The latest live chess ratings show the top ten players as Magnus Carlsen (2872), Aronian (2803), Kramnik (2793), Nakamura (2786), Topalov (2785), Grischuk (2783), Caruana (2781), Gelfand (2777), Anand (2773), and Svidler (2758).

The top 13 highest live ratings ever were Carlsen (2878.9), Kasparov (2856.7), Aronian (2829.7), Anand (2820.7), Topalov (2816.9), Kramnik (2812.5), Caruana (2800), Radjabov (2799.6), Morozevich (2798.9), Nakamura (2794.4), Grischuk (2792.1), Ivanchuk (2791.5), and Fischer (2789.7).

The top 11 computer ratings are Houdini (3247), Komodo (3228), Stockfish (3222), Critter (3174), Gull (3164), Rybka (3162), Bouquet (3147), Strelka (3117), Hannibal (3093), Naum (3078), Protector (3078).

The top 10 USCF players are Nakamura (2870), Kamsky (2813), Gareev (2769), Onischuk (2739), Akobian (2718), Robson (2708), Erenburg (2702), Ramirez (2694), Shankland (2688), and Christiansen (2668).

George M. Brumfitt was the first person to suggest a rating system in 1891, published in British Chess Magazine, 1891, pages 388-392. He had collected the match and tournament results from 1881 to 1890 and summarized the scores of the leading chess players. For matches, based on percentage of game won, the top 12 match players were Tarrasch, Steinitz, Burn, Blackburne, Gunsberg, Weiss, Mason, Mackenzie, Schallopp, Zukertort, Chigorin, and Bird. For tournaments, the top 10 players were Steinitz, Blackburne, Burn, Tarrasch, Gunsberg, Winawer, Zukertort, Mackenzie, von Bardeleben, and Lipschuetz.

In 1933, the Correspondence Chess League of America (CCLA) created the first modern chess rating system. It was the first national organization to use a numerical rating system. They adopted a rating system used by some chess clubs on the west coast called the Short Rating System. It was named after E. Glenn Short (1890-1985) of Portland, Oregon. Short introduced his mathematically-based numerical rating system in 1915 to demonstrate through statistics who was the best player of the Portland Chess Club through match play.

In 1940, Kenneth Williams, president of the CCLA, created a chart to calculate ratings based on the difference of players’ ratings, which was used by the CCLA.

In January 1942, Chess Review magazine began rating its correspondence players using the Harkness rating system. There were three classes: Class A for ratings above 1050; Class B for ratings between 950 and 1050; Class C for ratings below 950. The highest rated correspondence player was L. Vichules at 1281, followed by J. Palange at 1229 and Mrs. D. Muir at 1184.

In 1946, the USSR Chess Federation was the first national organization to employ a systematic but non-numerical rating system to classify its over-the-board chess players.

In 1948, the Ingo system was the first rating system used for international chess. It was developed by Anton Hoesslinger (1875-1959) of West Germany, and was named after his home town, Ingolstadt, Bavaria.

In 1950, the USCF adopted the Harkness rating system, based on the work of Kenneth Harkness (1896-1972). He developed his rating system between 1946 and 1949.

In 1958, the British Chess Federation started using a rating system developed by Richard W.B. Clarke.

In 1961, the USCF switched from the Harkness rating system to the Elo rating system, invented by Dr. Arpad Elo (1903-1992), a Hungarian-born physicist and chess master. It was published in the June 1961 issue of Chess Life magazine. Elo introduced a K-factor that prevented a player losing 50 points or more when a lower rated player defeated a higher rated player. The most a player could lose was 30 points, no matter how low rated the opponent was.
In 1969, Elo published a personal list of the top 65 players in the world. He then published a list of 375 top players in the world. These were the first unofficial Elo rating lists. Fischer’s 1960 Elo rating was 2720, followed by Spassky (2690), Korchnoi (2680), Botvinnik (2660), Petrosian (2650), Larsen (2630), Smyslov (2620), Portisch (2620), and Geller (2620).

In 1970, FIDE switched to the Elo rating system. The first official FIDE (Elo) International Rating List (IRL) was published in 1971. The top 10 players were Fischer (2760), Spassky (2690), Korchnoi (2670), Larsen (2660), Polugaevsky (2640), Petrosian (2640), Portisch (2630), Botvinnik (2630), Smyslov (2620), and Tal (2620). The list contained 208 active chess masters.

In 1992, Germany switched from the Ingo system to the Elo rating system.

In 2001, the Glicko rating system was published by Professor Mark Glickman.

In 2004, Rod Edwards created the Edo ratng system.

In 2005, Jeff Sonas published the Chessmetrics rating system, which included historical players.

