Who Will Be No. 1 After Carlsen? The Top 5 Contenders
Who Comes After Carlsen? 5 Chess Players Who Could Become World No. 1
Magnus Carlsen has been the defining figure in world chess for many years. The Norwegian remains at the top of the FIDE rating list, with 2,823 Elo in September 2026. But the gap to his closest rivals is gradually shrinking, and a whole group of players has emerged behind the world No. 1 who could challenge his dominance in the coming years.
What makes the situation particularly interesting is that Carlsen's potential successor may not be the player currently considered the obvious favorite. Some are already within a few dozen rating points of the summit, while others are only beginning to hit their stride.
Here are five chess players who can realistically be considered candidates to become the world's No. 1.
1. Hikaru Nakamura — Carlsen's Closest Challenger
Hikaru Nakamura
If we look purely at the numbers, Hikaru Nakamura is the most obvious candidate to replace Carlsen at the top.
In the September FIDE rankings, the American sits second with 2,792 Elo, just 31 points behind Carlsen.
This is no longer a theoretical possibility. Nakamura has already proven that he can compete at the very highest level of world chess.
His biggest strength is extraordinary versatility. Hikaru is dangerous in virtually every format:
* classical chess;
* rapid;
* blitz;
* online chess;
* match play.
The psychological side of his game is just as important. Nakamura is accustomed to playing under enormous pressure and rarely looks intimidated by the status of his opponent.
But there is one problem
Age.
Nakamura was born in 1987, meaning his window for making a sustained run at the world No. 1 spot is considerably narrower than that of the younger contenders.
Still, age should not be viewed as a verdict in Nakamura's case. His career has repeatedly shown that he can adapt, evolve his style and find new ways to remain competitive.
Chances of becoming No. 1: Very high in the short term.
2. Fabiano Caruana — The Perennial Contender
Fabiano Caruana
If Nakamura is a master of speed and practical fighting chess, Fabiano Caruana represents a very different type of player.
In September 2026, Caruana is third in the FIDE rankings with 2,789 Elo, just 34 points behind Carlsen.
Caruana has repeatedly been within touching distance of the top spot. More importantly, he came extremely close to becoming world champion when he challenged Carlsen in the 2018 World Championship match.
His greatest weapon is deep, fundamental preparation.
Caruana is capable of:
* analyzing openings to extraordinary depth;
* creating incredibly complex positions;
* maintaining concentration for long periods;
* converting even tiny advantages into wins;
* consistently scoring points against elite opposition.
That consistency makes him particularly dangerous.
The problem is that becoming No. 1 requires more than simply being one of the world's best players. Caruana would need a sustained period in which his results outpace those of Carlsen, Nakamura and the rest of the elite at the same time.
Chances of becoming No. 1: High, but he needs a near-perfect stretch of results.
3. Javokhir Sindarov — Perhaps the Biggest Threat from the New Generation
Javokhir Sindarov
This is where things get particularly interesting.
Javokhir Sindarov is fourth in the FIDE rankings with 2,778 Elo. He has already established himself among the absolute elite, but unlike Nakamura and Caruana, he has one enormous advantage: age.
Sindarov represents a new generation of chess players for whom a 2,750+ rating is no longer something extraordinary.
His style combines several qualities that a future world No. 1 needs:
accuracy + aggression + excellent technique + psychological resilience.
Most importantly, Sindarov does not look like a player who can reach a high rating simply because of one outstanding tournament. He is gradually becoming a permanent contender for the top spots.
That is why he should be viewed as more than a potential Top-3 player.
He is someone who could genuinely reach a point where he says:
"I want to be No. 1."
Sindarov has time on his side. And if his rating continues to rise at its current pace, the question may eventually stop being whether he can become No. 1 and become when it will happen.
Chances of becoming No. 1: Very high in the long term.
