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World Chess Champions

Here are the World Chess Champions and the years they held the crown. 

William Steinitz Bohemia/USA 1886-1894

1st official World Chess Champion

Jose Raul Capablanca Cuba 1921-1927


Max Euwe Netherlands 1935-1937


Vasily Smyslov USSR 1957-1958


Tigran Petrosian USSR 1963-1969


Robert Fischer USA 1972-1975


Emanuel Lasker Germany 1894-1921


Alexander Alekhine Russia/France 1927-1935, 1937-1945

Two time champion

Mikhail Botvinnik USSR 1948-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1963

3 time champion

Mikhail Tal USSR 1960-1961


Boris Spassky USSR 1969-1972


Anatoly Karpov USSR 1975-1985


Garry Kasparov USSR 1985-2000