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Top 10 active players as of December 31, 1978


Top 500 active players as of December 31, 1978

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Karpov, Anatoly E27864943.7% #327.61
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L27764933.9% #447.77
3 Tal, Mikhail2712504.3% #1542.14
4 Polugaevsky, Lev A2701503.0% #1944.11
5 Portisch, Lajos2696492.3% #2141.74
6 Spassky, Boris V2694502.3% #2241.91
7 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly V2687491.6% #2434.27
8 Petrosian, Tigran V2679501.0% #2949.54
9 Vaganian, Rafael A2673500.9% #3127.21
10 Larsen, Bent2671490.7% #3243.82
11 Timman, Jan H2664480.5% #3527.05
12 Balashov, Yury S2657500.5% #4129.80
13 Smyslov, Vassily V2654500.3% #4357.77
14 Mecking, Henrique2654580.7% #4726.93
15 Hort, Vlastimil2651480.2% #4434.96
16 Beliavsky, Alexander G2645490.2% #4925.04
17 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir2640490.2% #5228.16
18 Geller, Efim P2639500.1% #5453.83
19 Tukmakov, Vladimir B2639490.1% #5332.79
20 Gulko, Boris F2637490.1% #5431.89
21 Ribli, Zoltán2637500.1% #5627.32
22 Hübner, Robert2634510.1% #5830.15
23 Vasiukov, Evgeny A2629560.2% #6445.82
24 Romanishin, Oleg M262349 #6626.97
25 Kuzmin, Gennady P262349 #6632.94
26 Gufeld, Eduard E2622580.2% #7242.78
27 Kurajica, Bojan2621540.1% #7031.13
28 Krogius, Nikolay V2620700.7% #8048.44
29 Kholmov, Ratmir D2619540.1% #7253.63
30 Savon, Vladimir A261751 #7238.26
31 Dorfman, Iosif D261450 #7526.66
32 Dzindzichashvili, Roman Y261252 #7834.65
33 Bagirov, Vladimir K261052 #7942.37
34 Andersson, Ulf260948 #7727.51
35 Mikhalchishin, Adrian B260854 #8124.12
36 Lerner, Konstantin Z2608570.1% #8328.84
37 Dvoretsky, Mark I2608570.1% #8431.06
38 Miles, Anthony J260748 #7923.69
39 Kavalek, Lubomir260650 #8135.39
40 Kasparov, Garry K2604560.1% #8615.72
41 Bronstein, David I260452 #8554.86
42 Sax, Gyula260350 #8427.54
43 Marangunic, Srdjan2601740.4% #10035.17
44 Gipslis, Aivars260154 #8841.89
45 Chekhov, Valery A2601640.1% #9523.09
46 Gheorghiu, Florin260051 #8834.73
47 Pfleger, Helmut260055 #9035.40
48 Parma, Bruno259955 #9137.00
49 Uhlmann, Wolfgang259950 #8843.76
50 Gligoric, Svetozar259750 #8955.91
51 Sanguinetti, Raúl C2594600.1% #9845.90
52 Sosonko, Gennadi259249 #9335.62
53 Unzicker, Wolfgang259058 #10153.51
54 Olafsson, Fridrik258951 #9843.92
55 Browne, Walter S258949 #9729.97
56 Smejkal, Jan258850 #9732.77
57 Sveshnikov, Evgeny E258851 #9928.88
58 Liberzon, Vladimir M258853 #10041.77
59 Panno, Oscar R258751 #9943.79
60 Palatnik, Semen A258758 #10328.76
61 Averbakh, Yury L2585710.1% #11456.89
62 Byrne, Robert E258351 #10350.70
63 Taimanov, Mark E258353 #10552.89
64 Ivkov, Borislav258351 #10445.13
65 Kupreichik, Viktor D258354 #10529.49
66 Tarjan, James E258253 #10426.85
67 Razuvaev, Yury S258053 #10733.22
68 Kochiev, Alexander258051 #10622.77
69 Timoshchenko, Gennady257954 #10829.68
70 Szabó, László257962 #11461.78
71 Zaitsev, Igor A2574670.1% #12240.59
