New FIDE Ratings Lists Brings Chess A New World Number One!

report by John Lee Shaw

As is usual, April 1st has seen the release of the new FIDE ratings lists, (updated from January). For chess fans around the world, this issue of the lists will be a very poignant one, for it brings with it a certain 'finality' to the retirement from serious competition chess, of Garry Kasparov.

Kasparov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the 13th April, 1963, and given the name Garry Weinstein. Taught chess by his Father, he showed skills early on at the chessboard, and attended the Botvinnik Chess School, where he soon began to shine. After the death of his Father, he took his Mother's maiden name, and became Garry Kimovich Kasparov. This is the name by which he is more widely known. And under this name, he has given the chess world 30 years of inspirational chess -- dominating it for two decades.

After winning the USSR Junior Championship aged 16, Kasparov went on to win the World Junior Championship at the same age. On his 17th birthday, he became a Grandmaster. Nowadays, with the likes of Karjakin and Carlsen (Grandmaster's at just 15 years), and Negi of India (with 2 GM norms aged just 12) it is very easy to forget just what an achievement that was. However, it is probably fair to say, that the so-called 'wonderkids' of today descend from Kasparov's legacy. Since 1985, he has been the man in chess, and shocked the Chess World by announcing his retirement from professional chess. This, upon winning the 2005 Linares Super-GM Tournament for the 9th time.

Now, after a period of over 12 months of inactivity, Kasparov is removed from the rating list, on which he has been at number one 23 times straight, yet another record. A new name is seen there now, in the form of Vaselin Topalov, current FIDE World Champion. This is perhaps a fitting hand-over, as it was Topalov who handed Kasparov his last competitive defeat ... in his very last professional game. Of this, Garry said, 'I hoped I could do better in my last game, but unfortunately the last two games were very difficult for me, to play under such pressure, because I knew it was the end of a career which I could be proud of.' That is certainly a correct assessment, ('understatement' is probably closer to the truth).

Kasparov bows out gracefully with a final rating of 2812. This rating has still to be passed, as has his highest ever of 2851 (in 1999). And his youngest World Champion record ...? Well, one would be silly to bet against Carlsen and Karjakin, (who Kasparov himself has tipped to succeed him as the man), but only time will tell. For many, though, Kasparov will never be replaced, no matter how statistics, Champions, or ratings change over what is set to be a new era in Chess. Even those who are not huge fans of his opinions or politics, admire and respect what he produces on a chessboard, and his achievements. He now focusses his attention towards Russian politics. A staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he takes on a different kind of battle.

Chess Gateway thanks Garry Kimovich Kasparov, sincerely, for his dedication, commitment, and contribution to our wonderful sport. We wish him all the best for the future, wherever it may take him.


 So, chess has a new World Number One, and in fairness quite a surprising one in many respects. By that I mean no disrespect to Vaselin Topalov; infact, I mean it very much as a compliment to him. The improvement in his standard of play, and his results as of late are very much a credit to his hard work. No one can say that Vaselin (pictured left) has come from nowhere, he certainly hasn't. He has been consistently among the World's top 10 players now since July 2001. However, he has certainly left everyone else standing in the last couple of years where going up gears are concerned, in order to catapult himself right to the very top.

The beginning of things to come was in 2005, when he took clear third place at the Corus Tournament, Wijk aan Zee. In the same year, he shared first place in Linares with Kasparov, whom he memorably defeated in his last professional game. Since then, there was very little stopping him. He delivered players and spectators alike a wake-up call, when in the FIDE World Chess Championship in San Luis, he produced the fireworks, winning game after game to take the title.

His 2006 has been a case of ups and downs. Joint winner of Corus 2006 (along with Anand), he lost his first game since becomming World Champion, to Michael Adams in round 2. Also, his start to this year's Linares-Morelia was really quite terrible, losing to Svidler, Radjabov, and Vallejo. He ended the first half of the tournament in 7th place out of 8, and on a miserable score of +1 -3 =3. One can only speculate as to why he performed so badly, but many commentators described him as looking somewhat tired. Mexico (where the first half of the competition was staged) went somewhat 'chess crazy'. The players were mobbed 'rock star style' daily, and the demand on Topalov for interviews was very high. Of course, the standard of opposition was also very high, but just maybe Topalov's batteries got a bit over-cooked. He certainly seemed to have given them a sharp re-charge in the second half of the tournament. Upon the transfer to Linares, (Spain), he launched the come back of comebacks, taking revenge on Svidler in game 8, and handing other defeats to Aronian, Bacrot, and Leko. His second half score was an astounding +4 -0 =3, and he took clear second place, relegating Radjabov to 3rd on tiebreak. 

Whether Topalov can truly succeed Kasparov in being a dominating force in chess is a hard question to answer, for this writer at least. I think for anyone to dominate things right now would be quite an achievement. There are so many strong players around, and very little seperates those at the top. As is being shown more and more, there are no real 'favourites', It very much comes down to who produces on the day, and maybe the slightest amount of fortune. I for one find it very exciting.

One area that I think Topalov does have going for him, though, is how good an ambassador he seems to be for chess as its World Champion. I had the pleasure of meeting him at this year's Corus Tournament, and I found him to be a very approachable and pleasent person. I remember being in the playing hall one day, watching the games on the display screens, and upon turning around seeing him standing more or less right behind me, along with Silvio Danailov (his manager), and Ivan Cheparinov (his second). He was only too happy to sign my posters and tournament programme for me. He is a professional though, and there is a certain authority and prowess about him which he carries and transmits extremely well. Only his results can answer the questions that will be asked of him, and I for one look forward to reporting on it with great excitement.


FIDE Ratings: Top 10 Players as of April 1^st 2006

Fide Ratings: Top 10 Junior Players as of April 1^st 2006

The complete FIDE ratings lists can be viewed/downloaded from the FIDE website.