FIDE ratings: Anand now number one

FIDE November 2010 Rating List

The November 2010 ratings show a dramatic reshuffle at the top. Magnus Carlsen loses his top ranking for the first time this year, yielding to World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who hit 2804 – his personal best. The Norwegian wonder-kid (he is still listed in the Juniors) lost a whopping 24 points, mainly in Khanty Mansiysk and Bilbao.

Armenian GM Levon Aronian has gained 18 points to move to place three and become the sixth player to cross the 2800 rating mark, joining Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, and Magnus Carlsen. Congratulations to this very likable young player. Vladimir Kramnik gained eleven points to inch closer to the 2800 bracket he once occupied. Grischuk and Ivanchuk gained double digit points to entrench themselves more firmly in the top ten. The biggest loser in this list is Veselin Topalov, who lost 17 points and moved from place two to place five.

We would also like to single out one player: Radoslaw Wojtaszek. The Polish GM had not reached 2600 at the age of 21, but now, 18 months later at 23, he is at number 20 in the world at 2726 – and still climbing. What's his secret? Not mineral waters in an Eastern health resort but working as a second for Vishy Anand, in two world championships.

It must be mentioned that the recently terminated Super-GM tournament in Nanjing has not been calculated. If it had Magnus Carlsen would be on top again, with is 2900 performance. Naturally it is the official FIDE rating (which has certain submission deadlines) that counts for all tournament, and the "live rating" list only tells you today's rankings. They can easily change before the next FIDE list is released, e.g. through dramatic results in the London Chess Classic in December. However, for what it is worth, we bring you the top live rankings below our first table.

FIDE November 1st 2010 – Top 100 Players

Live ratings

The following "live ratings" are calculated for all player above 2700 on a daily basis by Hans Arild Runde and show what the ratings would be if the FIDE list had been calculated today (in this case the 31st of October 2010 at 12:55 CET). As mentioned above, the live top rating list is unofficial and will not be used by organisers in their events. The author calls it the "Provisional World Chess Rankings".

FIDE Top 100 Women November 2010

Judit Polgar remains on top of the list – and is destined to do so for a while to come. India's Humpy Koneru has returned to the 2600 slot and is the second female in history to achieve this. But there are a number of rivals close behind her: Chinese GM Hou Yifan and the Kosintseva sisters are the most noticeable. All the top ladies will be settling their rankings in the Women's World Championship in Turkey next month.

FIDE Top 20 Juniors November 2010

The top five have reshuffled slightly – except for Magnus Carlsen, who remains on the observation deck all by himself. We would do well to watch out for Le Quang, a Vietnamese GM who seems destined for greatness. 16-year-old Anish Giri is slowly working his way up the list. It would be interesting to compare his rating progress compared to that of Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin and other child prodigies at the same age (please send your notes to us using the feedback link on the left).

FIDE Top 20 Girls November 2010

The top four remain the same as in previous lists, with a substantial gap to the follow-up group (and one to the leader Hou Yifan). Mariya Muzychuk is trying to do a second sister act, like the Kosintsevas. Soon we will see all four of them in most of the top tournaments.

Top gains by players

There have been some substantial movement in the ratings, with a lot of events played in the last two months. The biggest winner was Levon Aronian, as mentioned above. But you have to be amazed by Wan Yue, Gata Kamsky and Emil Sutovsky, who gained 24, 21 and 30 points respectively. Here's a list of all double-digit gains in the top 100.

We come to the biggest rating losses. Naturally Magnus Carlsen stands out with his traumatic 24-point loss. But it is a tribute to the achievement of the Norwegian during the last one year that he could take this and only slip to second place, just two points behind Vishy Anand. And he is back on top as our live list above shows. Anand and Carlsen are going to give us a real show in London in December.

Lists and data by courtesy of FIDE