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Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1960


All active players as of December 31, 1960

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Tal, Mikhail27375029.6% #624.14
2 Smyslov, Vassily V27075112.4% #1039.76
3 Petrosian, Tigran V27055011.4% #1031.54
4 Keres, Paul2698519.5% #1144.98
5 Botvinnik, Mikhail M2691537.7% #1349.37
6 Korchnoi, Viktor L2688506.0% #1329.77
7 Kholmov, Ratmir D2676575.4% #1635.63
8 Spassky, Boris V2669523.2% #1723.91
9 Geller, Efim P2661522.3% #1935.82
10 Gligoric, Svetozar2658491.6% #1937.91
11 Averbakh, Yury L2655542.1% #2138.89
12 Fischer, Robert J2648501.1% #2217.80
13 Reshevsky, Samuel H2648531.5% #2249.10
14 Najdorf, Miguel2635551.1% #2750.71
15 Bagirov, Vladimir K2631571.0% #2824.37
16 Bronstein, David I2622520.4% #3036.86
17 Boleslavsky, Isaak E2620610.9% #3341.56
18 Taimanov, Mark E2615510.2% #3234.89
19 Polugaevsky, Lev A2610530.3% #3526.11
20 Szabó, László2605500.1% #3643.78
21 Antoshin, Vladimir S2603610.5% #4031.63
22 Unzicker, Wolfgang2598510.1% #3935.51
23 Kotov, Alexander A2591600.2% #4647.38
24 Fuderer, Andrija2585680.5% #5129.63
25 Aronin, Lev S2572670.2% #5840.45
26 Ivkov, Borislav257151 #5227.13
27 Pachmann, Ludek256951 #5336.64
28 Bolbochán, Julio2568640.1% #5840.77
29 Lombardy, William J256457 #5823.07
30 Schmid, Lothar M2561600.1% #6132.64
31 Olafsson, Fridrik256051 #5825.92
32 Filip, Miroslav255857 #6232.18
33 Evans, Larry M255658 #6328.77
34 Vasiukov, Evgeny A255561 #6527.81
35 Matanovic, Aleksandar255552 #6230.61
36 Panno, Oscar R255462 #6625.78
37 Tolush, Alexander K255459 #6550.66
38 Bannik, Anatoly A2548670.1% #7339.07
39 Portisch, Lajos254251 #7023.74
40 Trifunovic, Petar254154 #7150.33
41 Uhlmann, Wolfgang254052 #7125.75
42 Gipslis, Aivars253761 #7623.89
43 Lutikov, Anatoly S253756 #7427.90
44 Yukhtman, Jacob253666 #8025.96
45 Larsen, Bent253553 #7525.82
46 Euwe, Machgielis253461 #7959.61
47 Barcza, Gedeon253353 #7649.36
48 Rossolimo, Nicolas2533740.1% #8650.84
49 Benko, Pal C253352 #7632.46
50 Robatsch, Karl253067 #8432.21
51 Furman, Semen A252759 #8340.08
52 Byrne, Robert E252561 #8532.70
53 Krogius, Nikolay V252555 #8330.44
54 Drimer, Dolfi252259 #8726.21
55 Djuraševic, Božidar252266 #9027.68
56 Flohr, Salo251461 #9352.13
57 Rabar, Braslav251274 #10141.26
58 Bisguier, Arthur B251158 #9531.23
59 Simagin, Vladimir P250956 #9441.53
60 Gufeld, Eduard E250857 #9524.78
61 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid G250562 #10148.04
62 Penrose, Jonathan250457 #9927.23
63 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo250457 #9829.33
64 Nedeljkovic, Srecko250270 #10737.07
65 Matulovic, Milan250157 #10125.56
66 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric249959 #10449.62
67 Stĺhlberg, Gideon249857 #10352.92
68 Bertok, Mario249854 #10231.33
69 Mikenas, Vladas249764 #10750.70
70 Bilek, István249653 #10328.39
71 Donner, Johannes H249452 #10433.48
72 Böök, Eero248964 #11350.89
73 Rossetto, Héctor D248852 #10838.31
