The International Chess Federation has published its February 2026 rating list, showing minimal shifts at the top ranks. Women dominated the biggest gains, with several players making notable debuts in the top 100. Emerging talents from regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also secured their first international ratings.
The FIDE February 2026 rating list, released on January 31, 2026, reflects performances from January tournaments, though results from the ongoing Tata Steel Chess Tournament will appear in the March list. At the elite level, the only significant movement saw Chinese grandmaster Tan Zhongyi return to the women's top five after gaining 11 points in the Chinese Chess League Division A.
Women led the top gainers in both open and women's categories. WIM Rachael Li topped the list with a 30-point increase from her performance at the 35th Annual North American Open, earning her a debut in the women's top 100. Kazakh player Amina Kairbekova added 31 points at the Marienbad Open, reaching a career-high 61st in the women's rankings. Israeli Marsel Efroimski gained 20 points across the Israel National Team Championship and Israeli Open, debuting in the women's top 50. Other strong showings included Tatjana Melamed (+20) in German team events and Yan Tianqi (+19) in China.
In the open section, Turkish youngster Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus continued his rise with 11 points, highlighted by a victory over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Clash of Generations II, securing his first entry into the open top 50. Almira Skripchenko earned 10 points in Swedish competitions, and Kirill Alekseenko gained 9 in the Schachbundesliga 2025-2026.
The European Women's Rapid and Blitz Championships drove substantial changes in rapid and blitz lists. Rapid beneficiaries included Alexandra Kosteniuk (+15), Nino Batsiashvili (+11), Ekaterina Atalik (+11), and Mai Narva (+17). Blitz saw larger jumps: Oliwia Kiolbasa (+78), Alicja Sliwicka (+62), Yuliia Osmak (+49), Olga Badelka (+51), Bella Khotenashvili (+32), and Nino Batsiashvili (+39).
Regionally, four young players from India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands opened FIDE ratings: AFM B. Vignesh (classical 1620 from a tournament in Andhra Pradesh), AFM Saw Jinson Samuel (classical 1532), ACM Agrima Singh (classical 1403), and ACM Nuhaan Siddique V K (blitz 1525, under-07, from a blitz event in Assam). The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association congratulated them on this milestone.