72 Makarichev, Sergey Y257354 #11525.12
73 Vokác, Marek257265 #12220.07
74 Alburt, Lev O257251 #11333.36
75 Matanovic, Aleksandar256958 #12148.61
76 Panchenko, Alexander N256958 #12125.24
77 Lein, Anatoly256853 #11947.76
78 Zakharov, Alexander V256766 #12835.23
79 Tringov, Georgy P256657 #12341.82
80 Suetin, Alexey S256658 #12452.12
81 Darga, Klaus V256268 #13344.85
82 Stean, Michael F256251 #12325.32
83 Ivanov, Igor V256165 #13231.97
84 Nei, Iivo256067 #13547.17
85 Georgadze, Tamaz V255954 #12831.14
86 Rashkovsky, Nukhim N255757 #13132.70
87 Csom, István255749 #12738.58
88 Bukic, Enver255354 #13241.08
89 Karasev, Vladimir I2553730.1% #14440.54
90 Rogoff, Kenneth S255156 #13525.77
91 Vitolinš, Alvis254960 #14032.54
92 Sakharov, A.254875 #151
93 Grigorian, Karen A254857 #13931.32
94 Klovans, Janis254758 #14043.73
95 Pachmann, Ludek254760 #14354.64
96 Tseitlin, Mikhail S254660 #14331.54
97 Matulovic, Milan254554 #14143.56
98 Nikolac, Juraj254454 #14146.69
99 Díez del Corral, Jesús254362 #14745.73
100 Filip, Miroslav254165 #14950.18
101 Tseitlin, Mark D254173 35.27
102 Evans, Larry M254060 46.77
103 Lombardy, William J254053 41.07
104 Knaak, Rainer F254051 25.79
105 Adorján, András254051 28.75
106 Najdorf, Miguel253954 68.71
107 Grefe, John A253863 31.32
108 Kapengut, Albert Z253758 34.49
109 Knezevic, Milorad253452 42.17
110 Platonov, Igor V253361 44.95
111 Sigurjónsson, Gudmundur253151 31.27
112 Lutikov, Anatoly S253057 45.90
113 Reshevsky, Samuel H253054 67.10
114 Petrushin, Alexander I252963 31.81
115 Vogt, Lothar H252751 26.95
116 Peresipkin, Vladimir252756
117 Shamkovich, Leonid A252654 55.58
118 Faragó, Iván252650 32.75
119 Hecht, Hans-Joachim252661 39.92
120 Luczak, Andrzej252666 30.07
121 Petrosian, Arshak B252658 25.04
122 Quinteros, Miguel A252450 31.01
123 Ubilava, Elizbar E252472 28.34
124 Piasetski, Leon David252463
125 Velimirovic, Dragoljub252352 36.63
126 Vukcevich, Milan R252371
127 Radulov, Ivan252254 39.98
128 Biyiasas, Peter252254 28.12
129 Zhuravliov, Valerij252173 40.05
130 Murey, Yakov252067 37.41
131 Bleiman, Yaacov252061 31.31
132 Faibisovich, Vadim Z251966 34.65
133 Kovacevic, Vladimir251759 36.76
134 Weinstein, Norman251757 28.24
135 Rajkovic, Dusan251757 36.54
136 Torre, Eugenio251651 27.16
137 Vukic, Milan251654 35.37
138 Ree, Hans251449 34.29
139 Stoica, Valentin251461 28.87
140 Malich, Burkhard G251355 42.09
141 Dolmatov, Sergey V251365 19.86
142 Doroshkievich, Vladimir K251272 41.01
143 Benko, Pal C251255 50.46
144 Katalymov, Boris N251271
145 Schmidt, Wlodzimierz251252 35.72
146 Hulak, Krunoslav250956 27.60
147 Lukin, Andrei M250867 30.34
148 Regan, Kenneth250755 19.30
149 Kakageldyev, Amanmurad250662 29.01
150 Malaniuk, Vladimir P250671 21.44
151 Jansa, Vlastimil250452 36.09
152 Ghizdavu, Dumitru250470 29.61
153 Yuferov, Sergey N250270 33.08
154 Donner, Johannes H250154 51.48
155 Karaklajic, Nikola250070 52.85
156 Diesen, Mark C249953
157 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I249867 45.13
