World chess champions
The great rivalries
The great world championship rivalries, from Steinitz v Lasker to Gukesh v Sindarov: head-to-head records, title matches and how the rivals compare.
Steinitz v LaskerTitle events 1894, 1896
8 wins12 draws · 46 games26 wins
Lasker v CapablancaTitle event 1921
2 wins16 draws · 24 games6 wins
Capablanca v AlekhineTitle event 1927
9 wins33 draws · 49 games7 wins
Alekhine v EuweTitle events 1935, 1937
28 wins38 draws · 86 games20 wins
Botvinnik v SmyslovTitle events 1948, 1954, 1957, 1958
29 wins52 draws · 105 games24 wins
Botvinnik v TalTitle events 1960, 1961
12 wins20 draws · 44 games12 wins
Botvinnik v PetrosianTitle event 1963
4 wins20 draws · 31 games7 wins
Petrosian v SpasskyTitle events 1966, 1969
10 wins54 draws · 75 games11 wins
Spassky v FischerTitle event 1972
11 wins28 draws · 56 games17 wins
Fischer v KarpovTitle event 1975
No recorded game between them.
Karpov v KasparovTitle events 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990
25 wins129 draws · 193 games39 wins
Kasparov v AnandTitle event 1995
30 wins52 draws · 94 games12 wins
Kasparov v KramnikTitle event 2000
22 wins79 draws · 122 games21 wins
Karpov v AnandTitle event 199812 wins49 draws · 92 games31 wins
Kramnik v AnandTitle events 2007, 200832 wins144 draws · 208 games32 wins
Anand v CarlsenTitle events 2013, 2014
20 wins82 draws · 143 games41 wins
Ding v GukeshTitle event 2024
4 wins11 draws · 19 games4 wins
Gukesh v SindarovTitle match 2026
1 wins2 draws · 7 games4 wins