World Chess Championship winners: Which country has the most world chess champions?

India’s D Gukesh recently won the World Chess Championship that took place in Singapore. He defeated China’s Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in the title clash after 14 games. Gukesh also became the youngest and the first teenager to win the competition at the age of 18. He broke the record of the legendary Garry Kasparov, who bagged the title back in 1985 at the age of 22.

Gukesh also became only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the title. After the 13th game against Ding, it seemed that the winner of the championship was heading into a tie-breaker. Gukesh started the match with a loss in the opening game, but then he made a strong comeback. After the win, Gukesh could not believe his luck as he broke down in tears.

Back in 2013, Gukesh was present in the stands when Kasparov defeated Anand in the World Championship final. Recalling the moment, Gukesh said that he always dreamed of bringing the title back to India. After the win, Anand, Kasparov, Anish Giri, the Polgar sisters, Judit and Susan, congratulated him on the stupendous achievement.

---

List of World Chess Championship winners by country

Russia has the most world champions, with Mikhail Botvinnik being the most successful among the seven players. Having won five titles, Botvinnik became the first champion of the tournament organized by FIDE after Alexander Alekhine passed away. Vasily Smyslov, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Vladimir Kramnik are the others from Russia to become world chess champions.

India has two world champions in the form of Anand and Gukesh. Austria (Wilhelm Steinitz), Germany (Emmanuel Lasker), Cuba (Jose Raul Capablanca), Netherlands (Max Euwe), Latvia (Mikhail Tai), Armenia (Tigran V. Petrosian), USA (Bobby Fischer), Norway (Magnus Carlsen), and China (Ding Liren) are the other countries to have produced world champions.

Country Number of winners

Russia 7

India 2

Austria 1

Cuba 1

Netherlands 1

Latvia 1

Armenia 1

China 1

Norway 1

USA 1

Player	Dates	Number of wins
Wilhelm Steinitz (Austria)	1886-94	4
Emmanuel Lasker (Germany)	1894-1921	6
Jose Raul Capablanca (Cuba)	1921-27	1
Alexander Alekhine (Russia)	1927-35, 1937-46	4
Max Euwe (Netherlands)	1935-37	1
Mikhail Botvinnik (Russia)	1948-57, 1958-60, 1961-63	5
Vasily Smysolv (Russia)	1957-58	1
Mikhail Tai (Latvia)	1960-61	1
Tigran V. Petrosian (Armenia)	1963-69	2
Boris Spaasky (Russia)	1969-72	1
Bobby Fischer (USA)	1972-75	1
Anatoly Karpov (Russia)	1975-85	3
Garry Kasparov (Russia)	1985-2000	6
Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)	2000-07	3
Viswanathan Anand (India)	2007-13	4
Magnus Carlsen (Norway)	2013-23	5
Ding Liren (China)	2023-24	1
D Gukesh (India)	2024- present	1