< December 31, 1979     Back to date list    February 29, 1980 >

Top 10 active players as of January 31, 1980

  #  

Player Rating +/-
1 Karpov, Anatoly E279449
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L276749
3 Tal, Mikhail273249
4 Portisch, Lajos271249
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A268750
6 Kasparov, Garry K268651
7 Spassky, Boris V268449
8 Petrosian, Tigran V267849
9 Geller, Efim P267351
10 Larsen, Bent266848

About these ratings

Top 500 active players as of January 31, 1980

  #  

Player Rating +/- Best? 75%? Age
1 Karpov, Anatoly E27944950.7% #328.69
2 Korchnoi, Viktor L27674924.9% #548.86
3 Tal, Mikhail2732498.2% #1043.23
4 Portisch, Lajos2712493.9% #1642.82
5 Polugaevsky, Lev A2687501.3% #2645.20
6 Kasparov, Garry K2686511.6% #2716.80
7 Spassky, Boris V2684491.1% #2743.00
8 Petrosian, Tigran V2678490.8% #3050.62
9 Geller, Efim P2673510.8% #3454.91
10 Larsen, Bent2668480.5% #3644.91
11 Timman, Jan H2662470.3% #3928.13
12 Hübner, Robert2660490.3% #4131.23
13 Beliavsky, Alexander G2655490.3% #4426.12
14 Romanishin, Oleg M2655490.3% #4428.06
15 Mecking, Henrique2655631.1% #5228.02
16 Balashov, Yury S2647500.2% #5130.88
17 Tukmakov, Vladimir B2644520.2% #5433.88
18 Ribli, Zoltán2644490.2% #5328.40
19 Vaganian, Rafael A2644490.1% #5228.29
20 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir2644490.2% #5329.24
21 Hort, Vlastimil2642470.1% #5336.05
22 Andersson, Ulf2640480.1% #5528.59
23 Gulko, Boris F2640520.2% #5732.97
24 Sveshnikov, Evgeny E2635500.1% #6029.96
25 Gheorghiu, Florin2628490.1% #6535.82
26 Lerner, Konstantin Z2626540.1% #6929.92
27 Vasiukov, Evgeny A2625560.1% #7146.90
28 Gufeld, Eduard E2624530.1% #7143.87
29 Dolmatov, Sergey V2624540.1% #7120.94
30 Savon, Vladimir A2623540.1% #7339.35
31 Kuzmin, Gennady P261850 #7434.03
32 Kholmov, Ratmir D2618550.1% #7854.72
33 Smejkal, Jan261849 #7533.86
34 Browne, Walter S261449 #7731.06
35 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly V261449 #7835.35
36 Smyslov, Vassily V261250 #7958.85
37 Kavalek, Lubomir261050 #8236.48
38 Kupreichik, Viktor D261052 #8430.58
39 Sax, Gyula260949 #8228.62
40 Gligoric, Svetozar260949 #8256.99
41 Kochiev, Alexander260952 #8523.85
42 Rashkovsky, Nukhim N2608540.1% #8733.79
43 Miles, Anthony J260647 #8424.77
44 Psakhis, Lev B260357 #9321.17
45 Unzicker, Wolfgang260255 #9354.60
46 Dorfman, Iosif D260252 #9127.75
47 Mikhalchishin, Adrian B260051 #9225.20
48 Liberzon, Vladimir M260051 #9242.86
49 Ivkov, Borislav260049 #9146.22
50 Dvoretsky, Mark I2600630.1% #9932.14
51 Kudriashov, Anatoly A2599710.2% #10637.79
52 Palatnik, Semen A2598590.1% #10029.85
53 Chekhov, Valery A2597690.2% #10824.18
54 Makarichev, Sergey Y259652 #9626.20
55 Sanguinetti, Raúl C2596680.2% #10646.99
56 Georgadze, Tamaz V259551 #9732.23
57 Razuvaev, Yury S259451 #9734.31
58 Alburt, Lev O259453 #9934.44
59 Bagirov, Vladimir K259451 #9843.46
60 Sosonko, Gennadi259349 #9736.70
61 Gipslis, Aivars259358 #10342.97
62 Dzindzichashvili, Roman Y259154 #10335.74
63 Parma, Bruno259056 #10438.09
