Rating1 slot in Candidates
Rating Qualifier
The player with the highest average rating across 6 consecutive monthly Standard ELO lists (August 2025 – January 2026). Minimum games: 40 from February 2025 to January 2026, including ≥15 in any 6 consecutive rating lists.
Who qualified through this path
Events
Rating Qualifier
Aug 2025 – Jan 2026Highest average rating across 6 monthly Standard ELO lists (August 2025 – January 2026). Minimum 40 games, including 15 in any 6 consecutive months.
| # | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸Hikaru Nakamura | 2802 |
| 2 | 🇮🇳Arjun Erigaisi | 2792 |
| 3 | 🇫🇷Alireza Firouzja | 2785 |