This is a serious question!

http://www.kids-iq-tests.com/famous-people.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190

http://archure.net/psychology/IQs.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190

http://archure.net/psychology/IQs.html

Fischer 167 (prob a typo), Kasparov 195

http://kiqtc.tripod.com/famous-iqs.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190, J Polgar 170

There's many more links that you can look up for yourself

Here is an article on the correlation between elo and IQ:

http://www.thechessworld.com/learn-chess/4-healthpsycology/223-chess-rating-and-iq-score-correlation

It's conclusion: There is a direct correlation between the intelligence level and chess ability

However, IQ tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence level. This explains the descrepancy of the IQ scores of Garry Kasparov. Whether you choose to believe in the 190-195 range or 135 is a matter of choice. A 135 score would mean there are hundreds on this site alone who are Kasparov's equal in intelligence. I find that impossible to believe.

Originally posted by woodypusher
[All these stories about Kasparov's and Fisher's IQ remind me the stories about Bruce Lee(mafia killed him) and King Elvis(he still lives somewhere in Bahamas islands).
I'm sorry to say that but many amateurs believe in nonsense in their try to present their favorite chess champions as Gods of Intelligence, just like Martial Arts students have created Being World Champion or super grand master is out of reach for 99.99999+% of us.

Here is what Carlsen said about intelligence and chess:

SPIEGEL: Mr Carlsen, what is your IQ?

Carlsen: I have no idea. I wouldn’t want to know it anyway. It might turn out to be a nasty surprise.

SPIEGEL: Why? You are 19 years old and ranked the number one chess player in the world. You must be incredibly clever.

Carlsen: And that’s precisely what would be terrible. Of course it is important for a chess player to be able to concentrate well, but being too intelligent can also be a burden. It can get in your way. I am convinced that the reason the Englishman John Nunn never became world champion is that he is too clever for that.

SPIEGEL: How that?

Carlsen: At the age of 15, Nunn started studying mathematics in Oxford; he was the youngest student in the last 500 years, and at 23 he did a PhD in algebraic topology. He has so incredibly much in his head. Simply too much. His enormous powers of understanding and his constant thirst for knowledge distracted him from chess.

SPIEGEL: Things are different in your case?

Carlsen: Right. I am a totally normal guy. My father is considerably more intelligent than I am.


Carlsen says that John Nunn is too clever and that is why he never became a World Champion!!!!
He can be wrong but isn't it clear that Carlsen is not convinced about the necessity of being extra intelligent to play good chess?


Kasparov's IQ have been measured and found 135(despite what the fools write in various chess sites).
John Nunn although highly intelligent never won the World Championship(why?)

In 1975, in a very important study, David Feldman studied six prodigies, including two 8-year old chess prodigies. None of the prodigies performed any higher in logic, role-taking, spatial reasoning, and moral judgment than children of their own age. Feldman studied these prodigies for 10 years.The chessplayers showed no higher intelligence from the rest.

You are convinced that Kasparov is highly intelligent.Another friend of mine is convinced that it was the stars that made Kasparov a world champion.If he was born 2 months later he would never be a world Champion.

I don't know if it was the stars or if it was his intelligence.I only know that the relation between high intelligence and chess , whatever that is , has not yet been scientifically established despite the many researches.And not even the very good players are convinced that high intelligence is necessary.

Those that are open minded ,can understand that a Chess World Champion needs so many abilities and qualities(strong personality , abilty to perform brilliantly even under most stressful conditions , determination, etc.)that maybe high intelligence is the less useful of them.

I believe(yep , this is my nonsense) that Kasparov would be Kasparov with either 135 or 195 and I believe that even if you find 500 with 195 IQ you will not find a second Kasparov.

Originally posted by woodypusher
http://www.kids-iq-tests.com/famous-people.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190

http://archure.net/psychology/IQs.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190

http://archure.net/psychology/IQs.html

Fischer 167 (prob a typo), Kasparov 195

http://kiqtc.tripod.com/famous-iqs.html

Fischer 187, Kasparov 190, J Polgar 170

There's many more links that you can look up for yourself

If you want to believe in nonsese you will always find a site in the Internet that will support your beliefs.
How many believed in the nonsense about Mayans prophecy and how many sites existed some months ago claiming that the end of the world is coming?

One of the sites you gave , http://kiqtc.tripod.com/famous-iqs.html, claims that Voltaire had 190 and Mozart 165.
When exactly these 2 made IQ test?Educate me.
Or maybe all these are ESTIMATED by someone that simply opened a site and posts his estimated nonsense?Who is this guy ?I can't even see his name?Is he a professor ?A scientist?Has he devoted time in researching the correlation between chess and IQ ?Have you searched all these or it's just convenient to believe anyone that believes the same nonsense and present him as leading authority in the matter?

I used to believe the same nonsense.My teacher made some questions that I haven't managed to answer.
Why Soviets dominated chess for decades?Even today , in top 30 , you will find 16 from the former Soviet republics , 14 from the rest of the world.
Are they the most intelligent people of the world?
Or you have to be highly intelligent to be Carlsen(No1) but to be Aronian(No 3) it doens't really matter?
Why no other woman except Judit Polgar ever made it to top 100?Are women less intelligent?
Why the ability of a chessplayer to perform decreases after 45?Is he suddenly becoming less intelligent?Let me note here that mathematicians ,physicists , doctors ,architects and others are considerd that are on the peak of their career at that age.But not chessplayers.Why?
Finally, there is Mensa and the published list of the people that have done the IQ test and belong to the worldwide certified high IQ society.There are 2 boxers and even a Playboy Playmate(Julie Peterson – Playboy Playmate of the Month February 1987)!!!
NOT EVEN ONE FROM THE WELL KNOWN CHESSPLAYERS.
Why Mensa's list is not full of chessplayers?Where is Kasparov's estimated IQ 190 and where is Polgar's estimated IQ 175?
Why the only chessplayer on the list , C.J. de Mooi(former President of the English Chess Federation) has no FIDE title?He is not even a candidate master.Shouldn't it be very VERY easy for him to attain any title?

You find hard to believe that Kasparov can indeed have 135 because you don't really understand that high level competitive chess needs qualities and abilities far more important and far more difficult to attain than intelligence.Understanding chess and playing brilliantly is the result of intense , multi-hour every day training that demands extreme discipline and concentration every second.And that is not even enough!!!Without a strong and determined personality and without correct and methodical training the result willl still be ZERO!!!

Chessplayers who find it hard to learn an opening are impressed by the ability of professionals to remember thousands of moves.But that ability is not intelligence.It's hard and determined training.
Does high intelligence helps?No one really knows for sure.
There are no easy answers in matters that are so complicated by nature.

I rest my case.
I feel I said too much already but I am dealing with kids and it's a matter that I find it highly interesting.
I would be delighted if someone could convince me with facts ,and not with posts on silly sites,that high intelligence is the key to create the future champions.
If only was that easy.........

Originally posted by Roper300
If you want to believe in nonsese you will always find a site in the Internet that will support your beliefs.
How many believed in the nonsense about Mayans prophecy and how many sites existed some months ago claiming that the end of the world is coming?

One of the sites you gave , http://kiqtc.tripod.com/famous-iqs.html, claims that Voltaire had 190 an telligence is the key to create the future champions.
If only was that easy.........

I have a son with an IQ like Fischer's, but he does not play chess. So high IQ is just one factor and not the key to a great chess olayer. However, he used to be really good with the newest version of the Rubik's Cube at that time. That was the one with the faces or something in the center positions.