Chessmetrics

by Jeff Sonas

NEW (15 Jan 2002) Will Ruslan Ponomariov become the first teenage champ?
NEW (21 Nov 2001) Comparison between Chessmetrics and FIDE ratings

About the Chessmetrics Rating System
View historical ratings for a particular date
Find a particular player's career list
View age-based lists
Quick links to everyone who has ever been a top-five player
All-time rating leaders across peak 1, 3, 5, 9, and 15 years
Color-coded top-12 graphs spanning 10, 30, 50, 100, or 152 years

Hello, my name is Jeff Sonas. I am a statistical columnist for KasparovChess.com, and in the past couple of years I have developed many statistical methods for predicting and analyzing chess results. More recently, I have developed a new system for rating chess players, and I have used that system to calculate annual historical ratings, retroactively back to 1850. This website allows you to explore them. These Chessmetrics ratings are similar to the FIDE ratings already in use, but I claim that the Chessmetrics ratings are more statistically accurate, because the Chessmetrics ratings have consistently had more success than the FIDE ratings at predicting the outcomes of future games.

For the first hundred years, until 1950, the Chessmetrics ratings are calculated annually. In the 1950's, they are calculated twice a year, in the 1960's four times a year, in the 1970's six times a year, and from 1980 through 1998 the ratings are calculated every month. All of those rating calculations are based on game outcomes from ChessBase's Mega Database 2000 CD, along with a number of other sources including the MasterChess 2000 CD, Wilfried Guenther's Schach-datenbank site, and various other sources which I downloaded over the Internet. Starting in 1999, I have switched over to weekly calculations, corresponding to the weekly issues of TWIC (The Week in Chess).

At last count, there were ratings for more than 13,000 players, based on a combined game database of about 1.8 million games. This website allows you to explore those ratings in a number of different ways, including a personal page for each of those 13,000+ players, along with top-500 lists for each of the 587 dates (from December 31, 1851 until September 10, 2001). In addition, the ratings have been adjusted to compensate for inflation/deflation, so that ratings can be meaningfully compared across eras. This allows rating lists grouped by age, so that you can see the top-500-rated players on their 21st birthday, for instance. All of the date and age graphs are accompanied by graphical plots illustrating the numbers in a color-coded way, and there is also a color-coded graphical plot on the personal page of all 99 players who were ever one of the top-five-rated players on a particular date. Finally, you can see which players had the highest average ratings across various numbers of years, ranging from one single year up to fifteen years.

Further down on this page, you will find links allowing you to get to all of these different views of the ratings. In addition, all pages have been cross-linked so that you can jump around to related pages as you explore the ratings. If you want to read more about where these numbers come from, I have written a long section about the Chessmetrics rating system
itself.

Please send me e-mail at jeff@chessmetrics.com if you have any feedback for me, either positive or negative. In the past, some of my biggest breakthroughs have come as a direct result of constructive criticism from readers. I see no reason why that should change, so please let me know what you think.

View historical ratings for a particular date
(click on the link matching the date you want):