64 Bronstein, David I259053 #10455.94
65 Kurajica, Bojan258953 #10432.21
66 Jussupow, Artur M258852 #10419.96
67 Nunn, John D M258551 #10724.77
68 Olafsson, Fridrik258354 #11045.01
69 Yurtaev, Leonid258359 #11320.75
70 Szabó, László2581700.1% #12362.87
71 Tarjan, James E257453 #11927.94
72 Veingold, Aleksander257460 #12426.31
73 Adorján, András257349 #11729.83
74 Taimanov, Mark E257256 #12153.98
75 Grigorian, Karen A257154 #12332.40
76 Ivanov, Igor V257065 #13033.06
77 Luczak, Andrzej257054 #12431.15
78 Zakharov, Alexander V2569750.1% #13836.31
79 Suetin, Alexey S256857 #12753.21
80 Matanovic, Aleksandar256757 #12949.69
81 Schmid, Lothar M2564730.1% #14151.72
82 Seirawan, Yasser256151 #13019.85
83 Darga, Klaus V256160 #13645.93
84 Tseitlin, Mikhail S256054 #13332.62
85 Pfleger, Helmut255956 #13536.48
86 Byrne, Robert E255750 #13351.78
87 Lein, Anatoly255651 #13448.84
88 Zaltsman, Vitaly F255571 #14838.26
89 Panchenko, Alexander N255557 #13926.32
90 Stean, Michael F255549 #13526.41
91 Csom, István255449 #13539.66
92 Rogoff, Kenneth S255462 #14426.86
93 Pachmann, Ludek255457 #14055.72
94 Lombardy, William J255354 #13942.16
95 Panno, Oscar R255151 #13944.87
96 Ftácnik, Lubomír255151 #14022.25
97 Filip, Miroslav255060 #14551.26
98 Knaak, Rainer F254951 #14026.87
99 Antoshin, Vladimir S254859 #14750.71
100 Zaitsev, Igor A254754 #14541.68
101 Reshevsky, Samuel H254757 68.18
102 Tringov, Georgy P254658 42.90
103 Timoshchenko, Gennady254653 30.76
104 Matulovic, Milan254656 44.64
105 Vogt, Lothar H254549 28.04
106 Shamkovich, Leonid A254552 56.66
107 Quinteros, Miguel A254450 32.09
108 Kapengut, Albert Z254362 35.57
109 Nemet, Ivan254355 36.80
110 Evans, Larry M254367 47.86
111 Kovacevic, Vladimir254155 37.85
112 Klovans, Janis254164 44.81
113 Uhlmann, Wolfgang253950 44.84
114 Ubilava, Elizbar E253764 29.43
115 Nikolac, Juraj253653 47.77
116 Nei, Iivo253658 48.25
117 Torre, Eugenio253650 28.24
118 Bukic, Enver253554 42.16
119 Platonov, Igor V253569 46.04
120 Ree, Hans253448 35.38
121 Ivanov, Alexander V253458 23.75
122 Najdorf, Miguel253352 69.79
123 Vokác, Marek253257 21.15
124 Anikaev, Yury253156 31.59
125 Gruenfeld, Yehuda253154 23.92
126 Vitolinš, Alvis253158 33.63
127 Petrosian, Arshak B253063 26.12
128 Kaplan, Julio P252961 29.52
129 Peresipkin, Vladimir252962
130 Piasetski, Leon David252771
131 Katalymov, Boris N252372
132 Díez del Corral, Jesús252360 46.82
133 Biyiasas, Peter252353 29.20
134 Peters, John A252356 28.97
135 Schneider, Lars Ake252353
136 Magerramov, Elmar S252258 21.81
137 Faibisovich, Vadim Z252175 35.73
138 Speelman, Jonathan S251952 23.33
139 Hecht, Hans-Joachim251967 41.01
140 Lukin, Andrei M251869 31.42
141 Pintér, József251754 26.23
142 Benko, Pal C251758 51.54
143 Rogulj, Branko251757 28.50
144 Velimirovic, Dragoljub251650 37.72
145 Stoica, Valentin251668 29.95
146 Zhuravliov, Valerij251673 41.14
147 Vukic, Milan251652 36.45
148 Bleiman, Yaacov251662 32.40
149 Lutikov, Anatoly S251559 46.98
150 Grefe, John A251563 32.40
151 van der Wiel, John T H251452 20.48
152 Yuferov, Sergey N251472 34.16
