The FIDE March 2026 rating list was primarily shaped by the Tata Steel Masters and Challengers tournaments that concluded on February 1 alongside several Swiss events in across the globe.
Both the Open and Women’s top 10 saw significant changes. Nodirbek Abdusattorov returned to the Open top 5 after a 19-month absence, thanks to his victory in the Tata Steel Masters. Bibisara Assaubayeva re-entered the Women’s top 10 following her strong performance in the Tata Steel Challengers.
Biggest rating gains in top 100 (Open and Women)
Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (pictured above) tops the list of biggest rating gainers in February, following her highly successful European tour. The teenager from Sri Lanka earned impressive 87 points across two SixDays Budapest tournaments and the 24th Rochefort Chess Festival – Masters.
Aydin Suleymanli delivered a strong performance in the 2026 Azerbaijani Championship winning bronze and netting 15 points which he added to ten points gained from the Tata Steel Challengers.
Jorden Van Foreest (pictred above), Javokhir Sindarov and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus shone in the Tata Steel Masters posting substantial rating increments. Notably, all three reached their career-high positions in the top 100 Open.
Andy Woodward (pictured below) and Carissa Yip delivered in the Tata Steel Challengers. The event’s winner, Woodward, collected 23 rating points to debut in the top 100 Open, while Yip made her first appearance in the Women’s top 15.
Finally, Rachael Li and Rose Atwell overperformed in the 17th Annual Southwest Class Championship with Atwell debuting in the top 100 Women.