The June 2025 FIDE rating list was primarily shaped by results from the final leg of the Women’s Grand Prix in Austria, the Asian Championship, the GCT Superbet Chess Classic Romania, the 8th Sharjah Masters, and the Mitropa Cup.
There were no significant changes in the Open top 10, but just outside it, Anish Giri climbed six places following his victory at the Sharjah Open, returning to the world’s top 12 after more than a year.
The women’s top 10 saw more notable shifts. Zhu Jiner, who shared first place in the WGP Austria, reached a new career high and is now ranked #4 among women. Bibisara Assaubayeva, soon to be awarded the GM title after her strong performance in the 8th Sharjah Masters, hit a career-high rating of 2509, making her debut in the women’s top 10.
Biggest gains in the top 100 Open and Women
Maili-Jade Ouellet of Canada (pictured below) was the top overperformer in May, gaining 45 rating points after finishing second in the Sophia Spring Open tournament.
Close behind her in the list of biggest rating gains is Xeniya Balabayeva from Kazakhstan, who tied for first place in the 2025 Asian Women’s Championship but missed the podium due to inferior tiebreaks. Still, she gained an impressive 41 points, reached a career high, and entered the top 100 Women for the first time.
The winner of the open section in the Asian Championship, Bardiya Daneshvar gained 19 points, debuting in the top 100 Open.
GM Aleksandar Indjić (pictured below) had an excellent May as well, earning 24 points thanks to his victory at the Baku Open and a third-place finish at the 8th Sharjah Masters.
Hanna Marie Klek tied for first place in the German Women’s Championship, adding 22 rating points, while Carissa Yip’s third-place finish in the 2025 Spring Chess Classic (Group B) brought her 19 points.
Mariia Manko (pictured below) shone in the 2025 Mitropa Cup, collecting 20 rating points. The Ukrainian native was one of the top scorers in the women’s competition, making a significant contribution to Switzerland’s gold-medal victory.
Finally, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who lost on tiebreak to Praggnanandhaa R after tying for first at the GCT Superbet Chess Classic Romania, likely found some consolation in gaining 13 rating points and returning to the top 20 Open.