2026 – Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Currently rated in the top five players in the world, Nodirbek Abdusattorov is viewed by many as a potential world champion. Abdusattorov first came to the attention of the chess world when he won the World Under 8 Championship back in 2012. He became a Grandmaster at 13 and won the World Rapid Championship (2021) at the age of 17 years and three months, the youngest ever World Champion at any time control. 

Abdusattorov led Uzbekistan to a team gold medal in the Chennai Olympiad (2022), earning an individual silver on board one.  He also led Uzbekistan to a bronze medal in the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The same year he won the Prague Masters. Abdusattorov started this year off with brilliant results at the Tata Steel tournament and the Prague Masters, both of which he won in impressive fashion.