As of mid‑2025, FIDE has awarded approximately 1,770 GM titles worldwide, with around 1,230 actively playing today.
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A chess grandmaster is a title awarded by FIDE to players who meet excellent performance and rating requirements, such as an Elo rating of 2500 or more. There are over 2000 players worldwide who have earned the Grandmaster title from FIDE - the International Chess Federation. However, not all of them are currently maintaining an Elo rating over 2500.
But what is a grandmaster in chess? We don't need to fret over semantics. The FIDE has the whole grandmaster system figured out. In this article, we will do a deep dive into the list of chess grandmasters.
List of top 10 GMs
While more than 2000 players currently hold the GM title, only around 700–800 are considered active in FIDE-rated tournaments at any given time. The title is held for life and is not revoked if a player's rating later falls below 2500 :)
Earning the Grandmaster title is the highest official recognition in the chess world, and once awarded, the title is held for life. Canada is home to a small but growing number of Grandmasters, contributing to the global chess scene through competitive play.
| Rank | Player | Country | Elo Rating |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen | Norway | 2830 |
| 2 | Hikaru Nakamura | USA | 2795 |
| 3 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Russia | 2789 |
| 4 | Alireza Firouzja | France | 2774 |
| 5 | Fabiano Caruana | USA | 2770 |
| 6 | Ding Liren | China | 2765 |
| 7 | Wesley So | USA | 2756 |
| 8 | Anish Giri | Netherlands | 2749 |
| 9 | Levon Aronian | USA | 2743 |
| 10 | Dommaraju Gukesh | India | 2739 |
Did you know that, long before The Queen's Gambit, women were making waves in chess? Find out about some of the most remarkable female chess grandmasters.
Who Is the No.1 Chest Grand Master?
Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen was born on November 30, 1990, in Tonsberg, Norway. In 2004, at the age of 13, Carlsen became an International Grandmaster (GM), at that time the second youngest in history. In 2007, he became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of the World Chess Cup. In 2008, at the age of 17, he entered the Top 10 of the world ranking and won the prestigious Wijk aan Zee tournament. Today, Carlsen is the five-time world chess champion, the five-time world rapid chess champion, and the eight-time world blitz chess champion.
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How Many Grandmasters Are There by Country
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 countries with the highest number of titled Grandmasters (as of 2025), including Canada:
| Country | Number of GMs |
| Russia | 245 |
| United States | 110+ |
| Germany | 95+ |
| Ukraine | 90+ |
| India | 80+ |
| France | 60+ |
| China | 55+ |
| Spain | 50+ |
| Armenia | 45+ |
| Canada | 11 |
Overlooking how chess players achieved their grandmaster titles - whether they followed the prescribed path of ascent or took a more direct route, and regardless of which category any player might fit in - Seniors, Juniors, or Women, there are 2000 names on FIDE's list of chess grandmasters as of 2025.
However, the number of currently active grandmasters is substantially lower because, once a player earns their title, it is theirs for life unless they are caught cheating. That means that a chess player may retire from competition - meaning they are no longer a contender you have to play against, or they may become inactive - they're either taking a break from competitive play or they've stopped playing but haven't formally declared their retirement.
Even if they're no longer living, they are still listed on the FIDE grandmaster rolls. Many grandmasters may have ELO ratings below 2500 but retain the title, as it is not revoked due to rating loss.
If you consider only active grandmasters, meaning they regularly participate in FIDE-rated events, the number shrinks to around 700–800.
That is certainly a more palatable number for aspiring chess grandmasters, isn't it? If you have plans to add your name to that roster, you may need to know who the current Chess Grandmasters are.
International Masters vs. Grandmasters - What's the Difference?
Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) are titles awarded by FIDE based on performance norms and Elo ratings.
| Criteria | International Master (IM) | Grandmaster (GM) |
| Minimum Elo Rating | 2400 | 2500 |
| Norm Requirements | 3 FIDE-approved norms | 3 norms vs. GMs |
| Typical Path | Mid-tier international | Top-tier international |
| Global Recognition | High | Highest in chess |
| Canadian Examples | Jason Cao (IM) | Eric Hansen (GM) |
Practically every chess player who is serious about the game sets their sights on the ultimate title: Grandmaster (GM). Those in the know aim for Super Grandmaster status — a term informally used for elite players with very high Elo ratings, though it's not an official FIDE title.
