Best Chess Players (relative to their peers)

Up Capablanca, Down Tal

Why isn't Smyslov on the list? He was WC and an excellent technical player. I won't add him in this time, but next time...

Bobby Fischer - 31
Emanuel Lasker - 25
Wilhelm Steinitz - 16
José Capablanca - 36
Anatoly Karpov - 5
Garry Kasparov - 18
Mikhail Tal - 14
Viswanathan Anand - 17
Tigran Petrosian - 10
François-André Philidor - 19

Up Capa Down Tal. @Musicknight123 forgot to change the values, so I did.

Bobby Fischer - 31
Emanuel Lasker - 25
Wilhelm Steinitz - 16
José Capablanca - 38
Anatoly Karpov - 5
Garry Kasparov - 18
Mikhail Tal - 10
Viswanathan Anand - 17
Tigran Petrosian - 10
François-André Philidor - 19

Down Tal, He was never better than his peers, if anything Smyslov and Bronstein should be added. Up Anand, really better than his peers when he reigned.

Bobby Fischer - 31
Emanuel Lasker - 25
Wilhelm Steinitz - 16
José Capablanca - 38
Anatoly Karpov - 5
Garry Kasparov - 18
Mikhail Tal - 8
Viswanathan Anand - 18
Tigran Petrosian - 10
François-André Philidor - 19

Again. In order 123's, man.. :D

I watch this thread with zoological interest.

I suggest that karkishi123, rogersmith123, and Musicknight123 be banned from the thread and all of "their" votes should be vacated.

No banning here. This is an anarchist experiment.

I haven't read all 30+ pages of this thread so I apologize if this has been mentioned already but the following video of chess rating over time seems germane to the topic.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2DHpW79w0Y

Quick impressions...
I don't trust the ratings from Morphy's day but still impressive
Steinitz deserves respect
Lasker regaining the top rating at age 55-7!
Capablanca doesn't separate himself from his peers as much in terms of ratings nor dominate as long as several other champions.
Tal and Petrosian cannot be ahead of Botvinnik.
Fischer was a comet.
I'm an Anand fan...but he doesn't belong on this list.
Kasparov's ratings gap was not as pronounced in absolute terms as some earlier champions but the duration and consistency are incredible.

Up Karpov, down Lasker.

Bobby Fischer - 31
Emanuel Lasker - 23
Wilhelm Steinitz - 16
José Capablanca - 38
Anatoly Karpov - 6
Garry Kasparov - 18
Mikhail Tal - 8
Viswanathan Anand - 18
Tigran Petrosian - 10
François-André Philidor - 19

Up Capablanca, down Fischer.

Bobby Fischer - 29
Emanuel Lasker - 23
Paul Morphy - 26
Wilhelm Steinitz - 16
José Capablanca - 39
Anatoly Karpov - 6
Garry Kasparov - 18
Mikhail Tal - 8
Viswanathan Anand - 18
Tigran Petrosian - 10
François-André Philidor - 19