158 Ciocaltea, Victor249854 46.95
159 Hermann, Manfred249868 36.33
160 Lengyel, Levente249757 45.55
161 Tatai, Stefano249752 40.77
162 Nunn, John D M249654 23.68
163 Stanciu, Traian249672 43.30
164 Peters, John A249655 27.88
165 Bilek, István249563 46.39
166 Schweber, Samuel249264 42.46
167 Rodriguez, Amador249256 22.31
168 Mariotti, Sergio249155 32.39
169 Keene, Raymond249152
170 Prandstetter, Eduard249157 30.04
171 Ftácnik, Lubomír249152 21.17
172 Yurtaev, Leonid249074 19.66
173 Averkin, Orest N248970 34.84
174 Sanguinetti, Renato248968 62.69
175 Nemet, Ivan248870 35.71
176 Hartston, William R248855 31.38
177 Kaplan, Julio P248860 28.43
178 Gaprindashvili, Nona248860 37.66
179 Van Wijgerden, Cornelis248758 28.61
180 Kirov Ivanov, Nino248754 33.31
181 Soltis, Andrew E248658 31.59
182 Gerusel, Mathias248662 40.90
183 García Gonzáles, Guillermo248655 25.06
184 Lputian, Smbat G248671 20.87
185 Lederman, Leon248661 31.60
186 Simic, Radoslav248474 30.56
187 Garcia Martinez, Silvino248456 34.49
188 Anikaev, Yury248475 30.51
189 Calvo Minguez, Ricardo248362 35.19
190 Radev, Nikolai248368 40.03
191 Mohrlok, Dieter248374
192 Ungureanu, Emil248162 42.16
193 Vadasz, Laszlo248053 30.92
194 Barczay, Laszlo247951 42.85
195 Karner, Hillar247963 43.43
196 Espig, Lutz247951 29.98
197 Jussupow, Artur M247858 18.88
198 Pintér, József247654 25.14
199 Schneider, Lars Ake247654
200 Mednis, Edmar J247654 41.77
201 Antunac, Goran247673 33.71
202 Marovic, Dražen247561 40.96
203 Kraidman, Yair247560 46.16
204 Pereszupkin, Alexander247572
205 Christiansen, Larry M247353 22.51
206 Sofrevski, Jovan247369 43.37
207 Zuckerman, Bernard247358 35.75
208 Balinas, Rosendo Carrean247365
209 Brinck Claussen, Bjorn247365
210 Suba, Mihai247253 31.58
211 Hernandez, Roman247154 29.11
212 Commons, Kim S247158 27.44
213 Ciric, Dragoljub M247075 43.13
214 Padevsky, Nikola B246957 45.59
215 Bisguier, Arthur B246859 49.23
216 Eingorn, Viacheslav S246774 22.10
217 Kristiansen, Jens246756 26.60
218 Inkiov, Ventzislav246662 22.62
219 Pribyl, Josef246653 31.22
220 Kuligowski, Adam246557 23.02
221 Planinc, Albin246554 34.70
222 Mnatsakanian, Eduard A246467 40.07
223 Szekely, Peter246457 23.89
224 Marjanovic, Slavoljub246355 23.98
225 Mestel, A Jonathan246252 21.80
226 Forintos, Gyözö V246257 43.42
227 Ermenkov, Evgenij246153 29.26
228 Hug, Werner246156 26.31
229 Spassov, Liuben246157 35.77
230 Sunye Neto, Jaime246158 21.66
231 Speelman, Jonathan S246054 22.25
232 Jakobsen, Ole246060 36.20
233 Hazai, Laszlo245955 25.55
234 Atanasov, Petko245871 30.96
235 Martz, William E245872
236 Groszpeter, Attila245858 18.56
237 Sahovic, Dragutin245757 38.40
238 Robatsch, Karl245760 50.21
239 Hamann, Svend245663 38.23
240 Clarke, Peter H245674
241 Langeweg, Kick245653 41.82
242 Ghinda, Mihail Viorel245657 29.43
243 Zilberstein, Valery I245570 35.72
244 Ivanov, Alexander V245561 22.66
245 Martinovic, Slobodan245464 33.43
246 O'Kelly de Galway, Albéric245376 67.62
