2018-03-06

Computer comparison of top chess players past and present


I'm a bit surprised by how much lower Paul Morphy is.  In the 1960's Fischer said of Morphy that he was "the greatest genius of us all" and "would beat any player alive today."

It is interesting just how much better Magnus Carlsen is compared to everyone else.

According to a previous study, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_top_chess_players_throughout_history#Moves_played_compared_with_computer_choices, Fischers play during a 3 year period, which I assume was during his peak in 1970 to 1972, was better than any corresponding three year period by any other player, however this study was done before the rise of Magnus Carlsen.

2018-03-01

[Event "Columbus Chess Club"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "Mar 1, 2018"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Steve Sims"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Bc4 Ng4 8.
Bb5+ Kf8 9. Qf3 a6 10. Bc4 Ne5 11. Qe2 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 Nc6 13. O-O-O Ne5 14. Qe2
Qc7 15. f4 Bg4 16. Qf2 Kg8 17. fxe5 Bxd1 18. Rf1 f6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. exf6 exf6
21. Ne6 Qd7 22. Qxf6 Bxf6 23. Nxf6+ Kf7 24. Ng5+ Ke7 25. Nxd7 Kxd7 26. Rf7+ Kc6
27. Kxd1 Rae8 28. Bd4 Rhf8 29. Rf3 Rxf3
1-0