Who is your favorite chess player?

Originally posted by Der Bayer
I'm surprised no one has said Kasparov yet. He is usually mentioned first or second

the question was who's your favourite player, not who was the strongest player ever. big difference.

David Bronstein, whose King's Indian Defense games in the 1940s still amaze me. I am in awe of his brilliance.

Evgeny Vasiukov, because his King's Indian Attack games in the 1960's inspire me still.

John Nunn, whose original "Secrets of Grandmaster Play" raised my OTB rating 300 points, and who radically altered my understanding of how GMs play in the process. And for his "Pirc for the Tournament Player", which forced me to learn chess just to understand it.

Leonid Stein, also for his King's Indian Attack games, and his amazingly deep tactical conceptions- so deep, that they practically transcended the tactics/strategy distinction.

Edvins Kengis, who inspired me to learn Alekhine's Defense, and because his game ideas and concepts led to me upsetting better players with it.

Tiger Hillarp Persson, who's book on the Modern convinced me that the swashbuckling chess archetype is alive and well, and still kicking butt and taking names in the 21st century.

Anatoly Karpov, because I met him at the US Amateur East Chess Championship in New Jersey one year, and I learned that World Champions are people, too, and in his case, a very unassuming and nice guy. I was really in awe that he was just a cool guy, smiling and shaking hands with everyone who stopped him, all the time.

Paul

Originally posted by wormwood
the question was who's your favourite player, not who was the strongest player ever. big difference.

You are of course right, but the two aren't mutually exclusive. Chess players who aren't among the strongest in history are often forgotten about, and are thus not usually considered among favorites.

I personally like Kasparov because of his attacking style and will to win, not just because of the fact that he was world champion for so long.

I have to say, I?m a fan of Carlsen. Something about a teenager breaking 2800 impresses me. Anyone else see the fight between him and Kramnik at the Tal Memorial?

I?ve been a fan of Carlsen´s since his second Corus appearance though. He seems to be the best hope we have of someone dominating the chess world again. He has a positional style, but he almost always looks for active play and he has a tremendous amount of fighting spirit.

I do very much enjoy the games of Josh Waitzkin

David Bronstein - after loosing interest in Chess during my teenage years (girls!) it was digging out and going over his best games book - which is now sadly out of print - that inspired me to take it up again in my early 20’s. I very much regret the gap I took, as I might have been a lot better now.

Morphy, Alekhine and Tony Miles are close seconds.

My favorite is probably Tal, not just for the wild games and imagination but for his passion for the game. He loved to play and and his books are fantastic (1960 championship and the life and games).

Karpov is probably second, followed by Lasker and Fischer.

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Anatoly Karpov, a very unassuming and nice guy. I was really in awe that he was just a cool guy, smiling and shaking hands with everyone who stopped him, all the time.

Paul

You must have met him at a good time.

Originally posted by Goshen
You must have met him at a good time.

No, he really is a good guy.

Originally posted by heinzkat
No, he really is a good guy.

The 1981 World Chess Championship Tournament Book by William Hartston describes him otherwise.

I don't have any idols but at the moment David Bronstein would be my favourite because I'm working through and enjoying his Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Originally posted by Goshen
The 1981 World Chess Championship Tournament Book by William Hartston describes him otherwise.

What kind of books are you reading 😲

Originally posted by heinzkat
What kind of books are you reading 😲

Don't mind me, man. I'm trying to do too much, too soon, in too little time. And I frequently burn out...like now. 😞

Originally posted by Goshen
The 1981 World Chess Championship Tournament Book by William Hartston describes him otherwise.

Here's a real villain in action

YouTube

Originally posted by heinzkat
Here's a real villain in action

Well, no one said he was a villain or mean,etc.