147 Honfi, Karoly238561 26.18
148 Navarovszky, Laszlo238568 23.74
149 Porat, Yosef238471 47.56
150 Milner-Barry, Philip S238375 50.28
151 Marini, Luis238174 44.25
152 Martín, Pedro238169 25.99
153 Bely, Miklos238168 43.39
154 Maric, Rudolf238076 29.63
155 Zíta, František238065 47.09
156 Sanchez, Luis A237973
157 Behrensen, Jorge237863 26.67
158 Bhend, Edwin237666 25.31
159 Lengyel, Levente237675 23.54
160 Khalilbeili, Sultan237568
161 Sokolsky, Alexey P237571 48.19
162 Shipman, Walter237469 27.70
163 Pedersen, Eigil237269
164 Johannsson, Ingi Randver237170
165 Alvarez del Monte, Jose Luis236874
166 Ader Hausman, Walter236868
167 Porreca, Giorgio236565 29.34
168 Ingerslev, Age236576 23.22
169 Dodero, Emilio236562
170 Mednis, Edmar J235973 19.77
171 Hajtun, Josef235969
172 Sanguinetti, Renato235875 40.69
173 Tapaszto, Laszlo235769
174 Sherwin, James T235472 23.18
175 Matulovic, Milan235172 21.55
176 Wade, Robert Graham235057
177 Chukaev, Egor234871
178 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I234667 23.13
179 Khachaturov, Andrey Andreevich234274
180 Shocron, Ruben234160 35.86
181 Beni, Alfred234061 33.57
182 Pogats, Jozsef233362 28.47
183 Phillips, Alan233373 33.18
184 Dunkelblum, Arthur233368 50.68
185 Cantero, Ronaldo233074
186 Ban, Jeno232975
187 Roessel, Fritz232969
188 Pelikán, Jorge232961 50.68
189 Paoli, Enrico232772 48.96
190 Lebedev, B.232670
191 Witkowski, Stefan232669 25.26
192 Walther, Edgar232675 26.02
193 Keller, Dieter232373 20.45
194 Fuchs, Reinhart232372 22.26
195 Thorbergsson, Freysteinn232276
196 Balcarek, Wiktor231873 41.01
197 Maderna, Carlos H231261 46.41
198 Vladimirov, Boris T231173 27.62
199 Gufeld, Eduard E231076 20.78
200 Blatny, Frantisek230876 23.74
201 Scafarelli, Francesco230870 23.19
202 Kotkov, Yuri M230767
203 Dely, Peter230460 22.49
204 Jezek, Jaroslav230362 30.80
205 Sakharov, Yury N230373 34.29
206 Horseman, DG.230173
207 Redolfi, Argentino Rodolfo230163
208 Salo, Toivo229971
209 Pithart, Frantisek229763
210 Szollosi, Laszlo Sr229773 30.37
211 Kozma, Julius229670 27.58
212 Dworzynski, Roman229362
213 Idigoras Guisasola, Gregorio229259
214 Vestol, Aage229268
215 Fairhurst, William A229072 53.36
216 Dolezal, Jiri228776 27.87
217 Persitz, Rafael228776
218 Haag, Ervin228476 23.96
219 Esposito, Alfredo227970
220 Toth, Vince227869
221 Zsedenyi, B.227676
222 Jenei, Ferenc227672 41.19
223 Corte, César J226975 42.65
224 de Souza Mendes, Joăo225271 64.44
225 Gromek, Jozef224966 25.69
226 Benkö, Francisco224868 46.51
227 Reinhardt, Enrique H224560 53.75
228 Dittmann, Sieghart224170
229 Molnar, Imre224176 26.14
230 Bauza, Lorenzo222764
231 Lipiniks, Leonardo221971 32.74
232 Palermo, Vicente221674 24.80
233 Poulsen, Christian220375
234 Olivera, Alfredo220163
235 Orbaan, Constant219971 38.59
236 Boutteville, Cesar219870 39.51
237 Dunphy, William219376
238 Georgadze, Tamaz V218973 9.14
239 Burstein, S.218774
240 Isain, Pedros Santos218776
241 Rubio Aguado, Fernando218776
242 Kettner, E.218473
243 De Greif, Boris216171 26.88
244 Sapre, R.215571
245 Zubieta214976
246 Wantz, Fernand212771
247 Laurencena, Alberto212074
248 Suarez, J.212074
249 Zhugder210776
250 Gondim, Jose208668

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1956, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1956 and December 31, 1956, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1955. Players who have played an insufficient number of games in recent years will not appear on the list, even though you may see them on previous and/or subsequent lists. Any players who have been completely inactive for three years are removed from the list.

Definition of columns in the above list:

# refers to the player's world rank on this list.

Player is the full name of the player. Click on the player's name to see a career progression of the player's ratings.

Rating is the calculated rating for the player, as of December 31, 1956. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1957.

+/- is the standard deviation of the player's rating estimate. It is based on a geometric average of the number of rated games played in past years. Players who play very frequently will have a smaller +/- value, indicating a greater confidence in the accuracy of their rating. Players whose +/- value exceeds 76 are classified as "inactive" and removed from the ranking list due to their infrequent play against rated opponents. Mathematically, a player's rating is an estimate of their exact strength on January 1, 1957. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1957 should be within one standard deviation of their calculated rating approximately 68% of the time, and within two standard deviations of their calculated rating approximately 95% of the time.

Best? is the estimated likelihood that the player was actually the strongest player in the world on January 1, 1957. Since ratings are known to be inaccurate, it is possible that a lower-rated player is actually much stronger than their rating would indicate, and it is also possible that other players are weaker than their ratings would indicate. This number indicates the likelihood that the player is indeed the strongest player in the world. On a particular list, it will add up to 100% across the complete list of all players. This value is only calculated for the top 100 players on any rating list.

75%? gives a 75%-confidence world ranking for the player. Because ratings are known to be inaccurate, even if a particular player is rated third in the world, we cannot say with 100% certainty that they are truly one of the three strongest players in the world. This number indicates the world rank that we are 75% sure the player is "no worse than". Thus if a player has a value of #12 in this column, we are 75% sure that the player is one of the twelve strongest players in the world. This value is only calculated for the top 100 players on any rating list.

Age is the player's exact age in years, on December 31, 1956. If a player's age is displayed as a link, that means that this rating was active at the time of their next birthday. Click on the link to see the sorted list of all players' ratings on their birthdays when turning that same age.

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