Gukesh D Enters Top 3 in March 2025 FIDE Rating List
The March 2025 FIDE rating list brought exciting changes, mainly influenced by the 2025 Tata Steel Masters and the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (WGP) in Monaco.
Gukesh D Reaches Career-High Ranking
Indian Grandmaster Gukesh D gained 10 rating points at Wijk aan Zee, securing a top 3 spot for the first time in his career. This is a remarkable achievement for the reigning World Champion! His compatriot, Praggnanandhaa R, also had a fantastic run, winning the Tata Steel Masters and earning 17 rating points, which brought him back into the top 10 Open rankings.
Hou Yifan Dominates Women’s Chess
In the women’s section, Hou Yifan continues to lead the rankings. The recent FIDE WGP Monaco caused minor shifts in the top 10, but no major upsets.
Biggest Rating Gainers in March 2025
Several players made impressive rating jumps this month:
Top 100 Open Players
| Player | Country | Rating Gain | New Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praggnanandhaa R | IND | +17 | 2758 |
| Gukesh D | IND | +10 | 2787 |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | AZE | +17 | 2748 |
| Vladimir Fedoseev | SLO | +15 | 2739 |
| Alexey Sarana | SRB | +17 | 2689 |
| Daniel Dardha | BEL | +13 | 2665 |
Top 100 Women Players
| Player | Country | Rating Gain | New Rating |
| Fiorella Contreras Huaman | PER | +103 | 2349 🔥 |
| Batkhuyag Munguntuul | MGL | +29 | 2361 |
| Zhai Mo | CHN | +15 | 2366 |
| Deysi Cori | PER | +10 | 2354 |
Rising Stars & Notable Performances
- Fiorella Contreras Huaman gained a massive 103 rating points after finishing at the top in both the Sampa Chess Masters and II Sampa Chess Open.
- Batkhuyag Munguntuul re-entered the top 100 Women after tying for first place in the FIDE WGP Monaco with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Humpy Koneru.
- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov gained 13 points despite losing the final of the 2025 Azerbaijani Championship.
- Daniel Dardha secured second place in the Djerba International Masters, earning 11 points.
- Marc’Andria Maurizzi won the same tournament and gained 35 points, bringing him close to the top 100 Open and the top 10 in junior rankings.
- Zhai Mo performed well at the Graz Open, adding 15 points to her rating.
- Deysi Cori won the Zonal 2.4 Women’s Tournament, securing 10 rating points.
Final Thoughts
March 2025 brought major breakthroughs for several players. Gukesh D’s entry into the top 3 and Praggnanandhaa R’s return to the top 10 mark a strong period for Indian chess. The women’s section also saw new stars rise, with Fiorella Contreras Huaman leading the way.
Stay tuned for more updates on the chess world!
Photos: FIDE, Jurriann Hoefsmit, Lennart Ootes
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