4. Nodirbek Abdusattorov — Speed, Character and Huge Potential
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Another representative of Uzbekistan is Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
In the September 2026 rankings, he sits seventh with 2,762 Elo.
At first glance, a 61-point gap to Carlsen may seem too large to overcome.
But a rating is only a snapshot of the present.
Abdusattorov has already demonstrated that he can win major tournaments and defeat some of the strongest players in the world. Even more importantly, he reached the highest levels of the game at a very young age.
He possesses several qualities that are particularly valuable in a race for the No. 1 spot:
* exceptional speed of decision-making;
* confidence in complicated positions;
* excellent technique;
* a willingness to play for wins;
* enormous competitive energy.
Abdusattorov also belongs to a generation that grew up in the era of computer-assisted preparation.
For him, deep engine work, massive opening databases and constant opponent analysis are simply part of the profession.
That is why his potential may be considerably greater than his current rating suggests.
Chances of becoming No. 1: High, especially over the next several years.
5. R Praggnanandhaa — The Fastest-Rising Candidate
R Praggnanandhaa
If we are looking for a player who is currently on a major upward trajectory, Praggnanandhaa is one of the first names that comes to mind.
In September 2026, the Indian star entered the FIDE Top 10 for the first time, climbing to No. 8 with a rating of 2,761. He gained 11 rating points during the month.
And this is not simply a random rating spike.
Praggnanandhaa has already won the 2026 Grand Chess Tour, while his results against the world's strongest players show that he can compete with the elite consistently rather than only occasionally. FIDE has also highlighted his victory at Norway Chess in June.
What is particularly impressive is how quickly he has adapted to chess at the highest level.
Praggnanandhaa is still young, yet he already has the experience of elite super-tournaments and top-level matches that usually comes much later in a player's career.
And that raises the key question:
What happens if he continues improving for another three to five years?
A 2,761 rating is already world-class.
2,800 is potentially the territory of a genuine battle for No. 1.
Beyond that, everything will depend on whether the Indian star can turn individual breakthrough performances into sustained consistency.
Chances of becoming No. 1: Very high in the long term.
What About Gukesh, Arjun and Vincent Keymer?
Of course, a list of five players does not mean that everyone else has been eliminated from the race.
Gukesh Dommaraju, the reigning world champion, is currently much lower in the September 2026 rankings than his usual position — 31st with 2,703 Elo. However, his world championship title and previous results make it impossible to write him off.
Arjun Erigaisi also remains one of the strongest players on the planet. In September, he sits ninth with 2,759 Elo.
And then there is Vincent Keymer. The German is sixth with 2,764 Elo and continues to move closer to the absolute summit.
So the real race for world No. 1 is much wider than these five names.
Who Can Actually Dethrone Carlsen?
There are two different questions here.
Who could become No. 1 first?
The most likely candidates are Nakamura or Caruana. They are already very close to Carlsen in rating and have enormous experience competing at the highest level.
Who could replace Carlsen at the top for the long term?
That is a different story.
The strongest candidates may be Sindarov, Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa.
They have something that most of their current rivals do not:
time to improve.
The Biggest Storyline in World Chess
Carlsen remains No. 1 — and remains there with a significant margin. But the situation today is very different from what it was several years ago.
There is no longer just one potential successor waiting behind him.
There is Nakamura.
There is Caruana.
There is Sindarov.
There is Abdusattorov.
There is Praggnanandhaa.
And just behind them are Gukesh, Arjun and Keymer.
That may be the best possible news for world chess.
Carlsen created an era in which the standard required to become world No. 1 reached almost unprecedented heights. Now the next generation will have to do more than simply take the vacant throne.
They will have to prove that they can surpass Carlsen himself.
And if I had to pick one player who could become the defining face of the next era of chess, my choice would be Javokhir Sindarov.
But if the past few years have taught us anything, it is that in chess, it is dangerous to crown a new king too early.
Carlsen is still on top. But the race for his throne has already begun.