Who is the oldest Grandmaster in chess? A top 10 list

Several players have earned this prestigious accolade. The title is held for life and is the highest title that chess players can have. Check out this article for a ranked list of the oldest Grandmasters in chess.

The Grandmaster (GM) title was first awarded in 1950 to 27 players. The qualification for an awardee is achieving a 2500 FIDE classical rating and three GM norms. Here is a list of the oldest grandmasters in chess ranked by various online sources.

A top 10 list of the oldest Grandmasters of chess

Can you become a chess Grandmaster at 50? There is no age limit for when a chess player can become a Grandmaster. GM Abhimanyu Mishra is the youngest chess player to attain GM status, at 12 years, four months, and 25 days old in 2021. Here are the top 10 oldest Grandmasters in chess:

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10. Hans-Joachim Hecht - 85 years old

• Full name: Hans-Joachim Hecht
• Date of birth: January 29th, 1939
• Nationality: German

German chess player Hans-Joachim Hecht was born in January 1939. The athlete is a two-time national champion (1970 and 1973) who won his International Master title in 1969 before going pro in 1970. Hans became a Grandmaster in 1973.

The player took up correspondence chess in the late 1970s, earning the Correspondence International Master title in 1980. In recent years, Hans has promoted German junior chess and participated in the 2005 World Senior Chess Championship. According to FIDE, he is the oldest active chess Grandmaster born in the 1930s.

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9. Ivan Radulov - 85 years old

• Full name: Ivan Radulov
• Date of birth: January 7th, 1939
• Nationality: Bulgarian

Ivan is a Bulgarian player whose career rose to prominence in the 70s when he won the 1971, 1974, 1977, and 1980 championships. The player earned the International Master title in 1968 and the Grandmaster title in 1972 and is among the oldest starting chess Grandmasters.

At 85, Radulov is among the oldest living chess Grandmasters in 2024. He participated in the Bulgarian Olympiad team, competing eight times between 1968 and 1986. Ivan’s FIDE rating in October 2013 was 2245.

8. Igor Zaitsev - 85 years old

• Full name: Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev
• Date of birth: May 27th, 1938
• Nationality: Russian

85-year-old Igor Zaitsev is among the oldest Grandmasters, having earned the title in 1976. The Russian player was the Moscow champion in 1969, and he won the International Masters in 1970. He participated in six USSR Chess Championships (1962, 1967, 1968/69, 1970, 1991).

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In the late 70s, Igor was one of World Champion Anatoly Karpov’s trainers. The former player is the Honoured Coach of the USSR and was awarded FIDE’s Senior Trainer Award in 2006.

7. Dražen Marović - 86 years old

• Full name: Dražen Marović
• Date of birth: January 14th, 1938
• Nationality: Croatian

Croatian player Dražen Marović learned how to play chess at 16 before he pursued a degree in Literature, which supplemented his skill at the international level. He finished first or second in several contests and was awarded the International Master award in 1965 and the Grandmaster title in 1975.

Marović’s first Yugoslavian team competition was the European Team Chess Championship in 1961 when his team won a silver medal. He switched gears in the 90s, transitioning to coaching, journalism, and writing chess books, and is one of the oldest chess Grandmasters alive as of March 2024.

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6. Lajos Portisch - 86 years old

• Full name: Lajos Portisch
• Date of birth: April 4th, 1937
• Nationality: Hungarian

Lajos was a brilliant player whose positional style earned him the nickname ‘’Hungarian Botvinnil.’’ At 86, he is one of the oldest Grandmasters, having acquired the title in 1961.

The Hungarian player participated in the World Chess Championship Candidates Cycle eight times and is a Chess Olympiad record holder. Portisch was awarded the Sportsman of the Nation Award, Hungary's highest national sports achievement award, in 2004.

5. Vladimir Makogonov - 89 years old (At the time of death)

• Full name: Vladimir Andreevich Makogonov
• Date of birth: August 27th, 1904
• Died: January 2nd, 1993
• Nationality: Soviet Union

What is the oldest age to become a chess Grandmaster? The late Vladimir Makogonov was awarded the Honorary Grandmaster title in 1987, at 83. The former player attained significant prominence in the 1940s and became popular as a player and coach.

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Makogonov participated in eight USSR Championships between 1927 and 1947, finishing fourth in 1937 and tying for fourth place in 1939. As a coach, he trained renowned players like Smyslov and Vladimir Bagirov.

