The world's top 10 rankings remain unchanged in January, as the chess battles of the new year have only just begun. The first major event of 2025, Tata Steel, is nearing its conclusion in Wijk aan Zee, but the results from the Masters and Challengers sections will only be reflected in the March rating list.
Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women
|
FM |
NED |
2367(+54) |
|
|
WGM |
IND |
2365(+44) |
|
|
IM |
ISR |
2398 (+9) |
|
|
IM |
FRA |
2384 (+9) |
|
|
GM |
UZB |
2700 (+8) |
|
|
GM |
NED |
2688 (+8) |
|
|
GM |
SLO |
2724 (+7) |
|
|
GM |
BEL |
2652 (+7) |
Machteld Van Foreest (pictured below) became the indisputable winner in this category, adding 54 rating points to her tally. The younger sister of Jorden and Lucas Van Foreest made a triumphant return to the top 100 Women after a one-year hiatus, thanks to her strong performances at the Groningen Open and the 2024-25 4NCL Division 3 Bishops.
Photo: Michal Walusza
Another standout performer was Rakshitta Ravi, whose impressive showing at the 2025 Rilton Cup earned her 44 rating points. The 19-year-old Indian talent has been on a steep upward trajectory, accumulating 80 points over the last two months.
The only classical chess event influencing the top 100 Open was Bundesliga 2024-2025 where Vladimir Fedoseev, Javokhir Sindarov, Jorden Van Foreest and Daniel Dardha gained rating points from their performances.
Photo: Israel Chess Federation
Meanwhile, Marsel Efroimski (pictured above) dominated the Israeli Women’s Championship, scoring an impressive 8.5/9 and earning 9 rating points.
Unlike the classical rating lists, the rapid and blitz rankings saw significant shifts, largely due to the recently concluded 2024 European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championship. Several players who excelled in the rapid event in Monte Carlo made notable rating gains: Eline Roebers (+33), Yuliia Osmak (+26), Lela Javakhishvili, (+23), Mai Narva (+22) and the champion, Anna Ushenina (+18), to name a few.
Photo: Lennart Ootes
A similar pattern emerged in the blitz event, where standout performances led to impressive rating increases: Michalina Rudzinska (+95! pictured above), Stavroula Tsolakidou (+57), Eline Roebers (+38), the new champion Alexandra Maltsevskaya (+24) and Nino Batsiashvili (+22) and Anna Ushenina (+21).
