FREESTYLE CHESS PLAYERS CLUB

FREESTYLE CHESS G.O.A.T. CHALLENGE Maria Emelianova_DSC00051

WELCOME TO THE FREESTYLE CHESS PLAYERS CLUB!

We are pleased to welcome you to the official website of the Freestyle Chess Players Club – the most exclusive chess club for the world’s best players with an Elo rating above 2725.

Our mission is to create a unique platform where chess grandmasters of the highest calibre come together to showcase their skills, exchange ideas and share the fascination of this royal game.

The Freestyle Chess Players Club has assembled a hand-picked group of 26 top chess players by invitation.

This impressive list of players includes legends such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Viswanathan Anand, as well as up-and-coming talents such as Alireza Firouzja and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.

The club offers its members exclusive benefits, including access to high-profile tournaments and the opportunity to socialise with like-minded players in a first-class location.

FREESTYLE CHESS PLAYERS CLUB

THE MEMBERS

FREESTYLE RATING: 2841

MAGNUS CARLSEN

NATIONALITY

Norway

BORN

1990

ELO

2832

WORLD RANK

Five-time classical World Chess Champion:Magnus Carlsen won the classical World Chess Championship in 2013 and successfully defended his title four times, most recently in 2021. With his wins in the 2023 Rapid and the 2023 Blitz World Championship, he became a 17-time World Chess Champion.
Highest Elo rating ever: Carlsen’s Elo rating of 2882 is the highest in history. He achieved this feat twice, first in May 2014 and then again in August 2019.
G.O.A.T.: Magnus Carlsen won the initial WEISSENHAUS Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge in February 2024.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2798.2

FABIANO CARUANA

NATIONALITY

USA

BORN

1992

ELO

2798

WORLD RANK

World Championship Challenger: Fabiano Caruana won the Candidates Tournament in 2018. He challenged Magnus Carlsen in the 2018 World Championship Match, where he drew all twelve of the classical games but lost in the rapid tiebreaks.
Candidates Tournament Performances: Caruana has consistently qualified and participated in the Candidates Tournaments. He placed second in the 2016 Candidates Tournament and has participated in all subsequent Candidates Tournaments in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
Third Highest Elo Rating ever: With a peak rating of 2844, Caruana is the third-highest-rated player in history. He achieved this rating in October 2014.

HIKARU NAKAMURA

NATIONALITY

USA

BORN

1987

ELO

2802

WORLD RANK

Chess960 World Champion: Hikaru Nakamura won the Chess960 World Championship twice. He first won in 2009 when it was privately organized and then again the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship in 2022.
Candidates Tournaments: Nakamura has participated in three Candidates Tournaments: 2016, 2018, and 2022. His best performance was in 2022, where he finished in fourth place.
Five-time U.S. Chess Champion: Nakamura won the U.S. Chess Championship in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2722.6

DING LIREN

NATIONALITY

China

BORN

1992

ELO

2736

WORLD RANK

#15

World Chess Champion: Ding Liren won the World Chess Championship in 2023.
Candidates Tournaments: Ding Liren has participated in three Candidates Tournaments: 2018, 2020, and 2022. His best performance was in 2022, where he finished in second place and qualified for the 2023 World Chess Championship match.
Chinese Chess Champion: Ding Liren is a three-time Chinese Chess Champion, having won the championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2738.4

NODIRBEK ABDUSATTOROV

NATIONALITY

Uzbekistan

BORN

2004

ELO

2766

WORLD RANK

World Rapid Chess Champion: Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the World Rapid Chess Championship in 2021, becoming the youngest ever World Rapid Champion at 17 years and 3 months, and the youngest ever open world chess champion in any time format.
Early Achievement: Abdusattorov became a Grandmaster at the age of 13 years, 1 month, and 11 days, making him the seventh youngest Grandmasters in history.
Chess Olympiad Winner: In 2022, Abdusattorov played board 1 for Uzbekistan at the 44th Chess Olympiad, where his team won gold and he won an individual silver medal for his board 1 performance.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2779.6