153 Lputian, Smbat G251359 21.96
154 Mariotti, Sergio251157 33.47
155 Moiseev, Oleg L251064 54.73
156 Knezevic, Milorad251051 43.25
157 Regan, Kenneth250961 20.38
158 Weinstein, Norman250961 29.32
159 Gurgenidze, Bukhuti I250865 46.22
160 Petrushin, Alexander I250763 32.89
161 Kakageldyev, Amanmurad250763 30.09
162 Jansson, Borje250768 37.88
163 Popovic, Petar250658 20.96
164 Averkin, Orest N250666 35.93
165 Faragó, Iván250649 33.83
166 Schmidt, Wlodzimierz250551 36.81
167 Keene, Raymond250453
168 Marjanovic, Slavoljub250350 25.07
169 Malich, Burkhard G250356 43.17
170 Radulov, Ivan250254 41.06
171 Diesen, Mark C250057
172 Popov, Luben249954 44.01
173 Ciocaltea, Victor249956 48.04
174 Donner, Johannes H249953 52.57
175 Hermann, Manfred249975 37.42
176 Marangunic, Srdjan249960 36.25
177 Ungureanu, Emil249866 43.25
178 Sigurjónsson, Gudmundur249651 32.35
179 Suba, Mihai249654 32.66
180 Vorotnikov, Vladislav V249464 32.45
181 Christiansen, Larry M249452 23.59
182 Kraidman, Yair249361 47.25
183 Bilek, István249360 47.47
184 Rodriguez, Amador249255 23.40
185 Ghinda, Mihail Viorel249253 30.52
186 Tatai, Stefano249155 41.86
187 Wedberg, Tom249153 26.18
188 Simic, Radoslav249168 31.64
189 García Gonzáles, Guillermo249053 26.14
190 Hulak, Krunoslav248960 28.68
191 Zilberstein, Valery I248861 36.80
192 Ermenkov, Evgenij248753 30.34
193 Sunye Neto, Jaime248753 22.74
194 Bisguier, Arthur B248661 50.31
195 Calvo Minguez, Ricardo248670 36.27
196 Kirov Ivanov, Nino248352 34.39
197 Rajkovic, Dusan248155 37.62
198 Soltis, Andrew E248160 32.67
199 Gavrikov, Victor N248161 22.51
200 Piesina, Gintautas248066 27.81
201 Vladimirov, Evgeny Y248065 23.03
202 Padevsky, Nikola B247957 46.67
203 Inkiov, Ventzislav247956 23.70
204 Plachetka, Jan247949 34.95
205 Raicevic, Vladimir247856 30.74
206 Zapata, Alonso247862 21.44
207 Barczay, Laszlo247751 43.94
208 Minic, Dragoljub247767 42.90
209 Zuckerman, Bernard247764 36.83
210 Gaprindashvili, Nona247659 38.74
211 Petkevich, Jusefs247662 39.12
212 Marovic, Dražen247656 42.05
213 Lechtynsky, Jiri247552 32.18
214 Mednis, Edmar J247555 42.86
215 Lederman, Leon247464 32.68
216 Commons, Kim S247365 28.52
217 Prandstetter, Eduard247251 31.13
218 Musil, Vojko247267 34.45
219 Jansa, Vlastimil247250 37.18
220 Hartston, William R247154 32.47
221 Karner, Hillar247168 44.51
222 Sahovic, Dragutin247053 39.48
223 Godes, Dmitry R246974 40.51
224 Forintos, Gyözö V246955 44.50
225 Nikolic, Zivoslav246971 26.13
226 Hazai, Laszlo246856 26.63
227 Westerinen, Heikki MJ246853 35.76
228 Vadasz, Laszlo246853 32.01
229 Van Wijgerden, Cornelis246856 29.69
230 Jelen, Iztok246861 33.03
231 Langeweg, Kick246752 42.90
232 Cebalo, Mišo246768 34.98
233 Zaichik, Gennady L246760 22.96
234 Karaklajic, Nikola246662 53.93
235 Azmaiparashvili, Zurab A246673 19.87
236 Damjanovic, Mato246657 52.86
237 Podzielny, Karl Heinz246573 25.39
238 Espig, Lutz246550 31.07
239 Robatsch, Karl246557 51.30
240 Rytov, Boris246561
241 Lengyel, Levente246453 46.63
242 Podgaets, Mikhail Y246475 32.52
243 Vooremaa, Andres246462 35.53