247 Mikenas, Vladas244964 68.70
248 Honfi, Karoly244959 48.18
249 Barle, Janez244959 26.78
250 Gusev, Vladimir A244971
251 Zapata, Alonso244863 20.36
252 Vaisser, Anatoli244874 29.82
253 Szmetan, Jorge244853 28.60
254 Kozlov, V.244770
255 Gutman, Lev244758 33.26
256 Nikolaevsky, Yuri V244775
257 Raicevic, Vladimir244757 29.66
258 Zaichik, Gennady L244761 21.88
259 Rukavina, Josip244659 36.09
260 Hennings, Artur244668 38.47
261 Haag, Ervin244675 45.96
262 Qi Jingxuan244662 31.14
263 Ghitescu, Theodor244555 44.93
264 Minic, Dragoljub244566 41.82
265 Popov, Luben244560 42.92
266 Portisch, Ferenc244455 39.73
267 Wedberg, Tom244463 25.10
268 Plachetka, Jan244452 33.86
269 Rath, Ulrik244363 32.02
270 Godes, Dmitry R244275 39.43
271 Piesina, Gintautas244264 26.73
272 Westerinen, Heikki MJ244151 34.68
273 Cuéllar Gacharná, Miguel244170 62.12
274 Bohm, Hans244152 28.95
275 Vladimirov, Evgeny Y244167 21.94
276 Ivanovic, Božidar244155 32.35
277 Lechtynsky, Jiri244055 31.10
278 Damjanovic, Mato244055 51.77
279 Sydor, Andrzej244065 41.99
280 Matera, Salvatore Joseph244063
281 Rantanen, Yrjo A243861 28.69
282 Řgaard, Leif243855 26.98
283 Bohosjan, Sarkis243864 37.76
284 Brasket, Curt Justin243867
285 Kuijpers, Franciscus Antonius243762
286 Poutiainen, Pertti243763
287 Toth, Bela243765 35.70
288 Krnic, Zdenko243770 31.25
289 Eslon, Jaan243664 26.82
290 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo243658 47.33
291 Lukacs, Peter243551 28.48
292 Pokojowczyk, Jerzy243455 29.85
293 Bertok, Mario243469 49.33
294 Barcza, Gedeon243471 67.36
295 Mestrovic, Zvonimir243363 34.20
296 Seirawan, Yasser243264 18.77
297 Skrobek, Ryszard243157 27.49
298 Partos, Charles243068 42.39
299 Castro Rojas, Oscar Humberto243054 25.65
300 Sznapik, Aleksander243053 27.88
301 Minev, Nikolay N242963 47.97
302 Guimard, Carlos E242972 65.73
303 Eising, Johannes242972 43.59
304 Liebert, Heinz242955 42.60
305 Velikov, Petar242862 27.75
306 Garcia, Raimundo242862 42.59
307 Doda, Zbigniew242861 47.85
308 Dely, Peter242759 44.49
309 Messing, Hrvoje242674 38.43
310 Flesch, Janos242562 45.25
311 Kagan, Shimon242554 36.73
312 Pytel, Krzysztof242560 33.63
313 Ligterink, Gert242551 29.12
314 Brond, Victor242575
315 Sloth, Jorn242567 34.32
316 Donoso Velasco, Pedro H242567 34.84
317 Rubinetti, Jorge A242360 33.75
318 Williams, Arthur Howard242368
319 Gofshtein, Leonid D242266 25.69
320 Bellin, Robert242258 26.50
321 Bednarski, Jacek B242155 39.80
322 Joksic, Sinisa242166 38.22
323 Augustin, Josef242154 36.62
324 Rogulj, Branko242176 27.41
325 Djuric, Stefan242066 23.43
326 Webb, Simon242054 29.56
327 Ornstein, Axel241954 26.69
328 Soos, Bela241967 48.82
329 Janoševic, Dragoljub241858 55.48
330 Ostojic, Predrag241856 40.85
331 Horner, Jeff241874 29.35
332 Chiburdanidze, Maia G241754 17.95
333 Rigo, Janos241759 30.18
334 Cvetkovic, Srdjan241662 32.84
335 Akvist, Hakan241667 37.18
336 Vaisman, Volodia241561 41.02
337 Franklin, Michael J241566 47.91
338 Rossetto, Héctor D241562 56.31
