Complete List of World Chess Champions from 1886 till 2024

The World Chess Championship (WCC) is the most prestigious tournament in chess, where the best players compete for the title of World Chess Champion.

It was first held in 1886, marking the beginning of a long and rich tradition in chess history. The first-ever World Chess Champion was Wilhelm Steinitz, who defeated Johannes Zukertort in 1886.

As of 2024, the current World Chess Champion is D. Gukesh, who made history by defeating Ding Liren in the final game held on December 12, 2024.

At just 18 years old, Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion ever. He is the first Indian to hold the title since Viswanathan Anand’s 2012 win.

In this article, we will explore the complete list of World Chess Championship winners from 1886 till now.

List of All World Chess Champions: Complete Timeline and Winners

The Classical World Chess Championship refers to the traditional title awarded to the world's best chess player, first contested in 1886 between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort.

This championship has a rich history and has been held through matches between reigning champions and challengers.

In contrast, the FIDE World Chess Championship was organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and began in 1948. The two titles diverged from 1993 to 2006 due to a split in the chess community, leading to separate championships.

The FIDE championship now encompasses a broader system of qualification and organisation, while the classical title is often viewed as the original lineage of chess champions.

Here's the complete list of the winners of the World Chess Championship from 1886 till now. The list includes:

Classical World Chess Champions