Indian chess Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has made a significant move in the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings, securing third place following his victory at the Prague Chess Masters 2025. Meanwhile, Ding Liren continues to hold the top position, with R Praggnanandhaa trailing closely behind in second.
The winner of the FIDE Circuit 2025 will earn a direct entry into the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship against D Gukesh.
Ding Liren continues to lead the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings, which feature three Indian chess Grandmasters in the top five. The latest FIDE rankings, released by the global chess body on March 10, 2025, reflect the growing dominance of Indian players in the international circuit.
Gukesh became the world chess champion after defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship.
How Participants for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Will Be Chosen
Eight contestants will take part in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, among whom the winner will earn the right to challenge eighteen-year-old Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh for the World Chess Championship in 2026.
Two spots for the Candidates will be guaranteed via the FIDE Circuit with each winner of the 2024 and 2025 editions getting a spot
Fabiano Caruana, a 1982-born Italian-American Grandmaster, already qualified for the Candidates after defeating Indian star Arjun Erigaisi at the top of the 2024 FIDE Circuit standings.
The last six spots for the 2026 Candidates shall be filled from the top three finishers in the 2025 FIDE World Cup, the top two finishers in the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, and the player with the highest average rating from August 2025 to January 2026.
Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Among Top 5 in 2025 FIDE Circuit Standings
With 40.64 points, Ding Liren is leading the standings, which he earned from the 2024 World Chess Championship. India’s R Praggnanandhaa is positioned second with 36.06 points, having earned 11.06 points from a joint second finish at the Prague Chess Masters 2025.
The latest addition to the top three is Aravindh Chithambaram from India, now in third with a total of 24.34 points following his stunning win in Prague Chess Masters 2025.
Gukesh is in fourth place with 22.37 points. Nonetheless, his rank is no longer relevant since he is guaranteed a spot at the World Chess Championship as the incumbent champion.
The 22.02 points are attributed to seventeen-year-old French Grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi, who finished in fifth place. He earned 16.04 points for winning the Djerba International Masters and added 5.88 more points with a third-place finish in the Prague Chess Challengers 2025.
Top 10 in FIDE Circuit 2025 Standings
1. Ding Liren – 40.64 points
2. R Praggnanandhaa – 36.06 points
3. Aravindh Chithambaram – 24.34 points
4. Gukesh Dommaraju – 22.37 points
5. Marc’Andria Maurizzi – 22.02 points
6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 18.42 points
7. Ian Nepomniachtchi – 18.01 points
8. Anish Giri – 17.64 points
9. Wei Yi – 17.64 points
10. Vladimir Fedoseev – 15.79 points