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3/1/2017 – In a list with several notable results, including an important one as Wesley So moves to world no. 2 as a result of Fabiano Caruana's subpar performance at the Gibraltar Masters, the most important one is without question Ju Wenjun's leap to 2604, thus becoming the fifth female to crack 2600, following Judit Polgar, Humpey Koneru, Hou Yifan, and Anna Muzychuk. Here is the report with results of the new ratings list.

FIDE March 2017 – Top 100 Players

If this picture looks familiar (as in: the last ratings article started with it as well) it is because in spite of not having played any games this month, the games from the Gibraltar Masters were computed, leading Fabiano Caruana to drop 10 points, ceding the no. 2 spot to Wesley So.

It should also be noted this is the first time the list has ever shown five players at 2800, though in contrast the number of 2700 players has not changed. What has changed is just how competitive the top six or eight are. Another point worth making is that the entry to the Top 100 jumped 4 Elo this month alone, meaning that instead of 2655, the minimum now is 2659, but it might be a statistical blip, and the next months will show whether this is to stay. It has swung up and down more than once in the past years.

Top climbers and descenders

The list below already tells much of the tale: with a huge list of players who experienced gains or losses of at least 10 Elo.

David Anton Guijarro earned a fantastic 27 Elo, leaping from 2640 to 2676 in a single bound after his superb result in the Gibraltar Masters, tied for first with a 2859 performance.

Sandro Mareco (pictured above in the American Continental) was another big winner as he scored a perfect 9.0/9 in the Montevideo tournament "Copa Marcel Duchamp 2017". It's true that most of his opponents were rated roughly 150-200 Elo less, but it still takes doing to score a perfect 100%.

FIDE Top 100 Women

Of all the results among the women, the clear standout was Ju Wenjun, whose superb performance at the Gibraltar Master punctuated her rise, and made her the 5th female to break 2600.

FIDE Top 100 Juniors

Though certainly filled with a fair share of ups and downs, there were no real shockers this month.

FIDE Top 100 Girls

With three excellent results in a row in Russia, such as the Moscow Open B, 16-year-old Irina Drogovoz championed the gains in the Top 100 Girls list with a clean +99 Elo, moving up to 2292 Elo.

Top 100 Rapid

Women's Top 50 Rapid

Top 100 Blitz

Women's Top 50 Blitz

Source: FIDE