244 Hamann, Svend246363 39.31
245 Ligterink, Gert246149 30.20
246 Kristiansen, Jens246155 27.68
247 Antunac, Goran246173 34.79
248 Qi Jingxuan246059 32.23
249 Mochalov, Evgeny V245970 28.26
250 Hug, Werner245958 27.39
251 Ornstein, Axel245954 27.77
252 Szekely, Peter245959 24.97
253 Ivanovic, Božidar245651 33.44
254 Lukacs, Peter245651 29.56
255 Hernandez, Roman245553 30.19
256 Mnatsakanian, Eduard A245460 41.15
257 Messing, Hrvoje245465 39.51
258 Dobosz, Henryk245460 26.86
259 Chiburdanidze, Maia G245055 19.04
260 Spassov, Liuben245053 36.86
261 Bönsch, Uwe245052 21.29
262 Karlsson, Lars244955 24.55
263 Plaskett, Jim244959 19.87
264 Kunsztowicz, Uwe244969 36.04
265 Jakobsen, Ole244856 37.28
266 Gerusel, Mathias244861 41.98
267 Hennings, Artur244865 39.55
268 Kuligowski, Adam244751 24.10
269 Gutman, Lev244762 34.35
270 Schweber, Samuel244557 43.54
271 Rath, Ulrik244571 33.10
272 Planinc, Albin244454 35.79
273 Portisch, Ferenc244455 40.81
274 Adamski, Jan244451 36.22
275 Bednarski, Jacek B244358 40.88
276 Pytel, Krzysztof244355 34.71
277 Mikenas, Vladas244370 69.79
278 Sideif Sade, Fikret I244261 28.08
279 Sznapik, Aleksander244251 28.97
280 Honfi, Karoly244261 49.27
281 Ruderfer, Mark B244270
282 Szmetan, Jorge244153 29.68
283 Ghitescu, Theodor244154 46.02
284 Garcia, Raimundo244163 43.68
285 Řgaard, Leif244060 28.07
286 Krnic, Zdenko244066 32.33
287 Nogueiras, Jesus244063 20.54
288 Poutiainen, Pertti244072
289 Malevinsky, Alexander A243973 29.92
290 Rukavina, Josip243963 37.17
291 Debarnot, Roberto243959 32.49
292 Matera, Salvatore Joseph243965
293 Kharitonov, Andrey Y243968 20.82
294 Eslon, Jaan243972 27.91
295 Rodriguez, Ruben243861 33.15
296 Todorcevic, Miodrag243867 39.22
297 Pomar Salamanca, Arturo243864 48.41
298 Joksic, Sinisa243866 39.31
299 Strauss, David J243764 33.48
300 Georgiev, Krum243666 21.69
301 Nikolic, Predrag243665 19.39
302 Borik, Otto243563 32.35
303 Mestrovic, Zvonimir243571 35.29
304 Schussler, Harry243552 22.60
305 Przewoznik, Jan243357 22.37
306 Sydor, Andrzej243361 43.08
307 Castro Rojas, Oscar Humberto243259 26.73
308 Ostojic, Predrag243258 41.94
309 Hausner, Ivan243256 27.79
310 Rubinetti, Jorge A243254 34.83
311 Ambroz, Jan243156 25.62
312 Liebert, Heinz243161 43.69
313 Brinck Claussen, Bjorn243158
314 Balinas, Rosendo Carrean243159
315 Doda, Zbigniew243169 48.94
316 Spiridonov, Nikola243155 41.92
317 Ekstroem, Roland243073 23.69
318 Tompa, Janos243055 32.75
319 Dely, Peter242966 45.57
320 Velikov, Petar242962 28.84
321 Taulbut, Shaun M242958 22.05
322 Toth, Bela242861 36.78
323 Flesch, Janos242870 46.34
324 Duer, Arne242866 20.56
325 Garcia Martinez, Silvino242755 35.57
326 Guimard, Carlos E242773 66.82
327 Mestel, A Jonathan242652 22.88
328 Groszpeter, Attila242656 19.64
329 Eolian, Levon S242673 20.37
330 Watson, John L242661 28.40
331 Martinovic, Slobodan242656 34.52
332 Jamieson, Robert Murray242566
333 Gofshtein, Leonid D242573 26.78
334 Zilberman, Nathan R242572 39.74
335 Popov, Nikolay242567
336 Kaiumov, Dmitry D242474 30.92
337 Pribyl, Josef242451 32.30
