This is a list of world records in the game of chess as achieved in organized tournament, match, or simultaneous exhibition play.

Longest game

The longest tournament chess game ever to be played under modern time rules was Nikolić-Arsović, Belgrade 1989, which lasted for 20 hours and 15 minutes, ending in a 269-move draw. At the time this game was played, FIDE had modified the fifty-move rule to allow 100 moves to be played without a piece being captured in a rook and bishop versus rook endgame, the situation in Nikolić - Arsović. FIDE has since rescinded that modification to the rule. (Also see Philidor Position#Rook and bishop versus rook and Cochrane Defense.)

The longest decisive tournament game is Fressinet-Kosteniuk, Villandry 2007, which Kosteniuk won in 237 moves. The last 116 moves were a rook and bishop versus rook ending, as in Nikolić - Arsović. Fressinet could have claimed a draw under the fifty-move rule, but didn't do so since neither player was keeping score, it being a rapid chess game. Earlier in the tournament, Korchnoi had successfully invoked the rule to claim a draw against Fressinet; the arbiters overruled Fressinet's argument that Korchnoi couldn't do so without keeping score. Fressinet, apparently wanting to be consistent, didn't try to claim a draw against Kosteniuk in the same situation.