Sindarov Rises To No. 5, Erdogmus Breaks 2700 On May Rating List

Sindarov’s rating has only gone up as he’s jumped from world number-31 in May 2025, when he had a rating of 2706, to world number-five. The reality is that there’s not much more “up” left to go; with a rating of 2776 he is knocking on the 2800-door. Only 16 players have ever crossed that line.

Sindarov put up the best performance in the modern Candidates format with an otherworldly +6 score, improving on GM Ian Nepomniachtchi’s record from 2022 by half a point. Surprisingly, there is not one Indian player in the world top-10, while two of the top-five are Uzbek.

As discussed in our Candidates conclusions article, of all participants in the event, only GM Anish Giri (+14 points) can be happy with the rating gain. Other elite players, like number-two GM Hikaru Nakamura (-18) and number-three Fabiano Caruana (-5) lost rating from the event. 

April wasn’t just a comeback month for Giri; we saw the return of GMs Ding Liren, Viswanathan Anand, and Veselin Topalov. Ding played his first classical game since losing the 2024 FIDE World Championship, picking up 4 rating points at the 2026 Chinese Chess Team Championship. Anand, on the other hand, made three draws at the Bundesliga and lost 4 rating points. It was his first time playing since February 2025, also at the Bundesliga.

Topalov, on the other hand, came back after a longer break to play against the formidable teenager, and now super-grandmaster, Erdogmus.

It was Topalov’s first time playing since the WR Masters Cup in 2024, and with four losses and two draws he dropped 22 points. Erdogmus, on the other hand, rose 21 points—the second-highest gain of the month among the top-100—to finally cross the 2700 threshold. For the Turkish prodigy, it wasn’t really a question of if but when. As we potentially look to the 2800 mark, he has another four years to beat GM Alireza Firouzja’s record of youngest 2800 in history.

Other notable increases were GM Amin Tabatabaei gaining 14 points by winning the 2026 Reykjavik Open with an impressive 8/9 score, GM Aydin Suleymanli gaining 12 points at the 2026 European Individual Chess Championship (which was won by a 17-year-old IM!), and GM Abhimanyu Mishra, who returned into the top-100 with a 15-point rating gain in a Spanish open tournament.

FIDE Classical Ratings Top 25 Juniors | May 1, 2026

Change	#	Name	Title	Fed	MAR26 (+-)	Feb26	B-Year
–	1 / 1	Gukesh D	GM		2732	2732	2006
–	2 / 2	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	GM		2708 (+21)	2687	2011
–	3 / 3	Pranav, V	GM		2657	2657	2006
–	4 / 4	Murzin, Volodar	GM		2650 (-5)	2655	2006
↑	5 / 6	Gurel, Ediz	GM		2641 (+6)	2635	2008
↑	6 / 9	Mishra, Abhimanyu	GM		2638 (+15)	2623	2009
↓	7 / 5	Woodward, Andy	GM		2635	2635	2010
↓	8 / 7	Pranesh M	GM		2632	2632	2006
↓	9 / 8	Grebnev, Aleksey	GM		2625 (-2)	2627	2006
↑	10 / 13	Lazavik, Denis	GM		2621 (+16)	2605	2006
↓	11 / 10	Aditya Mittal	GM		2619 (+2)	2617	2006
↑	12 / 17	Mendonca, Leon Luke	GM		2613 (+18)	2595	2006
↓	13 / 11	Maurizzi, Marc’Andria	GM		2610 (+2)	2608	2007
↓	14 / 12	Yoo, Christopher Woojin	GM		2607	2607	2006
↑	15 / 19	Bharath Subramaniyam H	GM		2599 (+10)	2589	2007
↓	16 / 14	Pranav Anand	GM		2596	2596	2006
↓	17 / 16	Daneshvar, Bardiya	GM		2596	2596	2006
↓	18 / 15	Samunenkov, Ihor	GM		2595 (-1)	2596	2009
↓	19 / 18	Zemlyanskii, Ivan	GM		2595 (+3)	2592	2010
↑	20 / 26	Xiao, Tong(QD)	GM		2586 (+31)	2555	2008
↓	21 / 20	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	GM		2586	2586	2006
↓	22 / 21	Movahed, Sina	GM		2575	2575	2010
↓	23 / 22	Finek, Vaclav	IM		2573 (+2)	2571	2010
–	24 / 24	Sokolovsky, Yahli	GM		2564 (+5)	2559	2006
↑	25 / 33	Malek, Jan	GM		2560 (+27)	2533	2007