ALIREZA FIROUZJA

NATIONALITY

France

BORN

2003

ELO

2767

WORLD RANK

World Championship Cycle: Alireza Firouzja is a two-time World Championship candidate, having qualified for both the 2022 and 2024 FIDE Candidates.
Chess960: In April 2019, Firouzja won the European Fischer Random Championship with a score of 8/9.
Notable Achievements: Firouzja is the youngest player to have surpassed a FIDE rating of 2800, breaking the previous record set by Magnus Carlsen. He also won the Grand Chess Tour in 2022.

IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI

NATIONALITY

Russia

BORN

1990

ELO

2755

WORLD RANK

World Championship Cycle: Ian Nepomniachtchi has played in two World Championship matches. After winning the 2020-21 Candidates Tournament, he challenged Magnus Carlsen for the 2021 World Championship. He then won the 2022 Candidates Tournament and faced Ding Liren in the 2023 World Championship, but lost in tiebreaks.
Notable successes: Among many other wins, Nepomniachtchi is a two-time champion of Russia. He won the World Championship (2013) and the European Championship (2015) with the Russian team.
Chess960: In the 2022 Fischer Random World Championship, Nepomniachtchi reached the final and won the silver medal.

WESLEY SO

NATIONALITY

USA

BORN

1993

ELO

2752

WORLD RANK

#10

Chess960: Wesley So won the inaugural FIDE World Fischer Random Chess Championship in 2019, defeating the reigning classical World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the final match with a convincing score of 13.5-2.5.
Classical Chess Achievements: Wesley So won the Grand Chess Tour twice, in 2016 and 2021. He won the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in 2017 and the Sinquefield Cup in 2016.
World Championship Cycle: Wesley So qualified for the Candidates Tournaments in 2018 and 2022.

ANISH GIRI

NATIONALITY

The Netherlands

BORN

1994

ELO

2724

WORLD RANK

#22

Major Victories: Anish Giri has had significant victories in major tournaments. He won the 2023 Tata Steel Chess Tournament, the 2019 Shenzhen Masters, the 2017 Reykjavik Open, and the 2012 Reggio Emilia tournament.
World Championship Cycle: Giri ist a two-time World Championship Candidate, qualifying for the 2016 and 2020 Candidates Tournament.
Rating Record: Anish Giri achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2802 on February 15, 2015.

WEI YI

NATIONALITY

China

BORN

1999

ELO

2762

WORLD RANK

Major Victories: Wei Yi won the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament. He also won the Chinese Chess Championship three times.
Rating Achievements: Wei Yi is the youngest player ever to reach a rating of 2700, accomplishing this feat at age 15.
Youth Achievements: Wei Yi became a Grandmaster at the age of 13 years, 8 months and 23 days, making him the 9th youngest in history. He is a former World Youth Chess Champion.

VISWANATHAN ANAND

NATIONALITY

India

BORN

1969

ELO

2751

WORLD RANK

#11

World Championships: Anand is a five-time World Chess Champion. He won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000. He became the undisputed World Champion in 2007 and defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008, Veselin Topalov in 2010, and Boris Gelfand in 2012.
Rating Achievements: Anand achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2817 in March 2011.
Youth Achievements: As the “father of Indian chess”, Anand became the first Grandmaster from India in 1988. He won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1987.

ARJUN ERIGAISI

NATIONALITY

India

BORN

2003

ELO

2778

WORLD RANK

Major Victories: Arjun Erigaisi has won the 2022 Tata Steel Challengers, the 2022 Abu Dhabi Chess Festival, and the 2022 Indian National Championship. In 2023, he won the Sharjah Masters, in 2024 the Menorca Open and the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.
Rating Achievements: Arjun achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2778 in July 2024, making him the number four player in the world.
Youth Achievements: Arjun became a Grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, and 13 days.He won a silver medal in the 2015 Asian Youth Championship in Korea.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2729.4

DOMMARAJU GUKESH

NATIONALITY

India

ELO

2764

WORLD RANK

World Championship Cycle: Gukesh won the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament, making him the youngest player in history to win a Candidates Tournament. He is set to play for the World Championship title in late 2024.
Rating Achievements: Gukesh is the third-youngest player to reach a chess rating of 2700 and the youngest to reach a rating of 2750.
Youth Achievements: Gukesh won five gold medals at the 2018 Asian Youth Chess Championships in the U-12 individual rapid and blitz, U-12 team rapid and blitz, and U-12 individual classical formats.

