World championship matches that unfortunately didn't take place

If Morphy had played a match against Steinitz, or Alekhine had played a return match against Capablanca or later a championship match against Botvinnik, and if Fischer had defended his title against Karpov, who would have won in your opinion?

You're forgetting Rubenstein didn't get the chance to become World Champion because of World War 1. A Rubenstein vs Laker or one against Capablanca would have been fantastic. Leonid Stein didn't get a chance to become World Champion because he died under mysterious circumstances. Bobby Fischer thought Stein would be his opponent for the Championship title. Paul Keres could have been World Champion if the Second World War hadn't happened as well. Tal wouldn't have lost the return match to Botvinnik in 1961 if his health problems hadn't interfered.

Yes, I forgot to mention a match between Rubinstein against Lasker or Capablanca. But concerning Keres ... his score against Botvinnik was always very bad, and I think that he would have lost a match against Botvinnik. But maybe without the Second World war, Keres could have won a match against Alekhine, due to Alekhine's alcoholism and bad health in his last years. Bronstein nearly became world champion 1951 against Botvinnik but reached a 12 -12 score, which allowed Botvinnik to retain his title in the narrowest possible way. And Stein ... I think that he lacked the competitive qualities in order to reach the highest goals, including a championship match against whoever. Of course he often was a victim of the 'Botvinnik rule', which only allowed a limited number of participants of one country in the Interzonal tournaments. Maybe he would have had a chance when he had changed his nationality, like Kortchnoi did. But in those times this was extremely difficult.

@Curious1 thats very fair to the earned winner botvinnik. Also remember he declined a rematch vs petrosian, if tal would have won, botvinnik maybe would have declined. But he didn't therefore with good reason he assumed that he would win.

Soviet collusion was very real in the 50's and 60's. Fischer might have had an opportunity to play for the title prior to 1972 if tournaments were more fair. He had the highest rating in the world in 1964 and he still had to wait another 8 years to compete for the title. Fischer vs. Botvinnik would have been interesting. I think they only played once to a draw.

I don't think Rubinstein would stand a chance against Lasker. But you're quite right about Keres, even Euwe beat Alekhine in 1935.

I think Stein's style was a bit too uncompromising for him to have ever made it all the way to the top.

But then, long ago Fischer said that Petrosian would be world champ if he would only play more aggressively. Tigran did in fact make that change in his style (and outlook)...and the rest was history. :)

Do you know that Kasparov (PCA) had installed a candidates circle where Shirov prevailed over Kramnik in the final? But money rules the world, Kramnik was invited to challenge eventually and became world champ. Unbelievable? Well, it happened.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_World_Chess_Championship_2000

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Do not forget about Nimzovich, who won Carlsbad 1929 ahead of Capablanca and wanted to play Alekhine.