Whatever division there used to be between the world top-100 and the junior lists hardly seems to exist anymore, especially as the reigning world champion is also still a junior. Erdogmus remains at number-two, though he has extended his lead over GM Pranav V. We’ve also already mentioned Mishra.

The biggest gain was by GM Tong Xiao, who gained 31 points after playing 35 classical games in a single month, across four events. GM Jan Malek gained 27 points, playing “only” 23 games in three events and jumping into the top-25. GM Leon Luke Mendonca had the third-highest gain, +18 after playing in the Bundesliga and the Menorca Open.

GM Denis Lazavik, who is an elite online player and just recently finished third in the 2026 Chess.com Open, isn’t quite as active over-the-board. Returning to classical chess for the first time since September 2025, he gained 16 points after winning a round-robin tournament in Russia.

FIDE Classical Ratings Top 100 Women | May 1, 2026

Change	#	Name	Title	Fed	MAR26 (+-)	Feb26	B-Year
–	1 / 1	Hou, Yifan	GM		2596	2596	1994
–	2 / 2	Lei, Tingjie	GM		2566	2566	1997
–	3 / 3	Ju, Wenjun	GM		2559	2559	1991
–	4 / 4	Zhu, Jiner	GM		2546 (-8)	2554	2002
↑	5 / 7	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	GM		2536 (+2)	2534	1998
↓	6 / 5	Koneru, Humpy	GM		2535	2535	1987
↑	7 / 9	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	GM		2527 (+11)	2516	2004
–	8 / 8	Muzychuk, Anna	GM		2522	2522	1990
↓	9 / 6	Tan, Zhongyi	GM		2517 (-18)	2535	1991
↑	10 / 11	Lagno, Kateryna	GM		2506 (-2)	2508	1989
↑	11 / 12	Shuvalova, Polina	IM		2502	2502	2001
↓	12 / 10	Divya Deshmukh	GM		2500 (-10)	2510	2005
↑	13 / 19	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	GM		2496 (+26)	2470	2001
↓	14 / 13	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	GM		2491 (+4)	2487	1984
↓	15 / 14	Yip, Carissa	IM		2482	2482	2003
–	16 / 16	Dzagnidze, Nana	GM		2478	2478	1987
–	17 / 17	Batsiashvili, Nino	GM		2475 (+2)	2473	1987
↓	18 / 15	Kashlinskaya, Alina	IM		2474 (-6)	2480	1993
↓	19 / 18	Dronavalli, Harika	GM		2470	2470	1991
–	20 / 20	Muzychuk, Mariya	GM		2463	2463	1992
↑	21 / 23	Song, Yuxin	IM		2462 (+11)	2451	2005
↑	22 / 27	Shukhman, Anna	WGM		2456 (+16)	2440	2009
↓	23 / 21	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	IM		2455 (+3)	2452	2000
↓	24 / 22	Osmak, Yuliia	IM		2451	2451	1998
↓	25 / 24	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	IM		2450	2450	1996
–	26 / 26	Nurman, Alua	IM		2443	2443	2007
↑	27 / 29	Javakhishvili, Lela	IM		2442 (+11)	2431	1984
↑	28 / 30	Lu, Miaoyi	IM		2435 (+6)	2429	2010
↓	29 / 28	Zhao, Xue	GM		2433	2433	1985
↑	30 / 39	Injac, Teodora	IM		2431 (+21)	2410	2000
↓	31 / 25	Garifullina, Leya	IM		2431 (-17)	2448	2004
↑	32 / 38	Narva, Mai	IM		2426 (+15)	2411	1999
↓	33 / 31	Sebag, Marie	GM		2425	2425	1986
↓	34 / 32	Khamdamova, Afruza	WGM		2423	2423	2009
↓	35 / 34	Ushenina, Anna	GM		2420 (+4)	2416	1985
↑	36 / 37	Khotenashvili, Bella	GM		2415 (+3)	2412	1988
↓	37 / 35	Lee, Alice	IM		2415	2415	2009
↓	38 / 36	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	IM		2414	2414	1997
