July 2008 FIDE Rating list released!

GM Magnus Carlsen

This has been one of the most anticipated rating lists for quite some time. Viswanathan Anand maintains his position at #1 (2798, -5). Everyone wanted to see whether Magnus Carlsen (pictured left) would vault into the #2 position. Many were disappointed that his Foros Aersovit event (3100 TPR) was not counted, so he sits at #6 (2775, +10).

Alexander Morozevich is now in a virtual tie for 2nd-3rd with Vladimir Kramnik on 2788. This is not surprising if you have been following the creative player from Russia, but he has not been in the conversations of those threatening Anand or even Kramnik. Morozevich dominated the Russian SuperFinal and won the Supertournament in Bosna by 1.5 points! Vassily Ivanchuk holds the #4 spot (2781, +41) followed by Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, a former World Champion who was just over 2800 less than two years ago (2777, -10).

In the women’s category, Judit Polgar remains atop a gradually improving cadre of young females. However, Polgar will not have to worry about losing her mantle as the world’s top female player (2711, +2). Humpy Koneru (2622, +19) has cut into the lead and for the first time in many years, someone is within 100 points of Polgar.

Xie Jun (2574) is hold the #3 position, but is closely followed by her young compatriot Hou Yifan (2557, +8). Antoaneta Stefanova (2550, +12) has increased her form dramatically since taking in a steady diet of strong, open tournaments.

There are no dramatic changes, but there seem to be an increasing number of female players over 2500.Viktorija Cmilyte (2508, +41) made a huge leap over 2500 with strong showings in the European Championships and the Russian Team Championship.

In terms of Juniors, it is no surprise that Magnus Carlsen (2775, +10) has increased his lead and is now a robust 48 points ahead of Sergey Karjakin (2727, -5). China’s Wang Hao (2691, +7) is closing in on 2700 and is poised to join his three compatriots. The Asian region has several of the world’s top juniors and it is testament that there is momentum building. France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2681, +49) and Italy’s Fabiano Caruana (2630, +10) round out the top five.

In the Girl’s list, Hou Yifan is still atop the field, but what is more amazing is the cadre of other Chinese players in tow. Out of the top 20 girls, five are from China. Russia has six.

GM Hikaru Nakamura at the 2004 World Open.

GM Hikaru Nakamura at 2004 World Open… now at 2697!!
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Top 50

Rank Name Title Country Rating Games B-Year
 1  Anand, Viswanathan  g  IND  2798  2  1969
 2  Morozevich, Alexander  g  RUS  2788  20  1977
 3  Kramnik, Vladimir  g  RUS  2788  0  1975
 4  Ivanchuk, Vassily  g  UKR  2781  25  1969
 5  Topalov, Veselin  g  BUL  2777  10  1975
 6  Carlsen, Magnus  g  NOR  2775  16  1990
 7  Radjabov, Teimour  g  AZE  2744  31  1987
 8  Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar  g  AZE  2742  23  1985
 9  Shirov, Alexei  g  ESP  2741  11  1972
 10  Leko, Peter  g  HUN  2741  0  1979
 11  Svidler, Peter  g  RUS  2738  32  1976
 12  Aronian, Levon  g  ARM  2737  11  1982
 13  Adams, Michael  g  ENG  2735  20  1971
 14  Grischuk, Alexander  g  RUS  2728  21  1983
 15  Karjakin, Sergey  g  UKR  2727  27  1990
 16  Movsesian, Sergei  g  SVK  2723  53  1978
 17  Kamsky, Gata  g  USA  2723  28  1974
 18  Gelfand, Boris  g  ISR  2720  10  1968
 19  Ponomariov, Ruslan  g  UKR  2718  10  1983
 20  Gashimov, Vugar  g  AZE  2717  34  1986
 21  Eljanov, Pavel  g  UKR  2716  23  1983
 22  Polgar, Judit  g  HUN  2711  3  1976
 23  Bu, Xiangzhi  g  CHN  2710  25  1985
 24  Jakovenko, Dmitry  g  RUS  2709  20  1983
 25  Dominguez Perez, Leinier  g  CUB  2708  19  1983
 26  Alekseev, Evgeny  g  RUS  2708  12  1985
 27  Ni, Hua  g  CHN  2705  28  1983
 28  Milov, Vadim  g  SUI  2705  16  1972
 29  Wang, Yue  g  CHN  2704  28  1987
 30  Rublevsky, Sergei  g  RUS  2699  10  1974
 31  Nakamura, Hikaru  g  USA  2697  27  1987
 32  Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter  g  ROU  2692  26  1976
 33  Bacrot, Etienne  g  FRA  2691  37  1983
 34  Wang, Hao  g  CHN  2691  28  1989
 35  Malakhov, Vladimir  g  RUS  2689  11  1980
 36  Cheparinov, Ivan  g  BUL  2687  23  1986
 37  Bologan, Viktor  g  MDA  2686  33  1971
 38  Sasikiran, Krishnan  g  IND  2684  18  1981
 39  Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime  g  FRA  2681  35  1990
 40  Roiz, Michael  g  ISR  2680  32  1983
 41  Kasimdzhanov, Rustam  g  UZB  2679  25  1979
 42  Inarkiev, Ernesto  g  RUS  2675  29  1985
 43  Motylev, Alexander  g  RUS  2674  23  1979
 44  Fressinet, Laurent  g  FRA  2673  41  1981
 45  Akopian, Vladimir  g  ARM  2673  17  1971
 46  Georgiev, Kiril  g  BUL  2671  32  1965
 47  Volokitin, Andrei  g  UKR  2671  31  1986
 48  Efimenko, Zahar  g  UKR  2670  40  1985
 49  Najer, Evgeniy  g  RUS  2670  38  1977
 50  Onischuk, Alexander  g  USA  2670  21  1975

5 Comments

  1. I can’t wait to see Magnus Carlsen at No.#2 if not No.#1, in no time soon! I would also like to see Nakamura or as I like to call him Naki-saki…I want to see him at 2700+ status to show and prove that he is among the elite in the world because he plays like a monster otherwise. He just need to get Tournament holders respect so he can obtain me invatations to those grand tournaments, with 2700+ class players!
    Well good luck to all who plays chess especially the ones who are going to playing in thee up and coming World Open In Phillidelphia!

  2. excuse me I ment to say obtain him some tournaments invatations, not “me”, my bad. Call me at 773-354-8769
    I’m Isaac M. Braswell A.KA.:Bigbrothaike 😀

  3. It’s interesting to see Cuba’s Lenier Dominguez over 2700. He’s the first Cuban to reach that status. He’s currently playing in Biel against the likes of Magnus Carlsen. Go Lenier!

  4. I would amend your last comment to “He is the first modern Cuban to reach that status”. Otherwise, you’ll have Jose Raul rolling in his grave 🙂

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