A strong field of young talents is set to challenge the elite at the World Rapid and Blitz in Doha this December. Here are some of the names who may become the next kings and queens of the chessboard.
In less than three weeks the eyes of the chess world will be on Doha – the capital of Qatar which, for the last week of the year, will be the world centre of chess, where the World Rapid and Blitz Champions will be decided.
Usually, the main media interest is on the top-dogs – the 2700+ regulars who traditionally dominate big events: Carlsen, Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi, Caruana in the Open, or the likes of Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie, Goryachkina, Koneru, Lagno, Anna Muzychuk in the Women’s competition. But Doha will also be the stage for another story shaping chess – a generational showdown between the established stars and those whose rise is just beginning.
Teenagers and even pre-teens are lining up on the same boards, facing the same clocks, testing themselves against the stars they grew up watching. Some already have grandmaster titles. Some have become national champions before they finished school. All of them are moving fast – both on and off the board.
These are the rising stars in Doha. Young, ambitious, ruthless and fearless, staking their claim for the top.
The Open
GM Ivan Zemlyanskii (pictured above) – born in 2010, he already boasts a rating over 2590 in classical chess. In May 2024, at the age of just 13, Ivan became the youngest Russian grandmaster in history and one of the youngest in the world, after scoring his final norm at the Sharjah Masters. Since then, he has been closing in on the 2600 mark.
GM Savva Vetokhin is another new name with serious results. Born in 2009, he is already a 2550 plus grandmaster and has a long line of youth medals. His titles include the World Under-10 champion, the World Under-14 Blitz champion, and a silver medal at the World Under-8 Rapid Championship. His commanding victory at the strong Sunway Sitges open in 2024, without a single loss, marked him out as a player to follow.
GM Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş (pictured above) from Turkey, born in 2011, is the fourth-youngest grandmaster in history and the youngest player ever to reach 2600. He has already made strong impressions at events such as Grenke and the TePe Sigeman tournament. Coming across as confident both on and off the board, Erdoğmuş is recognised for his attacking style, demonstrated in the much talked about “Turkish Immortal” game against Aditya Mittal in the 2025 Grand Swiss. At just 14 and already a top 100 player, he will be one of the most closely watched prodigies in Doha.
GM Ediz Gürel, also from Turkey, was born in 2008 and became a grandmaster in 2024. He won an individual bronze medal playing on board two for Turkey at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024. In 2025, he made headlines by defeating reigning world champion Gukesh in Samarkand, becoming one of the youngest players ever to beat a reigning World Champion. That single game as well as his broader performance in Samarkand placed him firmly in the global spotlight.
IM Faustino Oro (pictured above) of Argentina was born in 2013. Known as the “Messi of chess”, He became the first player under 12 to cross 2500 rating and to score a grandmaster norm. His unbeaten 7½ out of 9 at a Legends and Prodigies event in Madrid confirmed that his strength is not limited to junior tournaments.
IM Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov from Uzbekistan, born in 2009, has a classical rating of 2454 and already holds the IM title. He is coming to Doha with the crown of the World Junior Rapid Champion, which he won in Lima, in September. His current rapid rating is 2411. Mukhammadzokhid has beaten several grandmasters in strong open tournaments, scored well in events such as the UzChess Cup, qualified from the Asian zonal to the 2025 World Cup and took third place in a Chessable Masters qualifier.
IM Aldiyar Ansat (pictured above) of Kazakhstan – born in 2008 – became the chess champion of Kazakhstan in 2023 and has a rating in the high 2400s. Aldiyar has already won the Asian Zonal 3.4 Championship, earning a place in the 2025 World Cup. For a teenager, leading a strong and rising chess country in major events is a big statement.
IM Erdem Khubukshanov, born in 2007, is another young star on the rise. His classical rating is around 2500 and his rapid and blitz ratings are around 2420. He has been scoring plus results in strong open tournaments and has established himself as part of the new generation of ambitious IMs who are close to grandmaster level.
GM Ihor Samunenkov (pictured above) from Ukraine, born in 2009, is already a grandmaster with a standard rating close to 2580. He is seen as one of the leaders among the under 16 players worldwide, and his steady results in elite junior events have built him a reputation as a very solid and mature player for his age.
GM Denis Lazavik, at 19, sits slightly above the usual age line for a junior event, but very much within the spirit of a rising star. He is a 2600 level grandmaster, one of the most successful young players in online and rapid chess, with strong results in elite internet tournaments and over the board opens. He is not yet a regular in the biggest classical super tournaments, which keeps him in the “still rising” group rather than the fully established elite.
GM Bharath Subramaniyam H of India, born in 2007, became India’s 73rd grandmaster at the age of 14 years and two months. Now in the mid-2500s, he has a record full of strong international results and earlier youth titles. His pace of development has kept him in the conversation among India’s most promising young players.
IM Lev Zverev, also born in 2010, is another strong youngster with a classical rating in the range of 2450 to 2480 and impressive blitz strength – 2479. He became an International Master at the age of 14 and has been a regular face in strong open tournaments, where his rating trend is still clearly upward.