↑	39 / 40	Arabidze, Meri	IM		2409	2409	1994
↓	40 / 33	Wagner, Dinara	IM		2408 (-11)	2419	1999
↑	41 / 44	Salimova, Nurgyul	IM		2404 (+5)	2399	2003
–	42 / 42	Paehtz, Elisabeth	GM		2404 (+1)	2403	1985
↓	43 / 41	Stefanova, Antoaneta	GM		2401 (-2)	2403	1979
↓	44 / 43	Krush, Irina	GM		2401	2401	1983
↑	45 / 48	Kiolbasa, Oliwia	IM		2397 (+3)	2394	2000
–	46 / 46	Ding, Yixin	WGM		2395	2395	1991
↑	47 / 50	Gunina, Valentina	GM		2393	2393	1989
↑	48 / 55	Badelka, Olga	IM		2392 (+5)	2387	2002
↑	49 / 52	Buksa, Nataliya	IM		2392	2392	1996
↓	50 / 49	Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra	IM		2390 (-3)	2393	2002
↓	51 / 45	Danielian, Elina	GM		2390 (-9)	2399	1978
↑	52 / 60	Roebers, Eline	IM		2389 (+8)	2381	2006
↑	53 / 83	Xiao, Yiyi	WGM		2389 (+28)	2361	1996
↓	54 / 51	Daulyte-Cornette, Deimante	IM		2389 (-3)	2392	1989
↓	55 / 54	Kamalidenova, Meruert	IM		2389	2389	2005
–	56 / 56	Efroimski, Marsel	IM		2386	2386	1995
–	57 / 57	Ambartsumova, Karina	IM		2385	2385	1989
–	58 / 58	Cramling, Pia	GM		2384	2384	1963
↓	59 / 53	Atwell, Rose	FM		2383 (-7)	2390	2009
↓	60 / 59	Shen, Yang	IM		2383	2383	1989
–	61 / 61	Girya, Olga	GM		2380	2380	1991
↑	62 / 66	Kulon, Klaudia	IM		2377 (+5)	2372	1992
↑	63 / 67	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	IM		2375 (+4)	2371	1987
↓	64 / 62	Guo, Qi	IM		2375	2375	1995
↑	65 / 92	Savitha Shri B	IM		2374 (+23)	2351	2007
↑	66 / 72	Sivanandan, Bodhana	FM		2374 (+8)	2366	2015
↑	67 / 77	Gaal, Zsoka	IM		2374 (+9)	2365	2007
↑	68 / 79	Kairbekova, Amina	WGM		2374 (+12)	2362	2006
↓	69 / 64	Mammadzada, Gunay	IM		2374	2374	2000
↑	70 / 76	Atalik, Ekaterina	IM		2372 (+7)	2365	1982
↑	71 / 84	Klek, Hanna Marie	WGM		2369 (+9)	2360	1995
↑	72 / 87	Beydullayeva, Govhar	WGM		2368 (+10)	2358	2003
↓	73 / 69	Galliamova, Alisa	IM		2368	2368	1972
↓	74 / 63	Vantika Agrawal	IM		2367 (-7)	2374	2002
↓	75 / 70	Skripchenko, Almira	IM		2367	2367	1976
↓	76 / 74	Huang, Qian	WGM		2366	2366	1986
↓	77 / 75	Mkrtchian, Lilit	IM		2366	2366	1982
↓	78 / 71	Abrahamyan, Tatev	IM		2366	2366	1988
↓	79 / 68	Mkrtchyan, Mariam	WGM		2365 (-3)	2368	2004
↓	80 / 65	Zhai, Mo	WGM		2365 (-8)	2373	1996
↓	81 / 47	Bulmaga, Irina	IM		2361 (-33)	2394	1993
↑	82 / 100	Milliet, Sophie	IM		2361 (+17)	2344	1983
↓	83 / 81	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	IM		2361	2361	1992
↓	84 / 82	Bivol, Alina	IM		2361	2361	1996
↓	85 / 73	Yan, Tianqi	WIM		2360 (-6)	2366	2002
↑	86 / 88	Sargsyan, Anna M.	IM		2360 (+3)	2357	2001
↑	87 /	Yu, Jennifer	FM		2358		2002
↓	88 / 85	Tang, Zoey	FM		2357 (-3)	2360	2008
↓	89 / 86	Omonova, Umida	WGM		2357 (-1)	2358	2006
↓	90 / 80	Socko, Monika	GM		2355 (-7)	2362	1978
↓	91 / 78	Balabayeva, Xeniya	WGM		2355 (-10)	2365	2005
↓	92 / 90	Aulia, Medina Warda	IM		2355	2355	1997
↑	93 / 97	Gara, Anita	IM		2350 (+3)	2347	1983
↓	94 / 93	Balajayeva, Khanim	IM		2350	2350	2001
↓	95 / 94	Goltseva, Ekaterina	FM		2349	2349	2002
↑	96 / 99	Ni, Shiqun	WGM		2348 (+3)	2345	1997
↓	97 / 95	Pham, Le Thao Nguyen	IM		2348	2348	1987
–	98 / 98	Gara, Ticia	WGM		2347	2347	1984
↑	99 /	Kurmangaliyeva, Liya	FM		2346		2005
↑	100 /	Brunello, Marina	IM		2346		1994

