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Famous Chess Players (N-Z)

A brief introduction to some of the most famous players of the royal game.

Related Resources • A-M • N-Z This register is an introduction to many of the recognized masters of the royal game. It includes only over-the-board (OTB) players. Correspondence players, composers, writers, teachers, organizers, politicians, and other personalities who have had a profound impact on chess are not yet included. Name Nationality b. Najdorf, Miguel Poland/Argentina 1910 1997 Neumann, Gustav Germany 1838 1881 Nikolic, Predrag Bosnia 1960 Nimzovitch, Aron Russia/Denmark 1886 1935 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter Romania 1976 Nogueiras, Jesus Cuba 1959 Nunn, John England 1955 Olafsson, Fridrik Iceland 1935 Oll, Lembit Estonia 1966 1999 Onischuk, Alexander USA 1975 Panno, Oscar Argentina 1935 Paulsen, Louis Germany 1833 1891 Peng Xiaomin China 1973 Petrosian, Tigran Soviet Union 1929 1984 Petrov, Vladimir Latvia/USSR 1907 1945 Philidor, Francois Andre Danican France 1726 1795 Piket, Jeroen Netherlands 1969 Pillsbury, Harry United States 1872 1906 Pilnik, Hermann Ger./Argentina 1914 1981 Polerio, Giulio Italy 1550? 1610? Polgar, Judit Hungary 1976 Polgar, Zsuzsa (Susan) Hungary 1969 Polugaevsky, Lev Soviet Union 1934 1995 Ponomariov, Ruslan Ukraine 1983 Ponziani, Domenico Italy 1719 1796 Portisch, Lajos Hungary 1937 Potter, William N England 1840 1895 Psakhis, Lev Soviet Union 1958 Qin Kanying China 1974 Radjabov, Teimour Azerbaijan 1987 Reshevsky, Samuel Poland/USA 1911 1992 Ribli, Zoltan Hungary 1951 Romanishin, Oleg Soviet Union 1952 Rozentalis, Eduardas Lithuania 1963 Rubinstein, Akiba Poland/Belgium 1882 1961 Rublevsky, Sergei Russia 1974 Rubtsova, Olga Russia 1909 1994 Rudenko, Liudmila Russia 1904 1986 Sadler, Matthew England 1974 Saint-Amant, Pierre Charles Fournier de France 1800 1872 Salov, Valery Russia 1964 Salvio, Alessandro Italy 1575? 1640? Sarratt, Jacob Henry England 1772 1819 Savon, Vladimir Soviet Union 1940 2005 Sax, Gyula Hungary 1951 Schlechter, Carl Austria 1874 1918 Schmidt, Wladzimierz Poland 1943 Seirawan Yasser United States 1960 Shipov, Sergei Russia 1966 Shirov, Alexei Spain 1972 Short, Nigel England 1965 Smejkal, Jan Czechoslovakia 1946 Smirin, Ilia Israel 1968 Smyslov, Vasily Soviet Union 1921 Sokolov, Ivan Netherlands 1968 Sosonko, Gennadi USSR/Holland 1943 Spassky, Boris Soviet Union 1939 Speelman, Jonathan England 1956 Spielmann, Rudolph Austria 1883 1942 Stahlberg, Gideon Sweden 1905 1967 Stamma, Philippe Syria/France/England 1715? 1770? Staunton, Howard England 1810 1874 Stefanova, Antoaneta Bulgaria 1979 Stein, Leonid Soviet Union 1934 1973 Steinitz, Wilhelm Bohemia 1836 1900 Sveshnikov, Evgeny Soviet Union 1950 Svidler, Peter Russia 1976 Szabo, Laszlo Hungary 1917 1998 Taimanov, Mark Soviet Union 1926 Tal, Mikhail Latvia/USSR 1936 1992 Tarrasch, Siegbert Germany 1862 1934 Tartakower, Saviely Poland/France 1887 1956 Teichmann, Richard Germany 1868 1925 Timman, Jan Netherlands 1951 Tiviakov Sergei Russia/Neth. 1973 Tkachiev, Vladislav France 1973 Topalov, Veselin Bulgaria 1975 Torre, Eugenio Philippines 1951 Tseshkovsky, Vitaly Soviet Union 1944 Tukmakov, Vladimir Soviet Union 1946 Uhlmann, Wolfgang East Germany 1935 Vaganian, Rafael Armenia 1951 Vallejo Pons, Francisco Spain 1982 Van Wely, Loek Netherlands 1972 Vasiukov, Evgeni Soviet Union 1933 Velimirovic, Dragoljub Yugoslavia 1942 Verdoni Italy/France 17xx 1804 Vidmar, Milan Austria/Yugoslavia 1885 1962 von Bardeleben, Curt Germany 1861 1924 von der Lasa, Tassilo Germany 1818 1899 Walker, George England 1803 1879 Weiss, Miksa Hungary/Austria 1857 1927 Williams, Elijah England u 1854 Winawer, Szymon Poland 1838 1920 Xie Jun China 1970 Xu Jun China 1962 Xu Yuhua China 1976 Ye Jiangchuan China 1960 Yermolinsky, Alex United States 1958 Yudasin, Leonid Israel 1959 Yusupov (see Jussupow) Zhu Chen China 1976 Zukertort, Johannes Poland/England 1842 1888 Zvjaginsev, Vadim Russia 1976 Zvorikina, Kira Russia 1919