The sad story of Paul Morphy…

Do you think he was the best chess mind to ever live?

[isaakvandaalen]

I've heard some people say that Morphy was around 2100 strength today...
Yeah, sure, because every 2100 today can give blindfolded simuls against seven people, and absolutely blow them all off the board with insane sacrificial attacks...
Morphy could do that.

The lack of chess knowledge back then means some of his play doesn't hold up to modern theory, but he was without a doubt one of the most naturally talented players to ever touch the game.

[FourthFloorParkour]

Morphy had the Bill Russell effect. Awesome talent but minimal competition compared to later eras. It’s really impossible to compare people from different times

[sparrowdemon]

Paul Morphy isnt the greatest he's the most talented

[HeartOfHallownest]

Morphy wasn’t just a genius in the game but outside of it too. Dude was accepted to the bar by memorizing the entire Louisiana state code.

[MichaelSmith-lbpt]

If Fischer, Magnus, Gary were born around the time of Morphy, he would easily beat them.

[matrixmatico]

Morphy anecdote it's not mentioned

[jovanblom]

Must suck being the GOAT yet living a dismal life...

[DavidPeriard]

was the an actual picture of a child Morphy?

[motsy]

The first player you showed was demonstrably the strongest