The biggest story in women’s chess last month was that of Vaishali, who on her way to winning the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament also had the biggest jump of the top-100, 26 points. She is now number 13 in the world and will challenge world number-three GM Ju Wenjun for the world championship title.

GM Bibisara Assaubayeva had the highest gain in the top-10, +11, and a second-place finish in the same tournament. Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi suffered one of the biggest losses in the month, tumbling 18 points and three spots down to number nine, where she finished last with GM Divya Deshmukh (-10).

The highest gain in the top-100 was by WGM Xiao Yiyi (+28) after scoring 8.5/11 in the 2026 Women’s Chinese Chess Team Championship, the highest in the event. She jumped thirty spots to world number-53. Other players who gained more than 20 points were IM Savitha Shri B (+23) and IM Teodora Injac (+21). Unfortunately IM Irina Bulmaga had the biggest drop on the list: -33 points and 34 spots in a single month. 

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Tai’s Prodigy Watch section will be added to this article as soon as possible!

The Prodigy Watch by Chess By The Numbers founder Tai Pruce-Zimmerman tracks the progress of young chess superstars, with his “prodigy rank” a measure of how a player’s current rating at their current age compares historically. You can read more about Prodigy Watch here.

Chess.com also tracks the largest rating gains each month—for all FIDE-rated players. The most impressive jump was by 14-year-old Kazakh CM Alisher Abdsattar, who skyrocketed from a rating of 2185 to 2429 in the month of April. That’s 244 points! In the Menorca Open, he had a 2655 performance but was ineligible for a norm because his final two wins were secured by forfeit when opponents didn’t arrive at the board.

All data courtesy of FIDE.