Drawn: The Board

The Board is an ongoing portrait series of those who shaped the game. Each is listed by entry— not by rank. Just presence in a huge hall of MD fame.

PS. If any of our board members happen to be in your top 5 too, feel free to drop us a line (in the contact section) and ask about the possibilities for a custom (sweat)shirt, hat, coffee mug or what-not!

The Members

Black and white illustrated portrait of a chipper and confident Bobby Fischer in his twenties, with the text "The Board 001: Bobby" in the upper left corner.

001. Robert ‘Bobby’ Fischer 

1943 - 2008

Bobby Fischer was always chasing the truth—tried to eat it! Each game was a position he’d already totally absorbed. But in the end, the game ate him.

Black and white illustrated portrait of José Raul Capablanca, with neatly combed back hair, wearing a suit and tie, with the text "The Board 002: Jos�é" in the upper left corner.

002. Raul José Capablanca

1888 - 1942

Capablanca didn’t calculate — he just removed options. Once said he could beat any amateur blindfolded. No one dared test it.

003. Anatoly Karpov

Black and white illustration of Anatoly Karpov smiling, with text at the top that reads 'The Board 003: Anatoly' 
1961 - present

Played like water finds a crack (Look up: ‘24. Ba7!!’). World Champion for a decade. Karpov never needed brilliance — just inevitability.

004. Mikhail Tal

Black and white illustration of Mikhail Tal, with a mysterious grin and short, combed-back hair, wearing a collared shirt and suit, with the text "The Board 004: Mikhail" in the upper left corner. 
1936 - 1992

Tal laughed in the face of the game and attacked how others breathe —with dangerous ease. Once won a championship with pieces hanging 17 times.

Black and white illustration of Judit Polgar, appearing to look right at ‘the camera’ with confidence, a text at the top reads 'The Board 005: Judit’.

005. Judit Polgar

1976 - present

Judit didn’t just play into theory — she rewrote where it ends. She is the first woman to break the world top 10. And stay there for many years.