Magnus CarlsenAlready the top FIDE-ranked player for the last 3 years, Magnus Carlsen has surpassed Gary Kasparov’s record rating of 2,851. With sweeping victories at the recent London Chess Classic, Grandmaster Carlsen achieved a rating of 2861.

The rating system is meant to provide an estimate of a player’s current strength in tournament play. World Champion, Viswanathan Anand, is actually currently ranked sixth with a rating of 2,775. Magnus Carlsen may have an opportunity to face him for the title, though. A championship match is scheduled for next year, with candidate matches March in London.