FIDE January 2026 Rating List: Key Highlights and Standout Performers
The final month of 2025 was full of fast chess. Events like the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League and the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships dominated the calendar. Because of this, very few classical tournaments were played. As a result, the January 2026 FIDE Standard Rating List saw only small changes at the top. The Women’s top 10 stayed exactly the same. In the Open section, Anish Giri moved up two places, which was the only notable shift.
Biggest Rating Gainers in Standard Chess
Even with the focus on rapid and blitz, some players had excellent classical results in December. These performances led to big rating gains.
Top gainers in Open and Women’s Standard ratings:
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Anastasiya Rakhmangulova (+28)
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Savitha Shri B (+22)
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Meruert Kamalidenova (+20)
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Nodirbek Abdusattorov (+19)
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David Antón Guijarro (+16)
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Nihal Sarin (+15)
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Velimir Ivić (+15)
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Olga Badelka (+15)
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Mariam Mkrtchyan (+15)
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Alexey Sarana (+13)
Women Players Making Strong Moves
Anastasiya Rakhmangulova had an outstanding month. She overperformed in four European events. Her 28-point gain pushed her to a career-best World No. 80 among women.
Savitha Shri B of India made a strong comeback. After 14 months, she returned to the Women’s top 100. Her results in Barcelona and Sitges earned her 22 rating points.
Meruert Kamalidenova also impressed in Barcelona. She gained 20 points and reached her personal best ranking of World No. 57.
Open Section: Young Stars on the Rise
Nodirbek Abdusattorov shined at the London Chess Classic. He gained 19 points and moved closer to the Open top 10.
David Antón Guijarro dominated the Spanish Championship. He won the national title and added 16 rating points.
India’s Nihal Sarin continued his steady progress. Winning the President’s Cup Masters earned him 15 points. This result lifted him into the Open top 30.
Velimir Ivić returned to the Open top 100. His strong performance at the London Chess Classic Open helped him regain ground.
Alexey Sarana re-entered the Open top 40. He achieved this after winning the KazChess Masters.
Rapid and Blitz Ratings See Major Changes
As expected, the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships in Doha caused major rating shifts.
Magnus Carlsen remains the clear leader. Despite losing a few blitz points, he continues to top both the rapid and blitz lists after his double title win.
Arjun Erigaisi had a breakthrough event. He entered the Open Rapid top 10 at No. 3 and the Open Blitz top 10 at No. 7. Javokhir Sindarov also joined the Open Rapid top 10 after gaining 23 points.
Other strong rapid performers included Hans Niemann and Alexey Sarana, both making big jumps.
In blitz, Abdusattorov reached the Open top 5. Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also entered the blitz top 10.
Women’s Rapid and Blitz: Big Breakthroughs
Aleksandra Goryachkina won the Women’s Rapid title. Her result moved her to World No. 2, closing in on Hou Yifan.
Zhu Jiner, the runner-up, entered the Women’s Rapid top 10.
Several women made huge rating gains in rapid chess. Standout names included Nino Batsiashvili, Vaishali R, and Bat-Erdene Mungunzul.
The most eye-catching rise came from FM Chen Yining of China. She gained an incredible 186 rapid points and jumped straight into the top 50.
Savitha Shri B also impressed again. She gained 79 rapid points and reached World No. 53.
Blitz Stars and Rising Talents
Bibisara Assaubayeva, the Women’s World Blitz Champion, moved into the top 3. Eline Roebers reached the knockout stage and made her top 10 debut.
Young talents stole the spotlight. Zarina Nurgaliyeva and Anna Shukhman both made massive jumps with outstanding blitz scores.
Several women also entered the Blitz top 100 after strong performances in Doha. Among them was 11-year-old Charvi A, who gained an astonishing 187 points.
Final Thoughts
The January 2026 FIDE rating list reflects a busy end to the year. While classical ratings stayed mostly stable, rapid and blitz chess brought dramatic changes. Young players and rising stars continue to reshape the global chess rankings
Photos: Anna Shtourman, Lennart Ootes, Michal Walusza, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