339 Grinberg, Ricardo241461 30.96
340 Spiridonov, Nikola241457 40.84
341 Wirthensohn, Heinz241458 27.66
342 Kosikov, Alexey I241371 29.84
343 Wockenfuss, Klaus241370 27.34
344 Bönsch, Uwe241254 20.21
345 Kestler, Hans-Günter241263 39.05
346 Taulbut, Shaun M241255 20.96
347 Schussler, Harry241263 21.52
348 Bukal, Vladimir Sr241273 39.16
349 Adamski, Jan241150 35.14
350 Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes241156 35.49
351 Hoelzl, Franz241171 32.73
352 Hase, Juan Carlos241057
353 Bronstein, Luis241057 32.58
354 Debarnot, Roberto241060 31.40
355 Enklaar, Bertus F240865
356 Emma, Jaime J240757 40.95
357 Zichichi, Alvise240570 40.49
358 Cuartas, Carlos240564 38.38
359 Taylor, Timothy240563 25.89
360 Deze, Anton240568
361 Rohde, Michael A240559 19.35
362 Mascarinas, Rico240459 25.83
363 Jelen, Iztok240472 31.94
364 Pritchett, Craig William240364
365 Eolian, Levon S240373 19.29
366 Hausner, Ivan240257 26.71
367 Meduna, Eduard240055 28.30
368 Hartoch, Robert G239855
369 Gavrikov, Victor N239866 21.42
370 Huss, Andreas239865 28.21
371 Ostermeyer, Peter239870 35.22
372 Ilievski, Dimitar239866 37.35
373 Kolarov, Atanas S239875 44.83
374 Schinzel, Wladyslaw239759 35.61
375 Littlewood, Paul E239760 22.95
376 Witkowski, Stefan239657 47.26
377 Watson, John L239573 27.32
378 Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel239552 28.65
379 Rajna, George239562 31.87
380 Sikora Lerch, Jan239455
381 Lombard, Andre239459 28.28
382 Nicevski, Risto239463 33.51
383 Jamieson, Robert Murray239365
384 Tompa, Janos239356 31.67
385 Dobosz, Henryk239361 25.78
386 Biriescu, Ioan239265 25.18
387 Banas, Jan239254 31.58
388 Trapl, Jindrich239265 36.77
389 Butnorius, Algimantas239175 32.11
390 Harandi, Khosro239174 28.33
391 Littlewood, John Eric239172
392 Kaiszauri, Konstanty239059 26.18
393 Garcia Padron, Jose238960 20.77
394 Pohla, Harry238970 38.49
395 Zwaig, Arne238968
396 Filipowicz, Andrzej238860 40.63
397 Taruffi, Daniele238870 20.32
398 Grigorov, Jordan N238772 25.06
399 Hoi, Carsten238760 21.95
400 Rocha, Antonio238769 34.55
401 Dake, Arthur William238776 68.73
402 Sisniega, Marcel238770 19.43
403 Formanek, Edward W238659 36.65
404 Fedder, Steen238661 27.55
405 Swic, Waldemar238558 25.81
406 Whiteley, Andrew J238561 31.56
407 Goodman, David SC238567
408 Pétursson, Margeir238457 18.87
409 Kozma, Julius238475 49.58
410 Haik, Aldo238460 26.20
411 Filguth, Rubens A238361 22.77
412 Peev, Peicho Chonev238359 38.75
413 Balshan, Amikam238258
414 Cuasnicu, Oscar238266 36.19
415 Goldenberg, Richard238270 31.11
416 Visier Segovia, Fernando238258 35.90
417 Andre, Wolfgang238067 25.79
418 Basman, Michael J238062 32.79
419 Botterill, George Steven237955
420 Gasic, Bozidar237873 41.22
421 Iskov, Gert237762 30.43
422 Horvath, Tamas237759 27.19
423 Van Riemsdijk, Herman C237656 30.35
424 Neckar, Lubomir237658 28.41
425 Nogueiras, Jesus237664 19.45
426 Merdinjan, Agop237673 29.65
427 Georgiev, Krum237674 20.60
428 Garcia, Luis E237569
