This is the very start of our lists, and there is very little data available about many of the matches that took place. International chess was in its infancy.  In some years, there was virtually nothing to report.

Each list is presented from highest rated to the lowest rated.

1851    1853     1857    1858     1859

1851

1851 is presently the starting point of the rating list. The great International Tournament in London is rated. Harrwitz and Anderssen had initial ratings and their 1848 match has been factored in.

NAME COUNTRY 1851 Anderssen, Adolf DEU 2350 Szen, Josef AHE 2315 Harrwitz, Daniel DEU 2300 Wyvill, Marmaduke ENG 2195 Staunton, Howard ENG 2175 Kennedy, Hugh ENG 2175 Williams, Elijah ENG 2170 Buckle, Henry ENG 2105 Deacon, Frederic BEL 2085 Mucklow, J. ENG 2035 Jaenisch, Carl RUS 2015 Löwenthal, Johann AHE 2015 Horwitz, Bernhard DEU 1960 Kieseritzky, Lionel DEU 1915 Newham, ? ENG 1915 Mayet, Carl DEU 1775 Brodie, ? ENG 1745 Bird, Henry ENG 1710 Löwe, Edward ENG 1710 Kennedy, E.S. ENG 1620

The following events were rated:

Year Name City Country Winner Rated 1851 Horwitz vs. Bird London ENG Horwitz Yes 1851 Löwenthal vs. Williams London ENG Loewenthal Yes 1851 Staunton vs. Williams London ENG Staunton Yes 1851 First International Tournament London ENG Anderssen Yes 1851 Buckle vs. Löwenthal London ENG Buckle Yes 1851 Staunton vs. Jaenisch London ENG Staunton Yes 1851 Deacon vs. Löwe London ENG Deacon Yes 1851 Provincial Tournament London ENG Boden No 1851 Tournament Amsterdam NLD ? Insufficient Data 1851 Anderssen vs. Löwenthal London ENG Anderssen Yes

1853

Note: There were no significant chess events in 1852 that were eligible for rating.

Von der Lasa enters the list in fourth place, as a result of his match with Staunton.

NAME COUNTRY 1853 Anderssen, Adolf DEU 2350 Szen, Josef AHE 2315 Harrwitz, Daniel DEU 2300 Von der Lasa, Tassilo DEU 2210 Wyvill, Marmaduke ENG 2195 Kennedy, Hugh ENG 2175 Staunton, Howard ENG 2170 Williams, Elijah ENG 2145 Buckle, Henry ENG 2105 Deacon, Frederic BEL 2085 Löwenthal, Johann AHE 2045 Mucklow, J. ENG 2035 Jaenisch, Carl RUS 2015 Horwitz, Bernhard DEU 1960 Kieseritzky, Lionel DEU 1915 Newham, ? ENG 1915 Mayet, Carl DEU 1775 Brodie, ? ENG 1745 Bird, Henry ENG 1710 Löwe, Edward ENG 1710 Kennedy, E.S. ENG 1620

The following events were rated:

Year Name City Country Winner Rated 1853 Von der Lasa vs. Staunton Brussels BEL Van der Lasa yes

1854–1856

No rateable events. The deaths of Williams and Kieseritzky drop them off the list.

1857

This year saw major tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic. Morphy enters the list, but his pre-eminence is not established for another year. Falkbeer and Owen are missing due to lack of appropriate events, but they will appear next year. Excepting the relatively inactive Von der Lasa, the top four players are a class above the rest. Szen is at the end of his career, and life.

NAME COUNTRY r1857 Anderssen, Adolf DEU 2320 Szen, Josef AHE 2315 Morphy, Paul USA 2310 Harrwitz, Daniel DEU 2285 Von der Lasa, Tassilo DEU 2210 Wyvill, Marmaduke ENG 2195 Kennedy, Hugh ENG 2175 Staunton, Howard ENG 2170 Paulsen, Louis DEU 2155 Lichtenhein, Theodor USA 2110 Buckle, Henry ENG 2105 Kennicott, Hiram USA 2085 Deacon, Frederic BEL 2085 Löwenthal, Johann AHE 2070 Boden, Samuel ENG 2070 Stanley, Charles USA 2070 Montgomery, Hardman USA 2050 Perrin, Frederick ENG 2050 Mucklow, J. ENG 2035 Raphael, Benjamin USA 2020 Jaenisch, Carl RUS 2015 Knott, Hubert USA 1990