LEINIER DOMÍNGUEZ

NATIONALITY

USA

BORN

1983

ELO

2748

WORLD RANK

#13

World Championships: Leinier Dominguez was the world champion in blitz chess in 2008. He competed in the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2002 and 2004.
Rating Achievements: Dominguez achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2768 in May 2014. He was ranked No. 8 in the world in January 2024.
Youth Achievements: Dominguez won the World Under-18 Championship in 2002 and the World Junior Chess Championship in 2004.

RAMESHBABU PRAGGNANANDHAA

NATIONALITY

India

BORN

2005

ELO

2750

WORLD RANK

#12

World Championship Cycle: Praggnanandhaa had an exceptional performance in the FIDE World Cup 2023, where he reached the finals, becoming the second Indian ever to do so. With that, he became the third-youngest player ever to qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
National Team: With the India-2 team, Praggnanandhaa won the bronze medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in his hometown Chennai.
Rating and Youth Achievements: He became a Grandmaster at the age of 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days, making him the second-youngest Grandmaster at that time. He won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013 and the Under-10 title in 2015.

VIDIT SANTOSH GUJRATHI

NATIONALITY

India

BORN

1994

ELO

2720

WORLD RANK

#24

World Championship Cycle: Vidit won the 2023 Grand Swiss, qualifying him for the 2024 Candidates Tournament.
Major Victories: Vidit won the 2018 Tata Steel Challengers, and the 2019 Biel tournament.
Youth Achievements: Vidit became a Grandmaster in January 2013. He won the Under-14 World Championship in 2008.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2749.6

LEVON ARONIAN

NATIONALITY

USA

BORN

1982

ELO

2729

WORLD RANK

#21

World Championship Cycle: Levon Aronian won the FIDE World Cup in 2005 and 2017. He also won the FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010. He is a six-time World Championship candidate, each time being considered a strong contender to challenge the reigning World Champion.
Chess960 Successes: Levon Aronian won the (inofficial) Chess960 World Championship in 2006 and 2007.
Team Competitions: Aronian led the Armenian national team to gold medals in the Chess Olympiads of 2006 (Turin), 2008 (Dresden), and 2012 (Istanbul), and at the World Team Chess Championship in Ningbo 2011.

SHAKHRIYAR MAMEDYAROV

NATIONALITY

Azerbaijan

BORN

1985

ELO

2733

WORLD RANK

#17

World Championship Cycle: Mamedyarov has competed in the Candidates Tournament three times, specifically in 2011, 2014, and 2018.
Major Victories: Mamedyarov won the 2013 World Rapid Championship. He is also a two-time winner of the Tal Memorial (2010 and 2014) and Shamkir Chess (2016 and 2017). In 2018, he won the Biel Chess Festival.
Rating and Youth Achievements: Mamedyarov achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2820 in September 2018, making him the sixth-highest-rated player in chess history. He won the World Junior Championship twice, in 2003 and 2005.

FREESTYLE RATING: 2747.2

VINCENT KEYMER

NATIONALITY

Germany

BORN

2004

ELO

2730

WORLD RANK

#20

World Rapid Chess Championship: Vincent Keymer finished as the runner-up in the 2022 World Rapid Chess Championship, scoring 9.5/13 points and beating many world-class players including Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Youngest German Grandmaster: Keymer became a Grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, and 4 days, making him the youngest German Grandmaster in history. He’s the highest rated German player ever.
Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge: In the 2024 Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge, Keymer initially performed among the very top players. As the tournament progressed, he finished in 7th place – winning his final match against World Champion Ding Liren.

