Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast EP 156 | Who Will Be Top -10 in June 2026?
Jun 20, 2025
The hosts dive into their past predictions for the top chess players of June 2025, revealing surprising outcomes. They explore the rising talents like Gukesh and Nihal Sarin, comparing them to established players such as Nakamura and Anand. A heated debate erupts around the future of players like Firouzja and Niemann as the rankings are reassessed. The episode also covers a dramatic pawn sacrifice that changed the game in a recent tournament, and how various dynamics could shift the chess landscape by 2026.
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Transcript
Episode notes
Ratings Reflect Motivation And Activity
- The top players' ratings show natural fluctuations tied to their activity and motivation levels.
- Older players tend to decline due to less motivation and fewer games, while juniors gradually rise.
Minimal Play Maintains Ratings
- Current top players sometimes hold ratings by minimal play rather than active competition.
- Blitz, rapid, and online events affect ratings but classical ratings have inertia.
Top 10 Entry Challenges For Juniors
- Young talents like Sinderov, Sadwani, and Merzin have slim chances to reach top 10 soon.
- Hans Niemann stands a better chance due to recent rating surge and activity.