View source for Chess Oscar

{{short description|World's best player award (1967–88; 1995–2014)}}

'''Chess Oscar''' was an international award given annually to the best [[chess]] player. The winner was selected by votes that were cast by chess journalists from across the world.
The traditional voting procedure was to request hundreds of chess journalists from many countries to submit a list of the ten best players of the year. The voters were journalists who knew the game and followed it closely, and so the honor was highly prized. The award itself took the form of a bronze statuette representing a man in a boat.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-04-30 |title=Chess "Oscar" to Veselin Topalov |url=http://www.64.ru/?/en/news/item=766 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920024808/http://www.64.ru/?/en/news/item=766 |archive-date=2013-09-20 |accessdate=2014-11-22 |publisher=64.ru}}</ref> The prize was created and awarded in 1967 by Spanish journalist Jorge Puig, and the {{ill|International Association of Chess Press|ru|Международная ассоциация шахматной прессы}} (AIPE). The awards were given from 1967 until 1988. Then, after a pause, they resumed in 1995, and were then organized by the Russian chess magazine [[64 (magazine)|''64'']]<ref>Hill, Tata McGraw. General Knowledge Digest 2010. Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited. 2010</ref><ref name=":0" /> until 2014.

The Oscar for the best women chess player of the year was established in 1982.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-23 |title=Ten Highlights in the Life and Career of Chess Grandmaster Pia Cramling |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/ten-highlights-in-the-life-and-career-of-chess-grandmaster-pia-cramling |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Chess News |language=en}}</ref><ref name="MD">{{Cite web |last=Segura |first=Joan |date=1986-03-04 |title=Los "Oscars" del tablero |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1986/03/04/MD19860304-028.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225245/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1986/03/04/MD19860304-028.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Mundo Deportivo}}</ref>{{efn|This award is not related to the more recent {{ill|FIDE Caissa Award|uk|Каїсса (нагорода)}}, established in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexandra Kosteniuk |title=Caissa and Golden Organizer Award |url=http://www.chessblog.com/2009/10/caissa-and-golden-organizer-award.html |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=en}}</ref> occasionally referenced also as a Women Chess Oscar.<ref name="Judit"/>}}

==Statuette==
The statuette's final form, a man in a boat, was carved by the sculptor Alexander Smirnov. It represented a figure known as "The Fascinated Wanderer", which refers to a short story written in 1873 by 19th-century Russian author [[Nikolai Leskov]]. In this story, the title character, Ivan Flyagin, is a horse trainer and a brute of a man. From his birth his mother has promised that Ivan's life would be devoted to the church. Ivan spends many years avoiding this fate, but eventually gives in and becomes a monk, not for spiritual reasons, but due to a poverty of opportunity.<ref>Leskov, Nikolai. ''The Enchanted Wanderer: Selected Tales'', Modern Library Classics, 2003. {{ISBN|0-8129-6696-1}}</ref>

[[File:Font de la Dama del Paraigua (Barcelona) - 1.jpg|thumb|"The Lady of the Umbrella"]]

The Chess Oscar statuette originally took the form of "The Lady of the Umbrella", a figure based on a statue in [[Parc de la Ciutadella]] in [[Barcelona]], Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www6.chessclub.com/mailing/2008/05e/news.html|title=ICC Weekly Newsletter. Vol. 3. Issue 22. May 30, 2008|publisher=Chessclub.com|accessdate=22 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702184639/http://www.chessclub.com/mailing/2008/05e/news.html|archive-date=2 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postcrossing.com/postcards/ES-107923|title=Postcard ES-107923: Lady with umbrella - Citadel Park - Barcelona, Spain From carronada|publisher=Postcrossing.com|accessdate=22 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Oscar of the Chess - SpeedyLook encyclopedia |url=http://www.myetymology.com/encyclopedia/Oscar_of_the_Chess.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090951/http://www.myetymology.com/encyclopedia/Oscar_of_the_Chess.html |archive-date=2014-11-29 |accessdate=22 November 2014 |publisher=Myetlmology.com}}</ref>

