Why Chess Twitter Is Exploding Over FIDE’s Rating Changes

The chess world has been buzzing after Ukrainian Grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk accused FIDE – the global chess federation – of “stealing” his rating. But what really happened? Let’s break it down.

The New FIDE Rule

Starting October 1, FIDE is changing how ratings are calculated for top players.

• Normally, if a very strong player faces someone much weaker, the rating system only “sees” a gap of 400 points.
• From now on, for players rated 2650 and above, the full gap will count.
• That means if a 2800 player faces a 2200, it won’t be capped at 400 anymore. The full 600-point gap matters.

The idea is to make ratings for elite players more accurate and fair, so they can’t gain or protect points too easily by playing much weaker opponents.

But Why Is Bortnyk Upset?

Bortnyk, one of the strongest online blitz specialists, suddenly saw some of his blitz rating points disappear. He wrote on Twitter:

“FIDE JUST STOLE MY RATING! How can they go back in time and take all my ratings? Absurd!”

FIDE’s Response

Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of FIDE, replied publicly:

• No ratings were stolen retroactively, he said.
• Since December 1, 2024, there has been a rule for rapid and blitz only:
  • If a 2600+ player faced someone rated 600+ points lower, those games didn’t count for rating.
  • The rule was published in the FIDE Handbook.
• The problem: FIDE’s system kept calculating as if this rule didn’t exist. So when they fixed the bug recently, the rating was recalculated and some points vanished.

Sutovsky argued that Bortnyk had benefited for months, since many of his blitz games were against opponents almost 1000 points lower. Some of those should never have counted after Dec 2024 – but due to the system error, they did.

Bortnyk Fires Back

Bortnyk wasn’t convinced. He replied:

• FIDE only “remembered” this rule conveniently now, right when Hikaru Nakamura was playing classical events.
• He’s had past bad experiences, like at the 2016 Abu Dhabi Blitz Festival where his win was recorded as a loss, costing him rating points.
• In the U.S., he says, there aren’t enough strong tournaments to play in. His only real option is the Charlotte Chess Center, where yes, many weaker amateurs play – but also other grandmasters.

GothamChess Weighs In

Popular chess streamer Levy Rozman (GothamChess) also joined the debate:

• He explained that the new rule is sometimes called “Anti-Hikaru” because it mainly affects top players farming games against weaker opponents.
• But he questioned why FIDE recalculated blitz ratings after the fact, wiping out points Bortnyk and GM Daniel Naroditsky had legitimately earned in their local club events.
• His main question: “How is this acceptable?”

So, What’s Really Going On?

• FIDE says: The rule was already there (Dec 2024), but a technical error ignored it. Fixing the error isn’t retroactive punishment, it’s simply applying the rule correctly.
• Bortnyk says: It feels retroactive, because players lived with the old numbers for almost a year, and now ratings are being changed after the fact.
• Fans say: The timing and communication were terrible, and FIDE looks clumsy, even if they are technically correct.

Why It Matters

Ratings are everything in chess. They affect invitations, sponsorships, and qualification for world events. Even a handful of points can change a player’s opportunities.

That’s why when numbers are suddenly adjusted – whether due to new rules or “forgotten” rules – it sparks outrage.

The Bottom Line

• For top players (2650+): Rating calculations just got tougher. No more safety net.
• For blitz specialists like Bortnyk: FIDE’s late correction feels unfair, even if it was technically correct.
• For fans: It’s a reminder that even in chess, rules, transparency, and trust matter just as much as the moves on the board.

FAQ: What Does the New FIDE Rule Actually Mean?

Q: Who does this affect?
A: Only players rated 2650 and above (roughly the world’s top 70 grandmasters).

Q: What changes for them?

• Before: If they played someone 400+ points lower, the system only counted it as a 400-point gap.
• Now: The real gap is counted. So if a 2800 plays a 2200, it’s treated as a full 600-point gap.

Q: What happens if they win?

• They gain less rating than before, since the system assumes the win was almost guaranteed.

Q: What happens if they draw or lose?

• They lose more rating than before, because the system sees it as a much bigger upset.

Q: Can top players still gain rating this way?
Technically yes, but very slowly. And a single draw or loss wipes out many wins.

Q: Why did FIDE do this?
To stop a loophole where elite players could “farm” weaker opponents to inflate their rating, potentially even overtaking Magnus Carlsen without beating other top players.

Q: Does this hurt regular players?
No. If you’re below 2650, the old 400-point cap still protects you — so you won’t lose a ton of points just for drawing against a rising prodigy who’s underrated.

👉 In short: For the world’s elite, it’s now much riskier to play weaker opponents. Wins bring fewer points, but slip-ups cost much more.