74 Sherwin, James T248762 #11427.18
75 Milic, Borislav248762 #11335.20
76 Padevsky, Nikola B248759 #11227.59
77 Nei, Iivo248457 #11429.17
78 Bondarevsky, Igor Z248365 #11947.63
79 Minev, Nikolay N248356 #11529.97
80 Hort, Vlastimil248058 #11716.96
81 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I248055 #11627.13
82 Darga, Klaus V247760 #12126.85
83 Nikitin, Aleksander S247668 #12525.92
84 Sanguinetti, Raúl C247655 #11927.90
85 Guimard, Carlos E247557 #12047.73
86 Shamkovich, Leonid A247161 #12637.58
87 Enevoldsen, Jens247072 #13253.27
88 Farré Mallofré, Miguel246668 #13324.85
89 Fichtl, Jirí246455 #12839.87
90 Udovcic, Mijo246458 #13040.30
91 Czerniak, Moshe246371 #13750.90
92 Pilnik, Herman246357 #13046.97
93 Espinosa Flores, Rafael246262 #133
94 Eliskases, Erich G246152 #12947.87
95 Kluger, Guyla246057 #13146.95
96 Kupper, Josef246063 #13528.80
97 Weinstein, Raymond A245962 #13619.68
98 Kolarov, Atanas S245562 #13826.82
99 Puc, Stojan245556 #13639.73
100 Schweber, Samuel245458 #13724.46
101 Sokolov, Vladimir245363 27.33
102 Pirc, Vasja245262 53.03
103 Bobotsov, Milko G244957 29.25
104 Ujtelky, Maximilián244957 45.70
105 Porat, Yosef244765 51.57
106 Lundin, Erik244764 56.50
107 Maric, Rudolf244675 33.63
108 Smederevac, Petar244664 38.35
109 Alster, Ladislav244567 33.75
110 Ciric, Dragoljub M244467 25.13
111 Bogdanovic, Rajko244464 29.13
112 Lengyel, Levente244360 27.55
113 Pietzsch, Wolfgang W244154 30.03
114 Alexander, Conel H243965 51.70
115 Aloni, Izak243972
116 Ghitescu, Theodor243864 26.93
117 Vukcevich, Milan R243871
118 Lilienthal, Andor243770 49.65
119 Suetin, Alexey S243658 34.12
120 van Scheltinga, Tjeerd D243656 46.81
121 Dueckstein, Andreas243462 33.41
122 Milev, Zdravko A243358 31.18
123 Karaklajic, Nikola243061 34.85
124 Tröger, Paul243061 47.51
125 Torán Albero, Román243056 29.23
126 Blatny, Frantisek242966 27.75
127 Bouwmeester, Henk B242860 31.29
128 Janoševic, Dragoljub242862 37.48
129 Nilsson, Zandor242863
130 Borisenko, Georgy K242666 38.60
131 Soos, Bela242574 30.81
132 Johannessen, Svein242557 23.20
133 Szilágyi, György242462 39.49
134 Kozma, Julius242458 31.58
135 Neikirkh, Oleg N242355 46.81
136 Bialas, Wolfram242261 25.35
137 Letelier Martner, René242154 45.28
138 Sanchez, Luis A242064
139 Ojanen, Kaarle Sakari242063
140 Wexler, Bernardo242051 35.75
141 Clarke, Peter H241856
142 Mednis, Edmar J241675 23.77
143 Teschner, Rudolf241661 38.87
144 Sakharov, Yury N241660 38.29
145 Bhend, Edwin241665 29.31
146 Pfeiffer, Gerhard241460 37.55
147 Flórián, Tibor241260 41.82
148 Berliner, Hans Jack241168
149 Garcia, Raimundo241168 24.59
150 Saidy, Anthony F241068 23.62
151 Seidman, Herbert240966 40.20
152 Lehmann, Heinz Dr240957
153 Sliwa, Bogdan240955 38.90
154 Keller, Dieter240863 24.45
155 Malich, Burkhard G240863 24.09
156 Fuchs, Reinhart240659 26.26
157 Golz, Werner240658
158 Andersen, Borge240266 26.78
159 Prins, Lodewijk240168 47.92
160 Vukovic, Sava239669
161 Blau, Max238965 42.03
162 Foguelman, Alberto238953 37.22
163 Kalme, Charles I238768 21.13
