INfoGRaphIC Streaks of Invincibility In January, Wesley So, who now plays for the United States, won the tournament victories was that he ran his unbeaten streak in elite Masters section of the Tata Steel Tournament, ahead of a competition to 56 games. world-class field. It was his third elite tournament victory in the last That is a lot, but he has a long way to go before he can break the six months, following wins in the London Classic in December and record, which belongs to Mikhail Tal, the ex-World Champion, as the Sinquefield Cup in August. Just as impressive as his streak of shown in the following graphic. DYLAN LOEB McCLAIN Most classical, or slow, games played in competition without a loss

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Mikhail Tal Photo 95 games Photo Photo Photo October 1973 - October 1974 Though the Mikhail Tal former World Milan Drasko Champion was 86 games obviously a 84 games Vladimir Wang Yue July 1972 - Kramnik great player, April 1973 October 2006 - 82 games it is a bit 82 games Tal obviously September March 2008 - remarkable 2007 that Tal heads enjoyed a January 1999 - December 2008 resurgence July 2000 this list as he Definitely the He has faded had a highly in the early least likely The streak was Photo 1970s that a little in risky style name on this just before his recent years, of play and would take list. Drasko, a title match him to the been eclipsed often took Montenegro against Garry by younger chances. No. 2 ranking , Kasparov – a in July 1973. players, and Photo did not play match in which has not played He had against top he went José Raúl another spurt as much since Capablanca grandmasters undefeated to he started to in the late during his win the title. 63 games 1970s, rising work as a streak, but by That was the trainer, so to No. 2 again the end, he first time that 1916 - 1924 Wesley So in the January it can be easy had raised a challenger Capablanca 1980 rating to forget that 56 games his rating to had ever done won the World list. he was once 2557, a that. Given seen as Championship July 2016 - career best. how solid China’s great during the present Photo Kramnik is as hope. Indeed, streak (a 14- In addition to a player, his in January game match winning the presence on 2010, he against Sinquefield this list is not became Emanuel Cup, London a surprise. Magnus China’s first Lasker). He Classic and Carlsen player to was called a Tata Steel break into the machine tournaments, 42 games world’s top during this So also did not November 10. His style period for his lose a game in 2015 - is highly technical skill. the Isle of Man April 2016 technical and One reason tournament risk-averse, his streak was (tied for third) The reigning which is one not longer was and the Chess World reason he that there were Olympiad Champion’s was so hard fewer elite (in which he longest streak to beat tournaments played all 10 is well short during his than there rounds). His of some of streak. are now. last loss was his rivals. to .

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