12/31/1851 12/31/1852 12/31/1853 12/31/1854 12/31/1855 12/31/1856 12/31/1857 12/31/1858 12/31/1859 12/31/1860 12/31/1861 12/31/1862 12/31/1863 12/31/1864 12/31/1865 12/31/1866 12/31/1867 12/31/1868 12/31/1869 12/31/1870 12/31/1871 12/31/1872 12/31/1873 12/31/1874 12/31/1875 12/31/1876 12/31/1877 12/31/1878 12/31/1879 12/31/1880 12/31/1881 12/31/1882 12/31/1883 12/31/1884 12/31/1885 12/31/1886 12/31/1887 12/31/1888 12/31/1889 12/31/1890 12/31/1891 12/31/1892 12/31/1893 12/31/1894 12/31/1895 12/31/1896 12/31/1897 12/31/1898 12/31/1899 12/31/1900 12/31/1901 12/31/1902 12/31/1903 12/31/1904 12/31/1905 12/31/1906 12/31/1907 12/31/1908 12/31/1909 12/31/1910 12/31/1911 12/31/1912 12/31/1913 12/31/1914 12/31/1915 12/31/1916 12/31/1917 12/31/1918 12/31/1919 12/31/1920 12/31/1921 12/31/1922 12/31/1923 12/31/1924 12/31/1925 12/31/1926 12/31/1927 12/31/1928 12/31/1929 12/31/1930 12/31/1931 12/31/1932 12/31/1933 12/31/1934 12/31/1935 12/31/1936 12/31/1937 12/31/1938 12/31/1939 12/31/1940 12/31/1941 12/31/1942 12/31/1943 12/31/1944 12/31/1945 12/31/1946 12/31/1947 12/31/1948 12/31/1949 06/30/1950 12/31/1950 06/30/1951 12/31/1951 06/30/1952 12/31/1952 06/30/1953 12/31/1953 06/30/1954 12/31/1954 06/30/1955 12/31/1955 06/30/1956 12/31/1956 06/30/1957 12/31/1957 06/30/1958 12/31/1958 06/30/1959 12/31/1959 03/31/1960 06/30/1960 09/30/1960 12/31/1960 03/31/1961 06/30/1961 09/30/1961 12/31/1961 03/31/1962 06/30/1962 09/30/1962 12/31/1962 03/31/1963 06/30/1963 09/30/1963 12/31/1963 03/31/1964 06/30/1964 09/30/1964 12/31/1964 03/31/1965 06/30/1965 09/30/1965 12/31/1965 03/31/1966 06/30/1966 09/30/1966 12/31/1966 03/31/1967 06/30/1967 09/30/1967 12/31/1967 03/31/1968 06/30/1968 09/30/1968 12/31/1968 03/31/1969 06/30/1969 09/30/1969 12/31/1969 02/28/1970 04/30/1970 06/30/1970 08/31/1970 10/31/1970 12/31/1970 02/28/1971 04/30/1971 06/30/1971 08/31/1971 10/31/1971 12/31/1971 02/29/1972 04/30/1972 06/30/1972 08/31/1972 10/31/1972 12/31/1972 02/28/1973 04/30/1973 06/30/1973 08/31/1973 10/31/1973 12/31/1973 02/28/1974 04/30/1974 06/30/1974 08/31/1974 10/31/1974 12/31/1974 02/28/1975 04/30/1975 06/30/1975 08/31/1975 10/31/1975 12/31/1975 02/29/1976 04/30/1976 06/30/1976 08/31/1976 10/31/1976 12/31/1976 02/28/1977 04/30/1977 06/30/1977 08/31/1977 10/31/1977 12/31/1977 02/28/1978 04/30/1978 06/30/1978 08/31/1978 10/31/1978 12/31/1978 02/28/1979 04/30/1979 06/30/1979 08/31/1979 10/31/1979 12/31/1979 01/31/1980 02/29/1980 03/31/1980 04/30/1980 05/31/1980 06/30/1980 07/31/1980 08/31/1980 09/30/1980 10/31/1980 11/30/1980 12/31/1980 01/31/1981 02/28/1981 03/31/1981 04/30/1981 05/31/1981 06/30/1981 07/31/1981 08/31/1981 09/30/1981 10/31/1981 11/30/1981 12/31/1981 01/31/1982 02/28/1982 03/31/1982 04/30/1982 05/31/1982 06/30/1982 07/31/1982 08/31/1982 09/30/1982 10/31/1982 11/30/1982 12/31/1982 01/31/1983 02/28/1983 03/31/1983 04/30/1983 05/31/1983 06/30/1983 07/31/1983 08/31/1983 09/30/1983 10/31/1983 11/30/1983 12/31/1983 01/31/1984 02/29/1984 03/31/1984 04/30/1984 05/31/1984 06/30/1984 07/31/1984 08/31/1984 09/30/1984 10/31/1984 11/30/1984 12/31/1984 01/31/1985 02/28/1985 03/31/1985 04/30/1985 05/31/1985 06/30/1985 07/31/1985 08/31/1985 09/30/1985 10/31/1985 11/30/1985 12/31/1985 01/31/1986 02/28/1986 03/31/1986 