4. Jacques Mieses - 89 years old (At the time of death)

• Full name: Jacques Mieses
• Date of birth: February 27th, 1865
• Died: February 23rd, 1954
• Nationality: British-German

Jacques was a German-born chess player who became neutralized into British citizenry after the Second World War. He was among the inaugural 27 International Grandmasters in 1950. His record-breaking professional career lasted 64 years, attributed to his commitment to physical fitness.

3. Mario Monticelli - 93 years old (At the time of death)

• Full name: Mario Monticelli
• Date of birth: March 16th, 1902
• Died: June 19th, 1995
• Nationality: Indian

Mario Monticelli is among the oldest chess Grandmasters in Italy, born in March 1902. The player died in June 1995 at 93 and is remembered for his Italian Championships in 1929, 1934, and 1939. Monticelli received his International Master title in 1950 and his Honorary Grandmaster in 1985.

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2. George Koltanowski - 97 years old (At the time of death)

• Full name: George Koltanowski
• Date of birth: September 17th, 1903
• Died: February 5th, 2000
• Nationality: Belgian-American

The late George Koltanowski was born in September 1903 and died in February 2000 at 96. The player set the world’s blindfold record in 1937 after playing 34 games simultaneously while blindfolded. Additionally, he played 56 consecutive blindfold games in 1960 at ten seconds per move.

George took up chess at 14 after watching his father and brother play chess as he grew up. He participated in 25 international tournaments throughout his career and was the Belgian Chess Champion in 1923, 1927, 1930, and 1936.

1. Enrico Paoli - 97 years old (At the time of death)

• Full name: Enrico Paoli
• Date of birth: January 13th, 1908
• Died: December 15th, 2005
• Nationality: Italian

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Italian chess player Enrico Paoli attained his Honorary Grandmaster in 1996 at 88, making him the oldest to become a chess Grandmaster. He started playing chess at nine and became one of the top Italian players, winning international tournaments in 1951 (Vienna) and 1959 (Imperia). Paoli won his last Italian championship at 60.

Who is the oldest chess Grandmaster in India?

According to FIDE's records, India has about 67 chess Grandmasters. 54-year-old Viswanathan Anand is the oldest Grandmaster and is recognized as the country's greatest chess player of all time. He earned the Grandmaster title in 1988 and is a two-time World Champion.

Who is the oldest female chess Grandmaster?

After defeating four Grandmasters at the Lone Pine International Tournament, Georgian athlete Nona Gaprindashvili won the first female Grandmaster title in 1978. She was the women's world chess champion from 1962 to 1978. The 82-year-old started playing at five and practised with several Grandmasters from a young age.

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Nona was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in 2013. Additionally, she was awarded the Presidential Order of Excellence in 2015 and is one of the oldest living chess Grandmasters as of March 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Curious netizens are eager to learn all they can about these chess players. Here are some frequently asked questions about Chess Grandmasters:

Who is the oldest living chess Grandmaster?

Dražen Marović and Lajos Portisch earned the Grandmaster title in 1975 and 1961. Dražen is Croatian, while Lajos is Hungarian. The two are the oldest living chess Grandmasters alive as of March 2024.

Who was the first female chess Grandmaster?

Nona Gaprindashvili was the first female chess player to receive the Grandmaster Award in 1978. She attained this feat after defeating four Grandmasters at the Lone Pine International Tournament.

Is there an age limit for a chess Grandmaster?

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There is no age limit for a chess Grandmaster. Several players improve their skills as they age, receiving the award later in life. However, the youngest player received a Grandmaster at 12 years.

Final word

Who is the oldest Grandmaster in chess? These athletes worldwide have set world records thanks to their impressive skills, which have seen them perform locally and internationally. The young and old chess players have left a mark in the chess world that upcoming players can significantly benefit from.

READ ALSO: Who is the best chess player in the world?

Sports Brief published an article listing the top 10 best chess players worldwide. These athletes have mastered focus and skill on the board, earning them top places in the sport. Who are some of these individuals?

According to FIDE ratings, Magnus Carlsen is the best chess player in the world, boasting a rating of 2852. He is followed by Ian Nepomniachtchi from Russia, whose rating is 2795. Check out the article above for the world's top 10 best chess players.