338 Rocha, Antonio242462 35.63
339 Minev, Nikolay N242463 49.06
340 Sloth, Jorn242468 35.40
341 Wirthensohn, Heinz242460 28.74
342 Kuijpers, Franciscus Antonius242362
343 Littlewood, John Eric242269
344 Barle, Janez242256 27.86
345 Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes242061 36.57
346 Webb, Simon242058 30.64
347 Botterill, George Steven242057
348 Kaufman, Larry C242070 32.21
349 Trapl, Jindrich241957 37.85
350 Kestler, Hans-Günter241869 40.13
351 Meduna, Eduard241856 29.39
352 Ilic, Zoran241864 16.49
353 Vaisman, Volodia241868 42.10
354 Harandi, Khosro241760 29.41
355 Bohm, Hans241751 30.04
356 Polovodin, Igor A241669 24.86
357 Grinberg, Ricardo241669 32.05
358 Haygarth, Michael J241575
359 Birnboim, Nathan241462 29.18
360 Hoelzl, Franz241355 33.82
361 Rohde, Michael A241364 20.43
362 Vilela, Jose Luis241353 26.87
363 Garcia, Gildardo241260 25.89
364 Pétursson, Margeir241255 19.95
365 Sisniega, Marcel241264 20.51
366 Pritchett, Craig William241269
367 Hansson, Dan241168 27.64
368 Nicevski, Risto241159 34.59
369 Augustin, Josef241154 37.70
370 Ostermeyer, Peter241168 36.30
371 Wittmann, Walter241063 31.88
372 Morris, Walter D241059 21.41
373 Ciric, Dragoljub M241061 44.22
374 Bohosjan, Sarkis240961 38.84
375 Bellin, Robert240854 27.59
376 Cvetkovic, Srdjan240861 33.92
377 Cuartas, Carlos240863 39.46
378 Janoševic, Dragoljub240757 56.56
379 Littlewood, Paul E240757 24.04
380 Haik, Aldo240764 27.28
381 Enklaar, Bertus F240662
382 Arnason, Jon L240554 19.22
383 Fedder, Steen240559 28.63
384 Hase, Juan Carlos240460
385 Franco Ocampos, Zenon240457 23.72
386 Bradford, Joseph M240368 29.25
387 Butnorius, Algimantas240172 33.20
388 Swic, Waldemar240159 26.89
389 Taylor, Timothy240171 26.97
390 Djuric, Stefan240161 24.51
391 Bouaziz, Slim240157 29.79
392 Dueckstein, Andreas240063 52.49
393 Short, Nigel D240057 14.66
394 Banas, Jan239854 32.66
395 Hoi, Carsten239853 23.04
396 Chandler, Murray G239856 19.82
397 Bukal, Vladimir Sr239868 40.25
398 Pokojowczyk, Jerzy239854 30.94
399 Lieb, Harald239763 45.10
400 Meyer, E.239767
401 Bielczyk, Jacek239754 26.93
402 Lombard, Andre239765 29.37
403 Horner, Jeff239674 30.43
404 Kagan, Shimon239653 37.82
405 Rakic, Tomislav239668 45.22
406 Emma, Jaime J239655 42.04
407 Despotovic, Momcilo239565 31.91
408 Law, Andrew P239566 29.56
409 Skrobek, Ryszard239556 28.57
410 Hartoch, Robert G239457
411 Huss, Andreas239474 29.29
412 Deze, Anton239469
413 Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel239256 29.73
414 Garcia Padron, Jose239267 21.86
415 Iskov, Gert239155 31.51
416 Sibarevic, Milenko239061 34.88
417 Ilievski, Dimitar239071 38.44
418 Franklin, Michael J239068 48.99
419 Bronstein, Luis239055 33.66
420 Tischbierek, Raj239061 17.35
421 Van Riemsdijk, Herman C238952 31.43
422 Dzuban, Oleg I238971
423 Pavlov, Mircea238864 42.38
424 Biriescu, Ioan238873 26.26
425 Renman, Nils Gustaf238865
426 Maksimovic, Branimir238763 24.46
427 Segal, Alexandru Sorin238757 32.32
428 Van der Sterren, Paul238651 23.87
429 Peev, Peicho Chonev238666 39.83
