The FIDE Candidates brought significant changes to the world’s top 10. Among others, Gukesh D (+20 points) and Tan Zhongyi (+19 points) simultaneously climbed up to #6 after winning the FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates, respectively. Both winners of the Candidates 2024 reached their career-high positions.
Photo: Michal Walusza
Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women
Priyanka Nutakki | WGM | IND | 2355 (+83) |
Nandhidhaa, P V | WGM | IND | 2353 (+81) |
Saric, Ivan | GM | CRO | 2695 (+25) |
Alekseenko, Kirill | GM | AUT | 2677 (+22) |
Gukesh D | GM | IND | 2763 (+20) |
Dardha, Daniel | GM | BEL | 2650 (+20) |
Warmerdam, Max | GM | NED | 2652 (+19) |
Tan, Zhongyi | GM | CHN | 2540 (+19) |
Shuvalova, Polina | IM | FID | 2456 (+16) |
Narva, Mai | IM | EST | 2417 (+16) |
Vaishali, Rameshbabu | GM | IND | 2489 (+14) |
Two Indian female players, Priyanka Nutakki (pictured below) and Nandhidhaa P V, stand out in this nomination following their great performance in various open tournaments. Priyanka shone in the XLIV Open International Ciudad de San Sebastian (+25 points), Open Menorca (+18 points) and Ponte De Lima Chess Festival (+40 points), while Nandhidhaa did an excellent job in the Fagernes Chess International 2024 (+32) and the Open Menorca 2024 (+49).
Photo: Anastasia Korolkova
Ivan Saric also reached his career high, mounting to #40 in the top 100 Open after solid showings in the GRENKE Chess Open, Extraliga and CIS 2024 – Serie Master.
Kirill Alekseenko enjoyed a successful trip to Spain, winning the VIII Open Internacional Semana Santa San Vicente and tying for first in the Menorca Open, which translates into a +22 rating point gain. Polina Shuvalova also fared well in both these tournaments, picking up 16 points.
Daniel Dardha has been on a roll this year, steadily increasing his rating every month. April was no exception for the 18-year-old GM from Belgium, who added to his tally another 20 points following his good performances in CIS 2024—Serie Master and Menorca Open.
Photo: Lennart Ootes
Similarly, Max Warmerdam has had a good spring tournament campaign so far. Unsurprisingly, the Dutchman returned to the top 100 Open after a half-year absence following his strong results in Belgian Interclubs and Bundesliga.
After a tough start in the Women’s Candidates, Rameshbabu Vaishali strung together several wins in the second part and finished strong, gaining 14 rating points.