how can u put carlsen
he wont even play lol...

Sorry, I didn't see Carlsen was already mentioned. He'll play for the WC sooner or later.

I guess Korchnoi and Keres are the top choices. Pillsbury is my sentimental pick for his awesome tactical vision.

Here's a survey I spotted elsewhere:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NVRD7LH

When you originally posted, I thought the very idea of Gelfand being anywhere near all this was loco.

Since I created this thread four years ago, Gelfand has padded his resume very well indeed, but for all that, I am inclined to agree with the last sentence of your post above.

Thanks for the memories. Back in the 70s, I was honored to play Victor Korchnoi in a simultaneous exhibition that he gave in the US. It was a treat.

Korchnoi simul reminds me of Sosonko's anecdote:
Did you do any better

Hahahaha that anecdote is hilarious

I actually was lucky enough to draw with him. I used some crazy wide open line from the Gruenfeld and he offered a draw after ten moves or so. I'm not sure why. It was tactically complicated. After recovering from shock, I accepted immediately, and smiled all the way home.

Accepted a draw after 10 moves? Reminds me of an anecdote from (I think) Spassky. In a simul, someone offered a draw after something like five moves, and Spassky accepted, to the astonishment of his opponent. Spassky commented that this was his opponent's chance to play a game against the great Spassky (i.e., it's an experience of a lifetime for a chessplayer) but instead he was more concerned with not losing. He didn't lose, but he sacrificed the experience for a very empty draw.

Sounds like you missed a great opportunity.

And he makes the Elite 8 at the WC again, with Gelfand going down to defeat. Naka, Aronian, Karjakin, Moro, Grischuk all gone, and Gata a favorite to get to the Final Four.

Nice anecdote. The thought crossed my mind, for sure. I was a student who was an average chess player and attending the exhibition was a spur of the moment decision. The situation was pretty intimidating. At that time chess was making major world news both as a sport and in politics.. If my memory serves me correct Korchnoi entered the room dressed in a dark blue suit and tie with some gray hair. He looked like an old professor to me. I had never met a grandmaster, let alone a Soviet Grandmaster who was a top ranked player in the world. He spoke only a little English and in an accent. I was hoping there would be lots of tables to slow things up but there was maybe twelve or so arranged in a circle. He was in in the center and rotated around from board to board like a buzzsaw. I didn't know the etiquette of these things. When he offered the draw I felt like refusing could be taken as a little insult. Anyway it was long time ago. I understand he Victor has had to stop playing because of illness.
Мы переживаем за тебя. Выздоравливай скорее.
(Thinking of you. May you feel better soon)

considering you know russian, i am guessing you saying you were an average chess player means you were like a 2200

Who, if they had never won the world championship would be the best to never win. The questionable ones are Spassky, Petrosian, Kramnik, Anand, Steinitz and I guess for some people Tal. Euwe and Smyslov would not, and the rest would.

Over there, people emerge from the womb rated 2200!

So did I, back at the Manhatten Chess Club in '76 or '77. It was arranged for the junior members of the club, and I was 13 or 14 at the time. I lost on the black side of the Cambridge Springs Defense.

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The greatest player never to win a World Championship would certainly be me, but I guess Rubinstein would be a very close second.