04/30/1986 05/31/1986 06/30/1986 07/31/1986 08/31/1986 09/30/1986 10/31/1986 11/30/1986 12/31/1986 01/31/1987 02/28/1987 03/31/1987 04/30/1987 05/31/1987 06/30/1987 07/31/1987 08/31/1987 09/30/1987 10/31/1987 11/30/1987 12/31/1987 01/31/1988 02/29/1988 03/31/1988 04/30/1988 05/31/1988 06/30/1988 07/31/1988 08/31/1988 09/30/1988 10/31/1988 11/30/1988 12/31/1988 01/31/1989 02/28/1989 03/31/1989 04/30/1989 05/31/1989 06/30/1989 07/31/1989 08/31/1989 09/30/1989 10/31/1989 11/30/1989 12/31/1989 01/31/1990 02/28/1990 03/31/1990 04/30/1990 05/31/1990 06/30/1990 07/31/1990 08/31/1990 09/30/1990 10/31/1990 11/30/1990 12/31/1990 01/31/1991 02/28/1991 03/31/1991 04/30/1991 05/31/1991 06/30/1991 07/31/1991 08/31/1991 09/30/1991 10/31/1991 11/30/1991 12/31/1991 01/31/1992 02/29/1992 03/31/1992 04/30/1992 05/31/1992 06/30/1992 07/31/1992 08/31/1992 09/30/1992 10/31/1992 11/30/1992 12/31/1992 01/31/1993 02/28/1993 03/31/1993 04/30/1993 05/31/1993 06/30/1993 07/31/1993 08/31/1993 09/30/1993 10/31/1993 11/30/1993 12/31/1993 01/31/1994 02/28/1994 03/31/1994 04/30/1994 05/31/1994 06/30/1994 07/31/1994 08/31/1994 09/30/1994 10/31/1994 11/30/1994 12/31/1994 01/31/1995 02/28/1995 03/31/1995 04/30/1995 05/31/1995 06/30/1995 07/31/1995 08/31/1995 09/30/1995 10/31/1995 11/30/1995 12/31/1995 01/31/1996 02/29/1996 03/31/1996 04/30/1996 05/31/1996 06/30/1996 07/31/1996 08/31/1996 09/30/1996 10/31/1996 11/30/1996 12/31/1996 01/31/1997 02/28/1997 03/31/1997 04/30/1997 05/31/1997 06/30/1997 07/31/1997 08/31/1997 09/30/1997 10/31/1997 11/30/1997 12/31/1997 01/31/1998 02/28/1998 03/31/1998 04/30/1998 05/31/1998 06/30/1998 07/31/1998 08/31/1998 09/30/1998 10/31/1998 11/30/1998 12/31/1998 01/11/1999 01/18/1999 01/25/1999 02/01/1999 02/08/1999 02/15/1999 02/22/1999 03/01/1999 03/08/1999 03/15/1999 03/22/1999 03/29/1999 04/05/1999 04/12/1999 04/19/1999 04/26/1999 05/03/1999 05/10/1999 05/17/1999 05/24/1999 05/31/1999 06/07/1999 06/14/1999 06/21/1999 06/28/1999 07/05/1999 07/12/1999 07/19/1999 07/26/1999 08/02/1999 08/09/1999 08/16/1999 08/23/1999 08/30/1999 09/06/1999 09/13/1999 09/20/1999 09/27/1999 10/04/1999 10/11/1999 10/18/1999 10/25/1999 11/01/1999 11/08/1999 11/15/1999 11/22/1999 11/29/1999 12/06/1999 12/13/1999 12/20/1999 12/27/1999 01/03/2000 01/10/2000 01/17/2000 01/24/2000 01/31/2000 02/07/2000 02/14/2000 02/21/2000 02/28/2000 03/06/2000 03/13/2000 03/20/2000 03/27/2000 04/03/2000 04/10/2000 04/17/2000 04/24/2000 05/01/2000 05/08/2000 05/15/2000 05/22/2000 05/29/2000 06/05/2000 06/12/2000 06/19/2000 06/26/2000 07/03/2000 07/10/2000 07/17/2000 07/24/2000 07/31/2000 08/07/2000 08/14/2000 08/21/2000 08/28/2000 09/04/2000 09/11/2000 09/18/2000 09/25/2000 10/02/2000 10/09/2000 10/16/2000 10/23/2000 10/30/2000 11/06/2000 11/13/2000 11/20/2000 11/27/2000 12/04/2000 12/11/2000 12/18/2000 12/25/2000 01/01/2001 01/08/2001 01/15/2001 01/22/2001 01/29/2001 02/05/2001 02/12/2001 02/19/2001 02/26/2001 03/05/2001 03/12/2001 03/19/2001 03/26/2001 04/02/2001 04/09/2001 04/16/2001 04/23/2001 04/30/2001 05/07/2001 05/14/2001 05/21/2001 05/28/2001 06/04/2001 06/11/2001 06/18/2001 06/25/2001 07/02/2001 07/09/2001 07/16/2001 07/23/2001 07/30/2001 08/06/2001 08/13/2001 08/20/2001 08/27/2001 09/03/2001 09/10/2001