==Winners==
:{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year !!Player !!Country
|-
| 1967 || {{sortname|Bent|Larsen}} || {{DEN}}
|-
| 1968 || {{sortname|Boris|Spassky}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1969 || {{sortname|Boris|Spassky}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1970 || {{sortname|Bobby|Fischer}} || {{USA}}
|-
| 1971 || {{sortname|Bobby|Fischer}} || {{USA}}
|-
| 1972 || {{sortname|Bobby|Fischer}} || {{USA}}
|-
| 1973 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1974 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1975 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1976 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1977 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1978 || {{sortname|Viktor|Korchnoi}} || {{CHE}}
|-
| 1979 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1980 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1981 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1982 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1983 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1984 || {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1985 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1986 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1987 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1988 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}
|-
| ''1989–94'' || ''no awards'' || 
|-
| 1995 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{RUS}}
|-
| 1996 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{RUS}}
|-
| 1997 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}} || {{IND}}
|-
| 1998 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}} || {{IND}}
|-
| 1999 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{RUS}}
|-
| 2000 || {{sortname|Vladimir|Kramnik}} || {{RUS}}
|-
| 2001 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{RUS}}
|-
| 2002 || {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}}<ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=944 Kasparov wins 2002 Chess Oscar], ChessBase News, 9-May-2003</ref> || {{RUS}}
|-
| 2003 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}}<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/may/06oscar.htm Anand wins Chess Oscar for third time], rediff.com, 6-May-2004</ref><ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1635 Anand wins third Chess Oscar], ChessBase News, 8-May-2004</ref> || {{IND}}
|-
| 2004 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}} || {{IND}}
|-
| 2005 || {{sortname|Veselin|Topalov}}<ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3072 Chess Oscar 2005 for Veselin Topalov], ChessBase News, 30-April-2006</ref> || {{BUL}}
|-
| 2006 || {{sortname|Vladimir|Kramnik}}<ref>[https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic654.html#20 Chess Oscar 2006], [[The Week in Chess]] 654, 21-May-2007</ref> || {{RUS}}
|-
| 2007 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}}<ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4613 Anand Wins Chess Oscars for 2007], ChessBase News, 8-May-2008</ref> || {{IND}}
|-
| 2008 || {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}}<ref>[http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=100832 “Oscar” prize to be brought to Baku for the first time!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823212715/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=100832# |date=2011-08-23 }}, APA News, 21 Apr 2009, access date 2009-04-22.</ref> || {{IND}}
|-
| 2009 || {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}}<ref>[http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/and-the-2009-chess-oscar-went-to-magnus-carlsen And the 2009 Oscar goes to ... Magnus Carlsen!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204014700/http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/and-the-2009-chess-oscar-went-to-magnus-carlsen/ |date=2013-12-04 }}, Chessvibes November 17, 2010.</ref> || {{NOR}}
|-
| 2010 || {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}}<ref>[http://www.whychess.org/en/node/1128 Carlsen beats Anand to 2010 Chess Oscar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618113251/http://www.whychess.org/en/node/1128 |date=2012-06-18 }}, Why Chess, 29 Jul 2011.</ref> || {{NOR}}
|-
| 2011 || {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}}<ref>[http://www.chesspro.ru/details/oscar_2011 Oscar 2011 - Magnus Carlsen], ChessPro, 2 Nov 2012.</ref> || {{NOR}}
|-
| 2012 || {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113218/http://chess-news.ru/en/node/12356 Oscar 2012 - Magnus Carlsen], Chess-news-ru, 12 Jun 2013.</ref> || {{NOR}}
|-
| 2013 || {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/pogonina/status/538633152710049793 Oscar 2013 - Magnus Carlsen], Natalia Pogonina on Twitter, 29 Nov 2014.</ref> || {{NOR}}
|}

===Women===
:{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year !!Player !!Country
|-
| 1982 || {{sortname|Nona| Gaprindashvili}} || {{URS}}
|-
| 1983 ||{{sortname|Pia| Cramling}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=The chess games of Pia Cramling |url=https://www.chessgames.com/player/pia_cramling.html?kpage=8 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.chessgames.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" />||{{SWE}}
|-
| 1984 || {{sortname|Maya| Chiburdanidze}}|| {{URS}}
|-
| 1985 || {{sortname|Maya| Chiburdanidze}}<ref name="MD"/>|| {{URS}}
|-
| 1986 || {{sortname|Maya| Chiburdanidze}}|| {{URS}}
|-
| 1987 || {{sortname|Maya| Chiburdanidze}}|| {{URS}}
|-
| 1988 || {{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}<ref name="Judit">{{Cite web |last= |title=Biography |url=https://juditpolgar.com/bio |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Judit Polgar official website |at=Outstanding awards and recognitions}}</ref>|| {{HUN}}
|-
|1995
|{{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}
|{{HUN}}
|-
|1996
|{{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}
|{{HUN}}
|-
|2000
|{{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}
|{{HUN}}
|-
|2001
|{{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}
|{{HUN}}
|-
|2002
|{{sortname|Judit|Polgár}}
|{{HUN}}
|}

==By person==
:{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Player !!Country !!Wins
|-
| {{sortname|Garry|Kasparov}} || {{URS}}, later {{RUS}}  || 11
|-
| {{sortname|Anatoly|Karpov}} || {{URS}} || 9
|-
| {{sortname|Viswanathan|Anand}} || {{IND}} || 6
|-
| {{sortname|Magnus|Carlsen}} || {{NOR}} || 5
|-
| {{sortname|Bobby|Fischer}} || {{USA}} || 3
|-
| {{sortname|Boris|Spassky}} || {{URS}} || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Vladimir|Kramnik}} || {{RUS}} || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Bent|Larsen}} || {{DEN}} || 1
|-
| {{sortname|Viktor|Korchnoi}} || {{CHE}} || 1
|-
| {{sortname|Veselin|Topalov}} || {{BUL}} || 1
|}

==By nation==
:{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Country !!Wins
|-
| {{URS}} || 17
|-
| {{RUS}} || 7
|-
| {{IND}} || 6
|-
| {{NOR}} || 5
|-
| {{USA}} || 3
|-
| {{BUL}} || 1
|-
| {{DEN}} || 1
|-
| {{CHE}} || 1
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.historiadelajedrezespanol.es/desvan/oscar.htm Los Oscar del ajedrez español], winners of the Spanish categories of the award and photos 

[[Category:Chess titles|Oscar]]
[[Category:1967 in chess]]
[[Category:1995 in chess]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1967]]