Yeah...I'm pretty much beginning to hate this thread.
I go with Anomaly's and Ast Rofan's explanation of top swordsmen.
Mace Windu and Count Dooku are some of the top contenders regarding lightsaber combat, which is quite an acomplishment seeing as there are several hundred Jedi. Anakin, Yoda, and Palpatine, however, could put them down.
Palpatine obviously outdid Dooku, even if we don't see it on screen; why would you want to be the apprentice to someone weaker than you?
And if Dooku and Windu are on equal terms, that means Palpatine would be better than Windu as well.
Anakin hauls Dooku's ass. w00t.
Yoda ALMOSTS hands Dooku's ass to him in Episode II, but Dooku runs...and it's not because of the feckin' Death Star plans! Just listen to Yoda's lines, sheesh!
And Yoda fights on par with Palpatine, and Palpatine gets lucky that Yoda falls, in my opinion.