The first United States Chess Federation (USCF) National Rating List was published in Chess Life magazine on November 20, 1950. The first list had nine classifications and rated 2,306 players. A Grandmaster was anyone with a rating of 2700 or greater. A Senior Master had a rating between 2500 and 2699. A Master had a rating between 2300 and 2499. An Expert had a rating between 2100 and 2299. Class A was between 1900 and 2099. Class B was between 1700 and 1899. Class C was between 1500 and 1699. Class D was anyone below 1500. The first list had Reuben Fine rated as an active Grandmaster with a rating of 2817. Sam Reshevsky was rated as an inactive Grandmaster with a rating of 2770. Players listed as inactive had not competed in any rated tournaments since January 1, 1947. The active Senior Masters were A. Kevitz (2610), Arthur Dake (2598), Arnold Denker (2575), Isaac Kashdan (2574), and I.A. Horowitz (2558). The inactive Senior Masters included A. Simonson (2596), Fred Reinfeld (2593), A. Kupchik (2538), D. Polland (2521), and G. Treysman (2521). There were 26 active masters. Those over 2400 included larry Evans (2484), Herb Seidman (2451), Max Pavey (2442), G. Shainswit (2442), Albert Pinkus (2422). They were followed by Arthur Bisguier (2394), George Kramer (2394), Herman Steiner (2394), Donald Byrne (2392), and Weaver Adams (2383). There were 10 inactive masters. The USCF rated 532 chess tournaments from 1921 to July 30, 1950 to make the list. The first rated tournament was the 8th American Chess Congress, held in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1921. It had a average rating of 2398.

The 2nd USCF National Rating List was published in Chess Life on March 5, 1951. The two Grandmasters were Reuben Fine (2817), and Sam Reshevsky (2734). The Senior Masters were Arthur Dake (2598), and I.A. Horiwitz (2558). There were 29 masters, including Kashdan (2494), Evans (2484), Seidman (2451), Pavey (2442), Shainswit (2442), Denker (2431), Pinkus (2422), Bisguier (2394), George Kramer (2394), Donald Byrne (2392), Weaver Adams (2383), Herman Steiner (2355), and Robert Byrne (2352).

The 3rd National Rating List was published in Chess Life on October 5, 1951. The Grandmasters were Fine (2711), and Reshevsky (2742). The Senior Masters included Dake (2539), Denker (2504), Evans (2554), and Horowitz (2565). There were 34 masters listed.

The 4th National Rating List was published on March 5, 1952. Reshevsky was the only active Grandmaster on the list, rated at 2734. The Senior Masters included Dake (2510), Denker (2504), Evans (2660), Fine (2676), Horowitz (2545), and Pavey (2502). There were 33 masters lsited. A list of Masters Emeritus was included. Titles of Master Emeritus were conferred to players who performed at the master level prior to 1921. The players included Jacob Bernstein, Roy Black, Adolph Fink, Albert Fox, Herman Hahlbohm, Hermann Helms, Lewis Isaacs, Charles Jacobs, Abraham Kupchik, Edward Lasker, W.R. Lovegrove, William Napier, Frank E. Perkins, Harold Phillips, William Ruth, Morris Shapiro, Sydney Sharp, and I.S. Turover.

The 5th National Rating List was published on October 5, 1952. The top 10 players were Reshevsky (2751), Fine (2676), Evans (2660), George Kramer (2564), Horowitz (2545), Denker (2538), Pavey (2502), Dake (2475), Donald Byrne (2465), and Robert Byrne (2462). There were 37 masters listed.

The 6th National Rating List was published on May 20, 1953. The top 10 players were Reshevsky (2751), Fine (2676), Evans (2660), Robert Byrne (2601), Kramer (2564), Horowitz (2545), Denker (2538), Pavey (2502), Bisguier (2486), and Dake (2475). There were 42 master listed.

The 7th National Rating List was published on December 20, 1953. Reshevsky was rated at 2739. The Senior Masters included Donald Byrne (2544), Robert Byrne (2601), Denker (2538), Kramer (2564), and Nicholas Rossolimo (2513). There were 36 masters listed.

The 8th National Rating List was published on June 5, 1954. Reshevsky was rated 2739. The Senior Masters included Donald Byrne (2544), Robert Byrne (2601), Denker (2526), Kramer (2564_, and Rossolimo (2513). There were 36 masters listed.

The 9th National Rating List was published on May 5, 1955. Reshevsky was rated 2766. The Senior Masters included Bisguier (2587), Donald Byrne (2587), Robert Byrne (2621), Evans (2629), and Herman Steiner (2507).. There were 36 masters listed.

The 10th National Rating List was published on May 20, 1956. It included tournments up to December 31, 1955. Now Grandmasters were anyone rated 2600 and up. Reshevsky was rated 2663. Senior Masters were now anyone rated between 2400 and 2599. Senior Masters included Bisguier (2529), Donald Byrne (2557), Robert Byrne (2590), Dake (2412), Denker (2407), Evans (2593), Horowitz (2442), Kashdan (2525), Kevitz (2405), Kramer (2404), Pavey (2429), Rossolimo (2533), Seidman (2426), and Sherwin (2436). Masters wer now anyone rated 2200 to 2399. There were 51 masters listed. There were 26 inactive masters listed. Experts were now 2000 to 2199. Class A was 1800 to 1999. Class B was 1600 to 1799. Class C was anyone below 1600. The top women were Gisela Gresser (2056), Sonja Graf (2040), Nancy Roos (2008), and Mona Kay Karff (2004). This was the first National Rating List that Bobby Fischer (age 13) appeared on. His first USCF rating was 1726.

