It’s always exciting to see how the world of professional chess changes each month! The August 2025 ratings are in, and there’s plenty to unpack. From surprising stability at the very top to significant shifts further down the ranks, let’s dive into the latest FIDE ratings and see who’s rising, who’s falling, and what these changes tell us about the evolving landscape of competitive chess.
Stability at the Top
- The top 8 players in the world – from Magnus Carlsen (1st) to Alireza Firouzja (8th) – have maintained their exact positions and Elo ratings from July. A clear sign of stability among the elite.
Top 10 Players August 2025
| Name | Fed | Rating | B-Year |
| Carlsen, Magnus | NOR | 2839 | 1990 |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2807 | 1987 |
| Caruana, Fabiano | USA | 2784 | 1992 |
| Praggnanandhaa R | IND | 2779 | 2005 |
| Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2776 | 2003 |
| Gukesh D | IND | 2776 | 2006 |
| Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | UZB | 2771 | 2004 |
| Firouzja, Alireza | FRA | 2766 | 2003 |
| Wei, Yi | CHN | 2753 | 1999 |
| Giri, Anish | NED | 2748 | 1994 |
Significant Drops
Several well-known players experienced a notable drop in both ranking and Elo rating this month. Whether due to a tough tournament or fewer games played, these shifts highlight the volatility at the top.
- Peter Svidler (FID): Dropped 10 positions (33rd → 43rd), losing 16 Elo points (2698 → 2682).
- Shant Sargsyan (ARM): Dropped 13 positions (55th → 68th), losing 16 Elo points (2669 → 2653).
- Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO): Dropped 4 positions (16th → 20th), –8 Elo (2739 → 2731).
- Vladislav Artemiev (RUS): Dropped 7 positions (51st → 58th), –8 Elo (2672 → 2664).
- Frederik Svane (GER): Dropped 9 positions (66th → 75th), –8 Elo (2659 → 2651).
- David Navara (CZE): Dropped 17 positions (60th → 77th), –12 Elo (2662 → 2650).
Notable Gains
On the flip side, some players enjoyed a strong month with impressive results, gaining Elo and climbing the rankings. Here are the top movers who made significant strides upward.
- M. Amin Tabatabaei (IRI): Climbed 14 positions (67th → 53rd), +14 Elo (2659 → 2673).
- Michael Adams (ENG): Up 10 positions (69th → 59th), +9 Elo (2654 → 2663).
- Johan-Sebastian Christiansen (NOR): Rose 14 positions (87th → 73rd), +9 Elo (2642 → 2651).
- Volodar Murzin (FID): Up 6 positions (52nd → 46th), +7 Elo (2671 → 2678).
- Murali Karthikeyan (IND): Gained 10 positions (76th → 66th), +8 Elo (2650 → 2658).
- Alexey Sarana (SRB): Up 3 positions (41st → 38th), +5 Elo (2686 → 2691).
- Pavel Eljanov (UKR): Up 2 positions (47th → 45th), +5 Elo (2675 → 2680).
- Nikita Vitiugov (ENG): Up 5 positions (53rd → 48th), +5 Elo (2671 → 2676).
New Entrants to the Top 100
Fresh faces have broken into the elite circle this month. Whether rising stars or returning veterans, these players now find themselves among the world’s top 100.
- Nikolas Theodorou (GRE): New at 83rd, 2646 Elo.
- Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR): New at 88th, 2642 Elo.
- A.R. Saleh Salem (UAE): New at 90th, 2640 Elo.
- Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX): New at 92nd, 2636 Elo.
- Aryan Chopra (IND): New at 97th, 2634 Elo.
- Loek Van Wely (NED): New at 100th, 2632 Elo.
Players Dropping Out
As new names enter, others fall out. Based on last month’s rankings, at least six players have exited the top 100, making room for the latest contenders.
- Dmitrij Kollars (GER): Previously 84th.
- Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR): Previously 88th.
- Aryan Tari (NOR): Previously 92nd.
- Hrant Melkumyan (ARM): Previously 93rd.
- Hou Yifan (CHN): Previously 98th.
- Anton Korobov (UKR): Previously 99th.
Indian Chess on the Rise
India now boasts 9 players in the top 100:
- Top 10: Praggnanandhaa (4th), Arjun Erigaisi (5th), Gukesh D (6th)
- Others: Anand (13th), Chithambaram Aravindh (24th), Vidit (26th), Nihal Sarin (36th), Raunak Sadhwani (47th), Karthikeyan (66th), Aryan Chopra (97th)
Youth Movement
Rising stars born after 2000 continue to dominate:
- Includes: Praggnanandhaa (2005), Firouzja (2003), Abdusattorov (2004), Keymer (2004), Sindarov (2005), Liang (2003), Murzin (2006), Gurel (2008), Erdogmus (2011), and many more.
Position & Elo Changes Summary
| Player | Change in Position | Elo Change |
|---|---|---|
| Top 8 | No change | No change |
| Wei Yi (CHN) | — (9th → 9th) | +5 |
| Dominguez Perez (USA) | +2 (17th → 15th) | 0 |
| Aronian (USA) | –1 (15th → 16th) | –5 |
| Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | +1 (18th → 17th) | 0 |
| Niemann (USA) | +1 (19th → 18th) | 0 |
| Ding Liren (CHN) | +1 (20th → 19th) | 0 |
| Fedoseev (SLO) | –4 | –8 |
| Liang Awonder (USA) | +3 (36th → 33rd) | +3 |
| Peter Svidler (FID) | –10 | –16 |
| Alexey Sarana (SRB) | +3 | +5 |
| Pavel Eljanov (UKR) | +2 | +5 |
| Murzin Volodar (FID) | +6 | +7 |
| Raunak Sadhwani (IND) | –3 | –5 |
| Vitiugov (ENG) | +5 | +5 |
| Tabatabaei (IRI) | +14 | +14 |
| Artemiev (RUS) | –7 | –8 |
| Adams (ENG) | +10 | +9 |
| Karthikeyan (IND) | +10 | +8 |
| Sargsyan (ARM) | –13 | –16 |
| Christiansen (NOR) | +14 | +9 |
| Svane (GER) | –9 | –8 |
| Navara (CZE) | –17 | –12 |
| Xiong (USA) | +6 | +4 |
| Vallejo Pons (ESP) | +2 | +2 |
| Bacrot (FRA) | +5 | +4 |
| Ivic (SRB) | –4 | –4 |
| Sjugirov (HUN) | +2 | +1 |
| Grandelius (SWE) | –6 | –3 |
| Malakhov (FID) | –1 | +1 |
(Only selected players shown here for brevity)
General Trends
- Mid-Rank Volatility: Positions 30–80 show significant fluctuation, reflecting competitive activity among seasoned and upcoming GMs.
- Youth Surge: Players born in the 2000s continue to enter or rise in the top 100, indicating a strong generational shift.
- Elo ≠ Position Change: Small Elo shifts can trigger large position swings in tightly packed areas. Example: Wei Yi gained +5 Elo but stayed 9th; Svidler dropped 16 Elo and fell 10 places.
This month’s ratings show a fascinating mix of consistent excellence and dynamic shifts throughout the chess world. The stability at the very top is a testament to the dominance of the current elite, while the noticeable changes in the middle and lower ranks highlight the intense competition and emerging talents. It’s clear that the future of chess will be heavily influenced by the impressive wave of young players making their mark.
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.