IM H Goutham Krishna (pictured above) from India, born in 2010, made headlines at home by taking second place in the 62nd Indian National Championship at the age of just 15. He tied for first place with GM Iniyan P but losing on the tie-break score. Still, he finished ahead of many experienced grandmasters and used that event to show that he can already compete for top spots in major national tournaments.
IM Roman Shogdzhiev is one of the most striking examples of a young rising star. Born in 2015, he already holds the IM title, has a rapid rating above 2380 and has produced strong classical performances against much older opponents – most notably, defeating five GMs during the 2023 World Rapid and Blitz Championship when he was just eight years old. Simply holding such a title and rating at nine or ten years old is extraordinary.
The Women’s competition
WGM Afruza Khamdamova (pictured above) from Uzbekistan, born in 2009, is already one of the leading teenage players in the world. Her peak rating is around 2409, and she earned the WGM title this year. She is a double World Youth champion, winning the Girls Under 14 in 2023 and the Under 16 in 2024. Her perfect 10 out of 10 score in Montesilvano, Italy, in 2023 drew attention from coaches and commentators around the world.
IM and WGM Zsóka Gaál of Hungary, born in 2007, combines achievements in youth events with success in adult chess. She has European and World Youth titles, became Hungarian women’s champion in 2023 and in 2025 defeated world top five grandmaster Anna Muzychuk, at the Grand Swiss. That single victory showed that she is ready to challenge established stars.
IM and WGM Savitha Shri B (pictured above) from India, also born in 2007, has moved quickly through the titles. She became a WGM in 2023 and an IM in 2025 and has a peak rating above 2430. Her record includes many medals at Asian and World youth level. She already plays in major women’s events, but is still in the phase where her strength is growing year by year.
FM Yana Zhapova, born in 2008, has a classical rating in the 2250 to 2300 range. She is a regular in strong junior and women’s tournaments, including appearances at World Junior events, and is often mentioned among the best girls under 18.
WIM Zarina Nurgaliyeva from Kazakhstan, born in 2009, has a classical rating above 2300 and became a WIM in 2025. She is a regular medal contender in youth competitions and now plays at World Youth Under 16 level and in stronger women’s tournaments. Her results show that she has successfully made the jump from local to international stages.
WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet (pictured above) of Kazakhstan, born in 2010, became a WIM in 2025 and has already won the national women’s championship of Kazakhstan at 14. She is a World Youth rapid champion in the Under-16 girls category and has played in the World Cup in Batumi, where she managed to knock out strong opposition. For a player her age, that combination of national and world results is notable.
FM Iren Lyutsinger, born in 2009, has both FM and WIM titles with a peak rating around 2300 and her ELO in blitz was nearly 2400 in September 2024. She has scored well in European and World youth events and is now a regular in strong open tournaments across Europe, gaining experience against a wide range of opposition.
WIM Kesaria Mgeladze from Georgia, born in 2010, is a multiple Georgian youth champion and a European youth champion in several age groups. She became a WIM in 2025. She qualified for the 2025 World Cup and defeated an experienced WGM there. Her rating is close to 2300. Her participation in the World Cup, the Georgian Women’s Championship, and the European Youth Championship in 2025 all confirm she maintains a high standard of play.
WIM Anastasia Kirtadze (pictured above), also from Georgia and born in 2009, has a rating around 2300 and a list of strong achievements. She is a two time Georgian Under-20 girls champion and became World Under-14 rapid champion in 2023. She is another example of a youth star transitioning into adult competition.
FM Galina Mikheeva, born in 2007, holds both titles and became Asian Junior Girls champion with a score of 7½ out of 9. She has been active in World Youth and European women’s events, and now arrives in Doha with both confidence and experience.
WFM Diana Preobrazhenskaya, born in 2011, has a rapid rating above 2300 and already won the Russian women’s rapid championship in 2025, ahead of much more experienced players. To win a national rapid title in a strong chess country at 14 is a clear sign of top level potential.
WFM Alanna Berikkyzy (pictured above) of Kazakhstan, also born in 2014, has a classical rating near 2240 and has already produced eye-catching wins against higher rated players in 2025. At 11, she is seen in Kazakhstan as one of the country’s biggest future hopes, and her presence in a world championship event underlines that view.
As the last generation of players who at least used some books in their chess development make one of their final stands, a new era is being ushered in, with the new kids on the block.
Some of these names may soon be regulars in elite tournaments. Others will continue to climb step by step. For now – they arrive as rising stars, carrying the hopes of their parents, family members, coaches and federations, and giving the chess world a glimpse of its future.
About the event
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 is taking place in Doha, Qatar from 25 to 30 December, bringing together the world’s elite chess talent for a thrilling end-of-year showdown. Held at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University, this edition features both Open and Women’s events in Rapid and Blitz formats, with a total prize fund of €1,000,000. Doha returns as host after nine years, underscoring Qatar’s growing stature in the chess world.
The full list of registered players can be found here:
Rapid Open: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com/participants-rapid-open/
Rapid Women: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com/participants-rapid-women/
Blitz Open: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com/participants-blitz-open/
Blitz Women: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com/participants-blitz-women/
For more information about the event, including media registration, please visit: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com/
