List of World Chess Championships
The following is a list of World Chess Championships including the hosting cities.
Before 1948, the matches were privately organised. After 1948, challengers were usually chosen by a Candidates Tournament.
List of World Chess Championships
Unofficial Championships
Official Championships
Multiple times champions
Unofficial championships are not counted.| Titles | Player | Country |
| 6 | Emanuel Lasker |  German Empire |
| 6 | Anatoly Karpov |  Soviet Union Russia |
| 6 | Garry Kasparov | Soviet Union Russia |
| 5 | Mikhail Botvinnik | Soviet Union |
| 5 | Viswanathan Anand |  India |
| 4 | Wilhelm Steinitz |  Austro-Hungarian Empire United States |
| 4 | Alexander Alekhine |  France |
| 4 | Magnus Carlsen |  Norway |
| 3 | Vladimir Kramnik | Russia |
| 2 | Tigran Petrosian | Soviet Union |