The global chess community marks the start of each month with the eagerly anticipated release of the latest FIDE world rankings. The July 2025 list has arrived, providing a fresh statistical overview of the hierarchy across classical, rapid, and blitz formats. As always, these numbers reflect recent performances and signal shifts in the competitive landscape.
A significant development in the July rankings concerns the top position among Indian players in classical chess. Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has achieved a notable milestone, overtaking his compatriots to become India`s highest-ranked player in this format. With a rating of 2779, Praggnanandhaa is now ranked 4th in the world, a testament to his consistent progress and strong tournament results. This marks a new era for Indian chess at the very top, following years where the spot was held by the legendary Viswanathan Anand and contested by a talented younger generation.
Praggnanandhaa`s ascent is part of a broader narrative of Indian success. The classical open top 25 list features several other prominent Indian players. Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh are closely ranked, both holding a rating of 2776. The enduring presence of five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand at 2743 underscores his remarkable longevity and skill. Additionally, Aravindh Chithambaram is also listed among the world`s top 25 classical players, reinforcing India`s status as a major force in international chess.
Looking at the absolute top of the classical open rankings, Magnus Carlsen of Norway maintains his familiar position at world number one with 2839. He is followed by the formidable American grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura (2807) and Fabiano Caruana (2784). The top spots remain fiercely contested, showcasing the elite level of modern classical chess.
In the women`s classical rankings, the top positions are occupied by Chinese grandmasters, with Hou Yifan leading at 2633 and Women`s World Champion Ju Wenjun at 2570. India`s female players also demonstrate their strength. Konery Humpy remains a leading figure, ranked 5th globally with a rating of 2536. Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh are also within the top 25, highlighting the depth and promise within Indian women`s chess.
Beyond classical chess, the rapid and blitz formats showcase different strengths and specialists. In the Open Rapid rankings, Magnus Carlsen again holds the top spot. India is well-represented, with Viswanathan Anand, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin featuring in the top 25. The Blitz Open list is also topped by Carlsen, and includes Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Viswanathan Anand among the top players. For the women`s rapid and blitz rankings, Konery Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and R Vaishali consistently appear in the top 25 lists, with Hou Yifan and Ju Wenjun typically leading these categories as well.
The July 2025 FIDE rankings provide a valuable snapshot of the current state of world chess. The rise of talents like R Praggnanandhaa to national prominence in classical chess, coupled with the strong performances of numerous other Indian players across all formats and categories, signals an exciting phase for the sport. While established giants continue to dominate, the rankings clearly illustrate the impact of the new generation and the increasing global reach of competitive chess.
