Top five oldest players to become Grandmasters in Chess

Two Italians feature on the list.

The game of Chess has been around for a very long time and has a very rich history. In modern times, Chess is governed by the FIDE. The title of the Grandmaster is the highest title in the game of Chess. That is a title that every professional chess player aspires to achieve.

In order to become a Grandmaster a player has to have a FIDE rating of 2500 among other requirements. Many players struggle for a very long time to achieve the title of Grandmaster.  Here is a list of the top five oldest Chess players in the World to become Grandmasters:

5. Vladimir Makogonov (83 years)

Vladimir Makogonov was the champion of Azerbaijan for five consecutive years between 1947 and 1952. He also played in eight USSR Championships between 1927 and 1947. Makogonov’s best finish in the USSR Championships was fourth which he achieved in 1937 and 1939. He became an International Master in 1950. Makogonov stopped playing professionally in the 1950s and was awarded an honorary Grandmaster title in 1987. He was 83 years old when he received the Grandmaster title. After retiring as a player, Makogonov went on to be a coach. He was one of the first coaches of Garry Kasparov.

4. Mario Monticelli (83 years)

Mario Monticelli was a three-time Italian Champion and the second oldest in the list of Italian players to become Grandmasters. He won in the years 1929, 1934, and 1939. Monticelli also won in Rome in 1922 and Bologna in 1925. Monticelli was awarded the International Master in 1950. The Italian received an honorary Grandmaster title in 1985 when he was 83 years old.

3. George Koltanowski (85 years)

George Koltanowski was a multiple-time Belgian Chess Champion. He won the title in 1923, 1927, 1930, and 1936. The Belgian has played in more than 25 international tournaments throughout his career. Koltanowski too received his International Masters title in 1950. He received his Grandmaster title in 1988 at the age of 85. Koltanowski was also a very distinguished Blindfold chess player. He set a World Record in 1960 for playing 56 consecutive blindfold games at ten seconds per move. He went on to win to 50 and drew the rest of the six games.

2. Jacques Mieses (85 years)

Jacques Mieses’ professional chess career lasted for 64 years, which is a record. The German was one of the inaugural recipients of the International Grandmaster title introduced by FIDE in 1950. He was 85 years old when he received the Grandmaster title. Mieses’ greatest achievement in tournaments was winning the very first Trebitsch Memorial back in 1907. He also has very famous victories to his name, one of the most notable ones being his win against Frank Marshall at Monte Carlo in 1903.

1. Enrico Paoli (88 years)

Enrico Paoli was a three-time Italian Champion. He won the titles in 1951, 1957, and 1968. Paoli had also won international tournaments in Vienna in 1951 and Imperia in 1959. His win against Soviet Grandmaster Alexander Kotov in Venice in 1950 was one of the highlights of his career. Paoli missed out on the Grandmaster title by only half a point at a tournament in 1969. He went on to receive an honorary Grandmaster title in 1996. Paoli was 88 years old at that time, making him the oldest person to become Grandmasters.