164 Szily, József238572 47.25
165 Daskalov, Georgi238465
166 Alvarez del Monte, Jose Luis238364
167 Jansa, Vlastimil238272 18.09
168 Pustina, Ylvi237764
169 Mohrlok, Dieter237769
170 Golombek, Harry237759 49.83
171 Sofrevski, Jovan237659 25.37
172 Forintos, Gyözö V237658 25.42
173 Cuderman, Vinko237473
174 Flores Alvarez, Rodrigo237467 47.36
175 Honfi, Karoly237257 30.18
176 Zinn, Lothar237263 22.78
177 Jiménez Zerquera, Eleazar237067 32.52
178 Tarnowski, Alfred236964 43.82
179 Ugrinovic, Dragan236871 29.84
180 Bolbochán, Jácobo236564 54.01
181 Kramer, Haije236466 43.10
182 Troianescu, Octav236469 44.90
183 Walther, Edgar236360 30.02
184 Van den Berg, Carel Benjamin236370
185 Bazan, Osvaldo236053 26.21
186 Mititelu, Gheorghe235858 26.17
187 Dely, Peter235861 26.49
188 Piazzini, Luis R235871 55.63
189 Koberl, Ferenc235673
190 Navarovszky, Laszlo235562 27.74
191 Nielsen, Axel Jorgen235562
192 Johansson, Martin235464 42.40
193 Barden, Leonhard William235361
194 Wade, Robert Graham235356
195 Ader Hausman, Walter235365
196 Minic, Dragoljub235265 23.81
197 Damjanovic, Mato235161 33.77
198 Tot, Bora235168
199 Behrensen, Jorge235064 30.67
200 Emma, Jaime J235056 22.95
201 Parma, Bruno234671 19.00
202 Bertholdt, Dieter234664
203 Haag, Ervin234563 27.96
204 Opocenský, Karel234570 68.89
205 Shocron, Ruben234565 39.86
206 Dunkelblum, Arthur234471 54.69
207 German, Eugenio Maciel234375
208 Szabo, Julius234376 27.34
209 Pelikán, Jorge234261 54.69
210 Cardoso, Radolfo Tan234169
211 Popov, Luben233965 24.92
212 Lukic, Arsenije233871
213 Nievergelt, Erwin233766
214 Reinhardt, Enrique H233659 57.75
215 Giustolisi, Alberto233461 32.78
216 Marini, Luis233364 48.25
217 Doda, Zbigniew233165 29.85
218 Zíta, František233167 51.09
219 Esposito, Alfredo233072
220 Karastoichev, Emil Stefanov233065
221 Engels, Ludwig233073 55.05
222 Beni, Alfred232860 37.58
223 Radovici, Corvin232867 29.03
224 Smailbegovic, Hasan232764
225 Lokvenc, Josef232762 61.66
226 Haygarth, Michael J232664
227 de Freitas, Márcio E232675 35.10
228 Thorbergsson, Freysteinn232665
229 Pogats, Jozsef232567 32.47
230 Goldenberg, E.232468
231 Casas, Fernando232469 34.36
232 Redolfi, Argentino Rodolfo232358
233 Larrain Cadaiz, Eugenio232276
234 Salas Romo, Julio232269
235 Prameshuber, Aleksander232166
236 Perez Perez, Francisco Jose232063
237 Plater, Kazimierz232070 45.82
238 Dittmann, Sieghart231972
239 Liberzon, Vladimir M231762 23.77
240 Franz, Joachim231667 26.65
241 Klavins, Janis231473
242 Foldi, Jozsef231474 27.10
243 Brzozka, Stefan231371
244 Schuster, Theodor231170
245 Tan Hiong Liong230666
246 Kostro, Jerzy230363 23.93
247 Estrada Degrandi, Walter230162
248 Jenei, Ferenc229969 45.19
249 Dominguez, Christobal229661
250 Niemela, Ilmari229675
251 Marsalek, Josef229567 25.78
252 Albareda, Miguel Crues229173
253 Barendregt, Johan Teunis229158
254 Gudmundsson, Arinbjorn229073
255 Kozomara, Vladimir229060
256 Cantero, Ronaldo229069
257 De Lange, Daan228673
258 Littlewood, John Eric228669
259 Skold, Kristian228573
