India’s GM Arjun Erigaisi has reclaimed the world number-four position in the April 2025 FIDE rating list following two victories in the German League that allowed him to overtake GM Fabiano Caruana. The most remarkable achievement, however, belongs to 25-year-old Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram, who catapulted to world number-11 after winning the Prague Masters.
Top Players Maintain Positions
Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen continues his reign as world number-one, gaining four points to reach 2837 after winning all three games he played in the Norwegian Team Championship. American GM Hikaru Nakamura remains the only other player in the elite 2800 club, sitting firmly in second place after being the sole player to win classical games in the open section of The American Cup.
Nakamura defeated both GM Leinier Dominguez and GM Fabiano Caruana in the tournament. His victory over Caruana proved particularly consequential, causing the American to drop to fifth place in the world rankings. Taking advantage of this opening, Arjun secured wins against GMs Jergus Pechac and Valery Kazakouski in the Chess Bundesliga to reclaim the fourth position he held at the beginning of the year.
Aravindh’s Remarkable Ascent
The most dramatic movement in the rankings belongs to GM Aravindh Chithambaram, who has finally begun to fulfill the promise he showed as a child prodigy. Aravindh dominated the Prague Masters, finishing a full point ahead of GMs Anish Giri, Wei Yi, and compatriot Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Combined with two wins in the German League, he gained 18 rating points to jump 11 places in the rankings.
Aravindh’s progress over the past year has been extraordinary, with his rating increasing by 87 points from 2662 to 2749. His performance has also placed him third in the 2025 FIDE Circuit standings.
European Individual Championship Impact
Further down the rankings, the 11-round European Individual Championship created significant movement. The three players who tied for first place all made substantial gains: GM Matthias Bluebaum (+19), GM Frederik Svane (+14), and GM Maxim Rodshtein (+24).
Conversely, several pre-tournament favorites suffered losses after disappointing performances. Top-seed GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac and GM David Anton both lost 24 points, while second-seed GM Alexey Sarana dropped 17 points after withdrawing after eight difficult rounds.
FIDE Top 20 Classical Ratings (April 1, 2025)
The current FIDE top 20 shows the continued dominance of established stars alongside the rise of the next generation:
- 1. Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – 2837 (+4)
- 2. Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 2804 (+2)
- 3. Gukesh D (IND) – 2787
- 4. Arjun Erigaisi (IND) – 2782 (+5)
- 5. Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 2776 (-7)
- 6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) – 2773
- 7. Wei Yi (CHN) – 2758 (-2)
- 8. Praggnanandhaa R (IND) – 2758
- 9. Ian Nepomniachtchi – 2757 (+4)
- 10. Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – 2757
- 11. Aravindh Chithambaram VR (IND) – 2749 (+18)
- 12. Wesley So (USA) – 2748
- 13. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) – 2748
- 14. Levon Aronian (USA) – 2747 (-1)
- 15. Viswanathan Anand (IND) – 2743
- 16. Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) – 2739
- 17. Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL) – 2739
- 18. Anish Giri (NED) – 2738 (+1)
- 19. Leinier Dominguez Perez (USA) – 2738 (-3)
- 20. Hans Moke Niemann (USA) – 2736 (+2)
India’s Growing Dominance
With four players now in the top 11 of the world rankings (Gukesh D at #3, Arjun Erigaisi at #4, Praggnanandhaa at #8, and Aravindh at #11), India continues to strengthen its position as a global chess powerhouse. The country’s former world champion, Viswanathan Anand, also remains in the top 15 at age 55, showing remarkable longevity at the elite level.
The April 2025 ratings reflect both the stability at the very top of chess, with Carlsen maintaining his considerable lead, and the dynamic changes happening just below as the next generation of players continues to make their mark on the global chess scene.