The 11th National Rating List was published on May 5, 1957. The top 15 players included Reshevsky (2648), Evans (2593), Robert Byrne (2590), Rossolimo (2533), Kashdan (2525), Donald Byrne (2468), William Lombardy (2464), Bisguier (2460), James Sherwin (2447), Horowitz (2442), Denker (2420), Dake (2412), Pavey (2412), Edmar Mednis (2405), and George Kramer (2404). There were 3,350 plaers on the rating list. Bobby Fischer went from 1726 on the last rating list to 2231, making the Master list.

The 12th National Rating List was published on March 5, 1958. There were 2,163 players rated. The top 20 players were Reshevsky (2713), Rischer (2626), Evans (2591), Robert Byrne (2538), Lombardy (2499), Sherwin (2474), Donald Byrne (2454), Mednis (2444), Bisguier (2436), Denker (2408), Hans Berliner (2406), Arthur Feurstein (2405), Walter Shipman (2392), Anthony Santasiere (2391), Herbert Seidman (2386), Robert Steinmeyer (2379), Abe Turner (2376), Anthony Saidy (2370), William Addison (2363), and Sidney Bernstein (2359). There were 62 masters listed.

The 13th National Rating List was published on February 5, 1959. The top 20 players were Reshevsky (2693), Fischer (2636), Sherwin (2511), Lombardy (2509), Bisguier (2506), Evans (2506), Donald Byrne (2504), Pal Benko (2496), Robert Steinmeyer (2445), James Cross (2425), Robert Byrne (2409), Denker (2408), Mednis (2397), Charles Kalme (2396), Sidney Bernstein (2393), Walter Shipman (2392), Arthur Feurestein (2385), Saidy (2370), and Berliner (2365). The top woman was Gisela Gresser (2195).

A rating supplement was published on August 20, 1959. The top players were Reshevsky (2693), Fischer (2636), Donald Byrne (2514), Lombardy (2509), Bisguier (2507), Evans (2506), and Benko (2496)..

A rating supplement was published on March 5, 1960. The Senior Masters included Benko (2516), Berliner (2403), Bisguier (2525), Robert Byrne (2430), James Cross (2408), Evans (2514), Lombardy (2554), and Steinmeyer (2450).

A rating supplement was published on August 20, 1960. Fischer led with 2640, followed by Reshevsky at 2620. Senior Masters included Benko (2515), Berliner (2403), Bisguier (2502), Robert Byrne (2512), Cross (2408), Feuerstein (2405), Seidman (2416), Sherwin (2406), and Raymond Weinstein (2444).

A National Rating List was published on December 20, 1960. The top players were Fischer (2641), Reshevsky (2632), Lombardy (2555), Robert Byrne (2535), Benko (2501), Bisguier (2501), Evans (2465), Raymon Weinstein (2448), Robert Steinmeyer (2426), Saidy (2412), Sherwin (2411), Cross (2408), Berliner (2406), and Feuerstein (2406). There were 87 players rated 2200 or above. There were 3,800 rated players.

A rating supplement was published on April 20, 1961. The Senior Masters included Benko (2458), Berliner (2408), Bisguier (2507), Robert Byrne (2472), Evans (2434), Fischer (2659), Charles Kalme (2424), Lombardy (2561), Reshevsky (2559), Saidy (2423), Sherwin (2472), Ray Weinstein (2501).

A rating list was published in Decmber, 1961. The Senior Masters included Benko (2527), Berliner (2476), Bisguier (2440), D. Byrne (2485), R. Byrne (2442), Cross 92408), Evans (2435), Feurestein (2406), Fischer (2660), Eliot Hearst (2411), Kalme (2554), Lombardy (2562), Nedeljkovic (2441), Reshevsky (2560), Saidy (2424), Seidman (2412), Sherwin (2473), Steinmeyer (2463), Ray Weinstein (2494).

In August, 1962, an International Rating List was published by Chess Life. Fischer’s rating was 2713. Other ratings included Botvinnik (2736), Petrosian (2674), Spassky (2663), Tal (2706). The USCF rating supplement for August 1962 included Benko (2602), Bisguier (2501), Evans (2568), Fischer (2687), Hearst (2410), Lombardy (2563), Mednis (2418), Sherwin (2435), and Ray Weinstein (2475).

A rating list was published in December, 1962. The top players included Fischer (2687), Benko (2608), Reshevsky (2597), Evans (2568), Lombardy (2565), Robert Byrne (2529), Bisguier (2503), Donald Byrne (2503), Rossolimo (2485), and Steinmeyer (2463).

– Bill Wall