260 Cobo Arteaga, Eldis228171
261 Jezek, Stanislav227975 32.26
262 Prucha, Karel227676 59.97
263 Bielicki, Carlos227557 20.63
264 Durao, Joaquim227361 30.18
265 Lindblom, Per227375
266 De Greif, Boris226974 30.88
267 Attard, Wilfred226767
268 Kondratiev, Pavel E226675
269 Belkadi, Ridha226673 35.68
270 Bulat, Ante226671 28.70
271 Ivkovic, Dusan226571 30.24
272 Anastasopoulos, Anastasios226475
273 Holm, Sejer226276 21.39
274 Nielsen, Palle Moeller226276
275 Langeweg, Kick226171 23.81
276 De Miguel, Carlos226164
277 Lopez Garcia, Raino M225876
278 Ahman, Ernst225469
279 Cafferty, Bernard225368 26.51
280 Jauregui Andrade, Carlos225270
281 Cruz, Raul C225065
282 Raisa, Unto224962 26.78
283 Klein, Juan Carlos224876
284 Hamann, Svend223974 20.23
285 Carvalho, Flavio223875
286 Camara, Ronald223473
287 Incutto, Carlos223356
288 Kupka, Slavoj223269 18.48
289 Mangini, Jose Thiago223269
290 Witkowski, Stefan223162 29.26
291 Gromek, Jozef222967 29.70
292 Puiggrós, Guillermo E222874 48.76
293 De los Rios, I.222671
294 Reilly, Brian P222664 59.05
295 Hottes, Dieter222373 25.42
296 Aaron, Manuel222166 25.00
297 Pantaleev, Dimitar222174 30.55
298 Saadi, Julio222165
299 Paoli, Enrico222164 52.96
300 Campomanes, Florencio222075
301 Rodriguez Gonzales, Jesus221773
302 de Souza Mendes, Joăo221763 68.44
303 Del Pozo, Nestor221569
304 Vesely, Jiri221576
305 Boutteville, Cesar221374 43.52
306 Gadia, Olicio221266
307 Janetschek, Karl221176 20.70
308 Burehall, Arne221164
309 Palermo, Vicente219871 28.80
310 Kolvig, Bent219867 27.68
311 Orbaan, Constant219666 42.60
312 Ribeiro, Joao Mario219674 31.56
313 Knezevic, Milorad219371 24.17
314 Camilleri, Henry219076
315 Lloyd, Ken219069
316 Wahi218876
317 Perez Alcocer, Jose218869
318 Sapre, R.218572
319 Olexa, Vilém218568 63.18
320 Humerez, C.218273
321 Benkö, Francisco217965 50.52
322 Azevedo, J.217476
323 Torgalsen216868
324 Green, Arnold Yorvath216871
325 Gabriel, J2.216476
326 Palmiotto, Fiorentino215475
327 Riego Prieto, Victorio214971
328 Orendy, Emil214974
329 Zajic, Jiri214976
330 Olivera, Alfredo214374
331 Florián, Jaromír213975 49.38
332 Heidenfeld, Wolfgang213267
333 Siveri, Armando212675
334 Nausa, Jose212676
335 Stekel Grunberg, Moises212276
336 Hevizi, Laszlo212074 38.42
337 Cucka, Josef211476
338 Recalde, Eleuterio211064
339 Canabrava, A.210976
340 Ronchetti210576
341 Rivarola, B.208367
342 Merlo, Carlos207968

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1960, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1960, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1959. 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, 1960. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1961.

+/- 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, 1961. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1961 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, 1961. 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, 1960. 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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