ALEXANDER GRISCHUK

NATIONALITY

Russia

BORN

1983

ELO

2689

WORLD RANK

#39

World Championship Cycle: Grischuk has competed in five Candidates Tournaments, in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2020.
Major Victories: Grischuk is a three-time world blitz chess champion (in 2006, 2012, and 2015). He also won the Russian Chess Championship in 2009.
Rating and Youth Achievements: Grischuk achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2810 in December 2014. He became a Grandmaster in 2000.

JAN-KRZYSZTOF DUDA

NATIONALITY

Poland

BORN

1998

ELO

2732

WORLD RANK

#18

World Championship Cycle: Duda won the 2021 FIDE World Cup, which led to his qualification for the 2022 Candidates Tournament.
Chess960: Duda topped the eight-player lineup for the Finals of the 2024 Chess.com Chess960 Championship after finishing the first qualifier with a perfect 9/9 score.
Youth Achievements: Duda won the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-10 category in 2008 and the European Youth Chess Championship in the under-14 category in 2012.

LÊ QUANG LIÊM

NATIONALITY

Vietnam

BORN

1991

ELO

2741

WORLD RANK

#14

Major Victories: Le Quang Liem has won the 2013 World Blitz Championship. He also won the Asian Chess Championship in 2019.
Consecutive Wins in Biel: Le Quang Liem has shown exceptional performance in the Biel International Grandmaster Triathlon, winning it three consecutive times in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Rating and Youth Achievements: Le Quang Liem won the Under-14 World Youth Championship in 2005. He became a Grandmaster in 2006 and has been leading the Vietnamese national team ever since.

MAXIME VACHIER-LAGRAVE

NATIONALITY

France

BORN

1990

ELO

2731

WORLD RANK

#19

World Championship Cycle: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave competed in the Candidates Tournament in 2020-2021.
Major Victories and Championships: Vachier-Lagrave won the World Blitz Championship in 2021. He is a three-time French Chess Champion, five-time winner of the Biel Grandmaster Tournament and a two-time European Blitz Champion.
Rating and Youth Achievements: Vachier-Lagrave achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2819 in August 2016, making him the seventh highest rated player in history. He became a Grandmaster in 2005.

YU YANGYI

NATIONALITY

China

BORN

1994

ELO

2703

WORLD RANK

#29

Major Victories: Yu Yangyi won the 2013 World Blitz Championship. He is also a three-time Chinese Chess Champion, and the 2014 Asian Chess Champion.
Chess960: Yu Yangyi won the Accentus Chess960 event at the 56th Biel International Chess Festival in 2023.
Youth Achievements: Yu Yangyi became a Grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, and 23 days. He won the Under-10 World Championship in 2004.

PARHAM MAGHSOODLOO

NATIONALITY

Iran

BORN

2000

ELO

2723

WORLD RANK

#23

World Junior Chess Champion: In 2018, Maghsoodloo won the World Junior Chess Championship with a stunning performance, going 9.5/10 points and clinching the event with one round to go.
Asian Games Gold Medalist: Maghsoodloo represented Iran in the 2022 Asian Games and won a gold medal in the Men’s team event.
National Champion: He won the Iranian Chess Championship three times in 2017, 2018, and 2021.

RICHARD RAPPORT

NATIONALITY

Hungary

BORN

1996

ELO

2715

WORLD RANK

#25

World Championship Cycle: In 2022, Rapport won the second leg of the FIDE Grand Prix. This victory was his qualification for the Candidates Tournament in the same year.
Youngest Hungarian Grandmaster: Rapport earned his grandmaster title at the age of 13 years, 11 months, and six days, making him Hungary’s youngest ever grandmaster.
Coaching Success: Rapport was the main second of Ding Liren in the 2023 World Chess Championship, helping Ding to become the World Champion.