Like the martial arts with its belt system, FIDE provides a ranking system through which chess players can be categorized. Interestingly, players do not need to earn each title in sequence.
Several GMs earned their title without first being an IM, Mikhail Tal and Anish Giri among them. And the legendary Bobby Fischer, the American chess prodigy who defeated Boris Spassky in the Game of the Century, was titled GM and IM simply because he qualified for them — not because he played for them.
Today, FIDE applies clear performance and rating criteria to ensure consistency and fairness in awarding titles. While IM is a prestigious achievement, the GM title represents the highest level of mastery in chess.
Start taking online chess lessons to achieve mastery here.
Why the Number of GMs Keeps Growing
Historically, chess grandmasters were often older, European men with a very specific profile. Today, chess players come from all over the world and represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and playing styles. To reflect this diversity, FIDE has expanded the types of events that can lead to official titles.
In the World Senior Championship, players aged 50 and older can compete in two age-based divisions. A second- or third-place finish can earn them the title of International Master (IM). Similarly, in the Women's World Championship, the second-place finisher may also be awarded the IM title. Youth players have even more structured opportunities to progress through elite international competitions.
The U16, U18, and U20 World Championships can all serve as pathways to the IM or GM titles, depending on performance and rating. For example, if a U16 or U18 player wins their World Championship and has an Elo rating of 2200 or higher, they may be awarded the IM title. In the U20 division, players placing second or third with the required rating may also receive the IM title.
All of this reflects how the chess world has evolved since Bobby Fischer earned his GM title at age 15. Today, the title is being achieved at even younger ages.
This trend is driven by countries like India, Russia, and the U.S. leading in GM development — but growth is also visible in emerging chess nations like Uzbekistan, Iran, and even Canada. Discover the country with the most chess grandmasters. How many gms are there in the world? Do you know which one?
In 2021, Abhimanyu Mishra broke Sergey Karjakin's long-standing record by becoming the youngest Grandmaster in history at just 12 years and 4 months old.
How Many Chess Grandmasters Are Women?
Did you know that, long before The Queen's Gambit, women were making waves in chess? Of the more than 2,000 grandmasters worldwide, fewer than 50 are women, which is about 2%. Although women compete for the same grandmaster title as men, FIDE also awards the title of grandmaster (WGM), whose performance and rating requirements are slightly lower.
Outstanding female grandmasters:
Considered by many to be the greatest player in history, she refused to participate in women-only tournaments.
Former women's world champion and GM since the age of 14.
Former Women's World Champion.
European Women's Champion and top board for Georgia in team competitions.
Canada currently has several remarkable female chess players with titles (WIM and WGM), including Maili-Jade Ouellet.
What Does it Take to Become a Grandmaster?
Set aside, for now, the need for dedication to the sport and starting as young as possible - two personal factors that are essential to achieve the highest level of skill in chess. FIDE has specific requirements every player must meet to claim the title of Grandmaster. You must complete three norms and hold an Elo rating of at least 2500 at any point in your career.
A norm is a tournament performance that meets strict FIDE criteria. These tournaments must include at least nine rounds, be overseen by an International Arbiter, and involve at least three Grandmasters from three different federations. To earn a norm, a player must achieve a performance rating of 2600 or higher during that event. Three such performances (norms) in eligible tournaments are required.
The chess Elo rating system calculates players' skill levels. If you win the match, you will 'receive' some of your opponent's rating. Your rating will increase, and theirs will decrease. By this, we see that Elo is not a matter of accruing points that are forever attributed to you; you must constantly improve your rating. Also, it shows that you must earn your rating; it's not bestowed upon you based on how many matches you play.
You can build your rating by playing in FIDE-rated chess tournaments sponsored by your local chess club. If you're still in school, you can join the chess club and compete against other schools in your area. Naturally, you should become a member of your country's Chess Federation as well as a registered FIDE member. In short, you should do what all of the grandmasters of chess before you have done: dedicate yourself to the game.
If you have plans to add your name to that roster, you might need to know who currently sits at the top of the list of chess grandmasters.
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