1886 - 1894 Wilhelm Steinitz

1894 - 1921 Emanuel Lasker

1921 - 1927 Jose Raoul Capalanca

1927 - 1935 Alexander Aljechin

1935 - 1937 Max Euwe

1937 - 1946 Alexander Aljechin

1948 - 1957 Michail Botwinnik

1957 - 1958 Wassili Smyslow

1958 - 1960 Michail Botvinnik

1960 - 1961 Michail Tal

1961 - 1963 Michail Botwinnik

1963 - 1969 Tigran Petrosjan

1969 - 1972 Boris Spasski

1972 - 1975 Robert Fischer

1975 - 1985 Anatoli Karpow

1985 - 1993 Garri Kasparow