Find a particular player's career list
(click on the link matching the first two letters of the player's last name):

Aa Ab Ac Ad Ae Af Ag Ah Ai Aj Ak Al Am An Ap Ar As At Au Av Ay Az Ba Be Bh Bi Bj Bl Bo Br Bu By Ca Ce Ch Ci Cl Cm Co Cr Cs Cu Cv Cy Cz D' Da De Dg Dh Di Dj Dl Dm Do Dr Du Dv Dw Dy Dz Ea Eb Ec Ed Ef Eg Eh Ei Ej Ek El Em En Eo Ep Er Es Et Eu Ev Ez Fa Fe Fi Fj Fl Fo Fr Ft Fu Fy Ga Gd Ge Gh Gi Gj Gl Gm Gn Go Gr Gs Gu Gv Gw Gy Ha He Hi Hj Hl Hm Hn Ho Hr Hs Ht Hu Hv Hy Ia Ib Ic Id Ig Ik Il Im In Io Ip Ir Is It Iu Iv Iw Iy Iz Ja Je Ji Jo Ju Ka Kc Ke Kh Ki Kj Kl Km Kn Ko Kr Ks Ku Kv Kw Ky L' La Le Lh Li Lj Ll Lo Lp Lu Ly Ma Mc Me Mg Mi Mk Ml Mn Mo Mr Mu My Na Ne Ng Ni Nj No Ns Nu Ny O' Ob Oc Od Oe Of Og Oh Oi Oj Ok Ol Om On Oo Op Or Os Ot Ou Ov Ow Oz Pa Pc Pe Pf Ph Pi Pj Pl Po Pr Ps Pt Pu Py Qi Qu Qv Ra Re Rh Ri Ro Ru Ry Sa Sb Sc Se Sh Si Sj Sk Sl Sm Sn So Sp Sq Sr St Su Sv Sw Sy Sz Ta Tc Te Th Ti Tj Tk To Tr Ts Tu Tv Tw Ty Tz Ub Ud Ue Uf Ug Uh Uj Uk Ul Um Un Up Ur Us Ut Uu Uz Va Ve Vi Vl Vo Vr Vs Vu Vy Wa We Wh Wi Wl Wo Wr Wu Wy Xa Xh Xi Xu Ya Ye Yi Yo Yr Yu Za Zb Zd Ze Zh Zi Zj Zl Zn Zo Zp Zs Zu Zv Zw Zy

View age-based lists
(click on the link matching the age you want):

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82

Quick links to everyone who has ever been a top-five player
(click on the link matching the player you want):

Adams,Michael Alekhine,Alexander Anand,Viswanathan Anderssen,Adolf Andersson,Ulf Bareev,Evgeny Beliavsky,Alexander Bernstein,Ossip Blackburne,Joseph Bogoljubow,Efim Boleslavsky,Isaak Botvinnik,Mikhail Bronstein,David Burn,Amos Capablanca,Jos� Chigorin,Mikhail deRivi�re,Jules Englisch,Berthold Euwe,Machgielis Falkbeer,Ernst Fine,Reuben Fischer,Robert Flohr,Salo Gelfand,Boris Geller,Efim Gunsberg,Isidor Harrwitz,Daniel Horwitz,Bernhard H�bner,Robert Ivanchuk,Vassily Janowsky,Dawid Jussupow,Artur Kamsky,Gata Karpov,Anatoly Kashdan,Isaac Kasparov,Garry Keres,Paul Khalifman,Alexander Kieseritzky,Lionel Kipping,James Knorre,Victor Kolisch,Ignatz Korchnoi,Viktor Kotov,Alexander Kramnik,Vladimir Lange,Max Larsen,Bent Lasker,Emanuel Leko,Peter Ljubojevic,Ljubomir L�wenthal,Johann Mackenzie,George Makogonov,Vladimir Mar�czy,G�za Marshall,Frank Mason,James Mayet,Carl Mecking,Henrique Morphy,Paul Najdorf,Miguel Naumkin,Igor Neumann,Gustav Nimzowitsch,Aron Owen,John Paulsen,Louis Petrosian,Tigran Pillsbury,Harry Polgar,Judit Polugaevsky,Lev Portisch,Lajos Potter,William Psakhis,Lev Reshevsky,Samuel Rubinstein,Akiba SaintAmant,Pierre Salov,Valery Schlechter,Carl Shirov,Alexei Short,Nigel Smyslov,Vassily Sokolov,Andrey Spassky,Boris Staunton,Howard Stein,Leonid Steinitz,Wilhelm Tal,Mikhail Tarrasch,Siegbert Tartakower,Saviely Teichmann,Richard Timman,Jan Topalov,Veselin Vaganian,Rafael Vidmar,Milan vonBardeleben,Curt vonDerLasa,Tassilo vonJaenisch,Carl Weiss,Miksa Williams,Elijah Winawer,Szymon Zukertort,Johannes

All-time rating leaders across peak 1, 3, 5, 9, and 15 years
(click on the year range you want):

1-year peaks 3-year peaks 5-year peaks 9-year peaks 15-year peaks

Color-coded top-12 graphs spanning 10, 30, 50, 100, or 152 years
(click on the year span you want):

10-year spans 30-year spans 50-year spans 100-year spans 152-year span