430 Van der Vliet, Fredrik238557
431 Brondum, Eric238565 38.12
432 Filguth, Rubens A238559 23.85
433 Visier Segovia, Fernando238464 36.99
434 Ost Hansen, Jacob238472
435 Soos, Bela238368 49.90
436 Cámpora, Daniel H238363 22.59
437 Mišta, Ladislav238367 36.25
438 Welin, Thomas238369 20.40
439 Formanek, Edward W238365 37.73
440 Holm, Sejer238271 40.47
441 Wahlbom, Magnus238266 34.71
442 Schinzel, Wladyslaw238252 36.69
443 Cappello, Renato238261
444 Lau, Ralf238163 20.28
445 Cramling, Dan238166 20.98
446 Szymczak, Zbigniew238060 28.07
447 Moehring, Guenther238053 43.18
448 Mascarinas, Rico237962 26.91
449 Rigo, Janos237957 31.26
450 Djukic, Zeljko237871 20.63
451 Gonsior, Evzen237757 48.15
452 Pavlovic, Dejan237771
453 Kopec, Danny237773 25.92
454 Coudari, Camille237665 28.51
455 Adamski, Andrzej237663 41.05
456 Rantanen, Yrjo A237658 29.77
457 Arbakov, Valentin237476 28.01
458 Buljovcic, Ivan237467 43.09
459 Jacobsen, Bo237374 31.13
460 Rossetto, Héctor D237362 57.40
461 Horvath, Tamas237363 28.27
462 Akvist, Hakan237370 38.26
463 Rajna, George237263 32.96
464 Cooper, John Grantley237170
465 Cuasnicu, Oscar237163 37.27
466 Bojkovic, Slobodan237066 34.51
467 Goodman, David SC237061
468 Foygel, Igor236969
469 Lanka, Zigurds236968 19.69
470 Garcia Palermo, Carlos236860 26.16
471 Andre, Wolfgang236874 26.87
472 Helmers, Knut J236760 22.98
473 Jamroz, Zbigniew236763 45.64
474 Balshan, Amikam236661
475 Evans, Larry D236676
476 Frias, Victor J236670 23.97
477 Kirpichnikov, Vladimir S236573
478 Fedorowicz, John P236554 21.34
479 Hesse, Peter236558 35.34
480 Whiteley, Andrew J236365 32.64
481 Sikora Lerch, Jan236253
482 Neckar, Lubomir236262 29.49
483 Hebert, Jean236257 22.22
484 Filipowicz, Andrzej236262 41.72
485 Kaiszauri, Konstanty236155 27.27
486 Lekander, Rolf236164 33.08
487 Mortensen, Erling236158 24.82
488 Lanc, Alois236172 31.95
489 Hebden, Mark236164 21.95
490 Szilágyi, György236172 58.57
491 Day, Lawrence A236066 30.99
492 Schellhorn, Wolfgang236076 31.44
493 Anelli, Antonio235872 35.72
494 Odendahl, Steven M235862 20.27
495 Sapi, Laszlo235868 44.86
496 Steiner, Drako235771
497 Watzka, Horst235766 41.38
498 Shpilker, Boris235776 23.70
499 Fries Nielsen, Jens Ove235757 19.93
500 Basman, Michael J235664 33.87

These ratings, calculated as of January 31, 1980, incorporate all games (against rated opponents) played in the time between January 1, 1979 and January 31, 1980, along with the ratings that were already calculated as of December 31, 1978. 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 January 31, 1980. This represents the player's estimated strength on February 1, 1980.

+/- 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 February 1, 1980. The +/- value represents the standard deviation of that estimate; the player's true strength on February 1, 1980 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 February 1, 1980. 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 January 31, 1980. 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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