New Year, New Ratings

FIDE recently released their January 2009 Rating List. Veselin Topalov takes the top spot this time around, just missing out on the 2800 barrier at 2796. It's worth noting that Topalov would have surpassed 2800 had the Nanjing tournament been rated.

Other items of note from the latest list:

• Coming off of the World Championship match, Vishy Anand moved up to 2nd, while Vladimir Kramnik has fallen to 8th. Much like on the last list, however, there is great parity at the top; the top 11 players are separated by less than 50 rating points.
• Judit Polgar might be getting some competition for the title of top-rated woman in the world. While Polgar has fallen below 2700 (her rating is now 2693, to be exact), India's Humpy Koneru has risen to 2621. If she continues to improve, Koneru should soon become the second woman in the world's top 100.
• China's Hou Yifan continues her meteoric rise, and is now the 3rd strongest woman in the world -- at age 14! She's also the strongest player in the world among 14-year-olds, and in the top 20 overall among players under 18.

There has been some ratings inflation over the years (whether this is good, bad or neutral is an entirely different debate), which explains why there are so many 2700 players these days. What I find amazing is the fact that this inflation hasn't -- as of yet -- created more 2800 players! This still seems to be a barrier than only the elite can cross, although right now it may be more of an indication that there is balance among the top players, rather than a dominant player or two. If someone becomes the clear #1 in the coming years (Magnus, we're looking at you), it's likely they'll go well over 2800.