King Watcher is starting a new monthly column the Chess Power Rankings, where we make a top 10 list of elite players according to their strength, form, influence, and potential. In January, one of the biggest events of the year took place, the annual Tata Steel Chess Tournament. The starting grid was impressive, with five players from the top 10 of the world ranking. Our list contains seven participants in the tournament.

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1. Magnus Carlsen

World Ranking: 1, Rating: 2852

The reigning world champion and the leader of the world ranking is the easiest choice on the list. He is the classical, rapid and blitz world champion and over 50 rating points ahead of everyone. Without a question, he is the strongest player in the world.

2. Anish Giri

World Ranking: 5, Rating: 2780

Currently, the best in-form player just took home first place from the Tata Steel Masters tournament. He will play a lot of classical chess this year. We are sure that we will see him in the 2800+ club in the coming months. His playing style has become more aggressive in the past years. Also, he is one of the most active and popular chess players on social media.

3. Ding Liren

World Ranking: 3, Rating: 2788

One of the most stable players in the world had a rough start in 2023, losing over 20 points in one tournament. He played little outside of China in the past years, maybe that is why he was a little rusty. In April, he will need more to become the first Chinese World Chess Champion.

4. Ian Nepomniatchi

World Ranking: 2, Rating: 2793

Ian last year won the Candidate’s Tournament for the second time. Demonstrated he can bring his best game when it matters. With a roughly equal opponent in the world championship match, he can show what he is capable of.

5. Alireza Firouzja

World Ranking: 4 Rating: 2785

The top junior on the list. With two major tournament wins in 2022, and a constant rating of around 2800, Firouzja established himself as one of the best in the world. His attractive and aggressive playing style is fun to watch. Hopefully, we can see him a lot in 2023.

6. Fabiano Caruana

World Ranking: 7, Rating: 2766

Once the undisputed second-strongest player in the world is close to fallout from the top 10, which would be a tremendous surprise. He started the year with an average performance in Wijk aan Zee. However, it would be good to see a top Caruana this year.

7. Hikaru Nakamura

World Ranking: 6, Rating: 2768

The king of chess streaming showed his creativity last year with a World Champion title in Fischer Random Chess. He doesn’t play much classical chess, and since 2020, he only took part in the last world championship cycle.

8. Wesley So

World Ranking: 8, Rating: 2766

He is an established member of the world’s top 10 since the mid-2010s. So had a fairly good tournament in Wijk aan Zee, which earned him a place in our ranking.

9. Nodirbek Abdusattorov

World Ranking: 18, Rating: 2734

The fresh Olympic champion showed his class in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. He finished second after a last-round loss. It is clear to us that the 18 years old Abdusattorov will soon climb the world rankings and this list too.

10. Gukesh D

World Ranking: 29, Rating: 2718

The youngest player in our top 10. Gukesh, after a top performance in the Olympics, got a lot of invitations to the elite tournaments. He needs to hold on to this chance because the new generation has a lot of talented players who are waiting for their time to show what can they do.

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We are expecting a lot of movement in February as there will be a few events with 2700-rated players playing in them. The biggest will be the Dusseldorf WR Chess Masters 2023, where Nepomniachtchi, Giri, So, Aronian, Duda, Gukesh, and Abdusattorov will be playing.