If I'm not mistaken, Gata Kamsky represents the U.S. when he plays, so I think he would be the highest rated American, but I'm just curious who the highest rated American player that was born here is. And for that matter, why the U.S. hasn't had a serious national champion contender since Bobby Fischer. I suppose some could make an argument that Waitzkin may have been in contention had he never stopped seriously competing at chess.
Originally posted by stockton1984My guess is either Larry Christiansen or Joel Benjamin. Both have FIDE ratings of 2577.
If I'm not mistaken, Gata Kamsky represents the U.S. when he plays, so I think he would be the highest rated American, but I'm just curious who the highest rated American player that was born here is. And for that matter, why the U.S. hasn't had a serious national champion contender since Bobby Fischer. I suppose some could make an argument that Waitzkin may have been in contention had he never stopped seriously competing at chess.
Hmm... well I would say Bobby Fischer was the highest rated U.S. born chessplayer...As for why the U.S. does not produce super GMs, I would say that chess in the US is not taken seriously as a "sport" or even as a game... Poker is infinitely more popular than chess in this nation... In Russia they take the kids with any kind of potential and put them in training from an early age. Here, parents have to provide, for their children the tutors and transportation AND the funds to compete in tourneys for the most part. So this confluence of factors is probably responsible for the lack of any quantity of US born chess prodigies...It could also be the fluoride in the tap water....
*shifts eyes back and forth and recedes into the shadows...
Originally posted by tonytiger41I assumed the OP meant the best current rating of active, American-born chess players. However, he wasn't specific, so I'm not exactly sure what he meant. If he meant the best all-time rating of still-living American-born chess players, then it would take a little more work to get that information. Byrne and Lombardy were definitely very strong in their prime. Of course, their current FIDE ratings aren't anything special (in the 2400s, and I'm not sure when they last played a FIDE rated game.)
watzkins, no.
you should pick up the current US chesslife which has an article on three former young american chess talents.
as for the best american, robert bryne or william lombardy are much better than the two contemporary american players mentioned.
Originally posted by stockton1984What has where you were born got to do with anything? Isn't America a nation of immigrants?
If I'm not mistaken, Gata Kamsky represents the U.S. when he plays, so I think he would be the highest rated American, but I'm just curious who the highest rated American player that was born here is. And for that matter, why the U.S. hasn't had a serious national champion contender since Bobby Fischer. I suppose some could make an argument that Waitzkin may have been in contention had he never stopped seriously competing at chess.