July 2008 FIDE Rating list released!

Daaim Shabazz July 1, 2008

5 2,082 2 minutes read

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

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Daaim Shabazz July 1, 2008

5 2,082 2 minutes read

5 Comments

Isaac M. Braswell says:

July 4, 2008 at 12:54 am

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!

Isaac M. Braswell says:

July 4, 2008 at 12:59 am

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 😀

Daaim Shabazz says:

July 21, 2008 at 10:40 am

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!

Okechukwu Iwu says:

July 22, 2008 at 9:29 am

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 🙂

Daaim Shabazz says:

July 22, 2008 at 10:37 am

I didn’t forget the “Maestro” and I suppose the projected ratings that have created would project him to be over 2700. Hard to say.