Who has gained the most points in the FIDE women’s rating list in 2025? From Chu Jiner, Karissa Yip to Zhenya Balabayeva, Tatev Abrahamyan – find out the details.
2025 was a year of historic change in the women’s chess world rankings. A group of young and returning players showed remarkable progress, with Zhenya Balabayeva making the most notable achievement, gaining 121 rating points for the year. This is not just a number, but a strong statement that women’s chess has entered a highly dynamic and competitive era, where the emergence of new talents is astonishing.
The journey to the top
Even those who have been in the top 100 since the beginning of the year have seen their ratings rise significantly.
- Chu Jiner: She gained 65 points to move up to second in the world rankings after winning the 2024-2025 Women’s Grand Prix. This feat is rare against strong opponents.
- Carissa Yip: She added 58 points to move into the top 20 for the first time after winning the Spring Classic and especially the Cairns Cup. The win helped her earn her second Grandmaster norm.
- Song Yuxin and Anna Shukhman: The two junior stars who gained the most points from within the top 100. Song gained 73 points and Shukhman 66 points to move into the top 30 women’s rankings. Song’s progress was the result of her strong performances at the Fujairah Masters and the Women’s Grand Swiss.
Top 100 debut: The rise of new stars
The stories of players who have proven their worth and made it onto the list from outside the top 100 at the start of the year are even more inspiring.
| Player Name | Current Rating | Rating Gain in Year | Major Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xeniya Balabayeva | 2371 | +121 | Grenke Open, Asian Women’s Championship, Oskemen Open Masters |
| Tatevik Abrahamyan | 2389 | +79 | Excellent result at Budapest One Week Tournament (+62); Return to top 100 after 5 years |
| Bat-Erdene Mungunzul | 2347 | +79 | FIDE World Junior Championship, Asian Women’s Championship and Mongolian Women’s Championship wins |
| Joy Tang | 2356 | +58 | Secured place in top 100 |
Zhenya Balabayeva‘s 121 points is not only the biggest one-year rating improvement in 2025, but perhaps the biggest one-year rating improvement in women’s chess in recent memory. Her journey began with a strong result at the Grenke Open (+39), followed by consecutive successes at the Asian Women’s Championship (+41) and the Oskemen Open Masters (+39) that took her into the top 70.
Tides of Change: What Does This Data Indicate?
This 2025 ratings explosion points to a few clear trends:
- Junior dominance: Song Yuxin, Anna Shukhman, Zhenya Balabayeva, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul—these names prove that young talent is taking women’s chess by storm.
- Global competition: China, the United States, Kazakhstan, Mongolia—these players from various countries on this list demonstrate the global expansion and depth of competition in women’s chess.
- The return of veterans: The return of players like Tatev Abrahamian to the top 100 after five years proves that it is possible to reach the top again through hard work and determination.
Challenges and prospects for 2026
The biggest challenge after a successful year is to maintain consistency. The rise in ratings means they will now face stronger opponents, where every point will be harder to earn than before. The big question now is whether the ‘intended performers’ of 2025 can maintain their success in 2026.
At the same time, this rise has made the future of women’s chess very bright. This new blood flow will make tournaments even more uncertain and exciting. We may see how these youngsters challenge established names like Hou Yifan and Alexandra Goryachkina in the future.
Is this 2025 rating revolution ushering in a new golden age for women’s chess? Or will it be a collection of a few bright moments? We will have to wait for the 2026 tournaments to find out. But one thing is for sure, next month’s ratings list will be different! Read more
(This article is based on FIDE press releases, rating lists and related tournament reports.)