• Born: Nov 30, 1990 (Age 26)
• Peak Rating: 2882
• Blitz Rating: 2948
• Rapid Rating: 2919

The reigning World Champion and arguably the strongest player in the history of chess

• Born: Oct 21, 1990 (Age 26)
• Peak Rating: 2819
• Blitz Rating: 2890
• Rapid Rating: 2824

In contrast to contemporaries Carlsen and Karjakin, Vachier-Lagrave took time out to gain a university degree in mathematics

• Born: Jun 25, 1975 (Age 42)
• Peak Rating: 2817
• Blitz Rating: 2841
• Rapid Rating: 2804

The man who managed to wrest the crown from Garry Kasparov

• Born: Oct 6, 1982 (Age 34)
• Peak Rating: 2830
• Blitz Rating: 2863
• Rapid Rating: 2830

The joker in the pack of world chess

• Born: Jul 30, 1992 (Age 25)
• Peak Rating: 2844
• Blitz Rating: 2806
• Rapid Rating: 2858

The soft-spoken young American-Italian has become a rival for Carlsen

• Born: Apr 12, 1985 (Age 32)
• Peak Rating: 2800
• Blitz Rating: 2866
• Rapid Rating: 2833

Mamedyarov remains the only player to win the World Junior Championship twice

• Born: Dec 11, 1969 (Age 47)
• Peak Rating: 2817
• Blitz Rating: 2827
• Rapid Rating: 2809

The undisputed World Champion from 2007-2013 and one of the greatest talents the game has ever known

• Born: Oct 9, 1993 (Age 23)
• Peak Rating: 2822
• Blitz Rating: 2791
• Rapid Rating: 2822

Until recently the youngest player ever to cross the 2600-mark

• Born: Oct 31, 1983 (Age 33)
• Peak Rating: 2810
• Blitz Rating: 2852
• Rapid Rating: 2851

Grischuk is the most vocal advocate of blitz chess among the elite

• Born: Dec 9, 1987 (Age 29)
• Peak Rating: 2816
• Blitz Rating: 2906
• Rapid Rating: 2850

The brash and fiendishly talented American has been dividing chess fans and players ever since he burst onto the scene as a phenomenal internet blitz player