429 Korsunsky, Rostislav R237573
430 Garcia, Gildardo237562 24.81
431 Moehring, Guenther237554 42.10
432 Orso, Miklos237460 22.56
433 Kataev, V.237376
434 Silva, Fernando237273 28.41
435 Hesse, Peter237262 34.26
436 Brueggemann, Joachim237169 27.24
437 Franco Ocampos, Zenon237164 22.63
438 Segal, Alexandru Sorin237157 31.24
439 Frias, Victor J237062 22.88
440 Kirpichnikov, Vladimir S237064
441 Van der Vliet, Fredrik237060
442 Helmers, Knut J236957 21.89
443 Mortensen, Erling236964 23.74
444 Birnboim, Nathan236862 28.09
445 Cooper, John Grantley236866
446 Kovacs, Laszlo M236857 40.24
447 Bjelajac, Milan236774 30.80
448 Law, Andrew P236765 28.48
449 Kostro, Jerzy236768 41.93
450 Heuer, Valter236570 50.46
451 Szymczak, Zbigniew236463 26.98
452 Cámpora, Daniel H236360 21.50
453 Petran, Pal236357 32.29
454 Bouaziz, Slim236370 28.71
455 Macles, Jacques236275 33.48
456 Sarapu, Ortvin236268 54.94
457 Vilela, Jose Luis236168 25.78
458 Zinn, Lothar236072 40.78
459 Fedorowicz, John P235959 20.26
460 Plaskett, Jim235869 18.79
461 Lanc, Alois235876 30.86
462 Szilágyi, György235863 57.49
463 Borkowski, Franciszek235866 21.42
464 Spacek, Petr235770 24.84
465 Mihaljcisin, Mihajlo235669 45.85
466 Niklasson, Christer235663 25.98
467 Ervin, Roy C235670 27.98
468 Anelli, Antonio235564 34.64
469 Sapi, Laszlo235560 43.78
470 Tisdall, Jonathan D235468 20.35
471 Fichtl, Jirí235368 57.87
472 Tichy, Vladimir235259 32.25
473 Coudari, Camille235266 27.42
474 Garcia Palermo, Carlos235157 25.08
475 Van Baarle, C John234970 33.70
476 Povah, Nigel E234864 26.45
477 Magerramov, Elmar S234873 20.72
478 Lanka, Zigurds234765 18.61
479 Krivonosov, Oleg234673 17.64
480 Maciejewski, Andrzej234569 27.48
481 Silva Sanchez, Carlos234570 34.53
482 Tan Lian Ann234575
483 Day, Lawrence A234464 29.91
484 Mishuchkov, Nikolai M234473 32.84
485 Meyer, E.234367
486 Kopec, Danny234372 24.84
487 Sharif, Mershad234366 26.47
488 Van der Sterren, Paul234252 22.79
489 Veinger, Itzhak234267 40.49
490 Hebert, Jean234165 21.14
491 Estevez Morales, Guillermo233962
492 Borm, Franciscus WM233963
493 Borngaesser, Rene233968 27.27
494 Arnason, Jon L233860 18.13
495 Boudy, Julio233873 27.55
496 Kluger, Guyla233770 64.95
497 Knox, Victor W233771 33.93
498 Kim, V.233573
499 Franzen, Jozef233563 32.90
500 Bielczyk, Jacek233556 25.85

These ratings, calculated as of December 31, 1978, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1978 and December 31, 1978, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1977. 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, 1978. This represents the player's estimated strength on January 1, 1979.

+/- 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, 1979. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on January 1, 1979 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, 1979. 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, 1978. 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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