Top 10 Chess Prodigies Under 18 in 2025: The Next Generation of Chess Superstars

From 11-year-old Faustino Oro breaking records to 16-year-old Ediz Gurel winning Olympiad medals, the youngest chess players in 2025 are rewriting history. Here's the complete ranking of the world's most brilliant young chess talents.

Quick Rankings Table

Introduction: The Golden Age of Chess Prodigies

Chess in 2025 is experiencing an unprecedented prodigy boom.

Players under 18 are achieving what was once thought impossible: breaking 2600 ratings as teenagers, becoming grandmasters before 13, defeating world champions, and performing at super-GM level while still in school.

This isn't your grandfather's chess. Thanks to modern engines, online training, and access to databases, today's prodigies are stronger, younger, and more dangerous than ever.

Here are the Top 10 chess prodigies under 18 dominating the chess world in 2025.

#1: Faustino Oro (Argentina) - "The Messi of Chess"

The Prodigy King

Born: October 14, 2013

Current rating: 2495

Title: International Master (IM)

Nationality: Argentina 🇦🇷

Career Milestones

Oro's rise has been meteoric. At age 9, he became the youngest player to reach 2300 rating (a record later broken by Ethan Pang). At 10 years, 8 months, and 16 days, he became the youngest International Master in history, breaking Abhimanyu Mishra's previous record.

In September 2025, Oro won the Legends & Prodigies tournament with an incredible 7.5/9 score, achieving a 2759 performance rating - the highest ever recorded by a player under 12 years old. During this tournament, he earned his first GM norm, becoming the second-youngest player ever to score a GM norm, after World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

The Path to Youngest GM

Oro now has his sights set on the biggest prize: becoming the youngest grandmaster in history. He currently has one of the three required GM norms. To break Abhimanyu Mishra's record of 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, Oro must earn his remaining two GM norms before April 14, 2026. With approximately five months remaining, chess experts give him a 60-70% chance of achieving this historic feat, assuming he gets the necessary tournament opportunities.

Giant-Killer

Oro has already defeated chess legend Magnus Carlsen in a Bullet Brawl tournament in May 2024, showcasing his ability to compete against the very best. His victories at the Legends & Prodigies tournament included wins over experienced grandmasters Julio Granda, Alan Pichot, and Pepe Cuenca.

Quote from former World Champion Veselin Topalov: "He has enormous talent and tremendous potential to go even higher, although I couldn't tell you how far, because things in chess are moving very fast lately, and tomorrow an even younger kid could emerge." Argentine media have dubbed him "The Messi of Chess," and like Lionel Messi, Oro is making his country proud while breaking records at an impossibly young age.

#2: Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Turkey) - Youngest 2600+ & 2650+ Player Ever

The Rating Record Breaker

Born: June 3, 2011

Current rating: 2651

Peak rating: 2651

Title: Grandmaster (GM)

Nationality: Turkey 🇹🇷

If Faustino Oro is the Messi of chess, then Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus might be the Cristiano Ronaldo - a slightly older rival with incredible achievements of his own. At 2651 rating, Erdogmus holds records that even Oro hasn't touched yet.

Historic Achievements

Erdogmus achieved his grandmaster title in April 2024 at the age of 12 years, 9 months, and 29 days, making him the fourth-youngest GM in history. While this doesn't beat Abhimanyu Mishra's all-time record, what happened next was unprecedented.

At age 13 in 2024, Erdogmus became the youngest player in history to cross the 2600 rating barrier. Then, in October 2025, at age 14, he became the youngest player ever to cross 2650 rating. His current 2651 rating gives him the #1 all-time "Prodigy Rank" - meaning no 14-year-old in chess history has ever been rated higher.

The Youngest GM Rankings

To clarify: Erdogmus is NOT the youngest GM ever, but he's in elite company. The youngest GMs in history are: Abhimanyu Mishra (12y 4m 25d, 2021), Sergey Karjakin (12y 7m, 2002), Gukesh Dommaraju (12y 7m 17d, 2019), Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (12y 9m 29d, 2024), and Javokhir Sindarov (12y 10m, 2018).

Elite Performances

At the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, Erdogmus posted a 2721 performance rating, demonstrating he belongs among the world's elite. He represented Turkey at the 2024 Chess Olympiad and has consistently performed above expectations at major tournaments.

Like Oro, Erdogmus has defeated Magnus Carlsen in online chess, checkmating the Norwegian legend in just 41 seconds during an online bullet tournament.

Current Trajectory

At 2651 and only 14 years old, Erdogmus is on track to become the first player ever to reach 2700 rating before age 16. His rating is higher than Gukesh's was at the same age, and the Indian recently became World Champion at 18.

#3: Ediz Gurel (Turkey) - Olympiad Bronze Medalist

Turkey's Chess Hero

Born: December 5, 2008 (age 16 in 2025)

Current rating: 2648

Peak rating: 2652 (July 2025)

Title: Grandmaster (GM)

Nationality: Turkey 🇹🇷

Ediz Gurel represents the next stage of development - a teenager who has already proven himself on the world stage. At 16 years old, Gurel is world #74 overall and has achieved something neither Oro nor Erdogmus has: an Olympic medal.

The Olympiad Heroics

At the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest (September 2024), Gurel delivered one of the tournament's best performances. Playing on board 2 for Turkey, he scored an incredible 9.0 wins and 2 draws in 11 games (9/11, 81.8%), finishing undefeated throughout the competition.

His 2755 performance rating was super-GM level, and multiple games showed 99% engine accuracy - a testament to his precise calculation and deep preparation. For his efforts, Gurel won the individual bronze medal on board 2, one of the highest honors at the Chess Olympiad.

The performance gained him 23 rating points in a single tournament, propelling him toward the 2700 barrier that defines super-grandmasters.

Other Major Achievements

Gurel became Turkey's youngest-ever grandmaster in March 2024 at age 15, winning the Prague Chess Festival Challengers section with 6.5/9 points and a 2711 performance rating. This victory qualified him for the prestigious Prague Chess Masters tournament in 2025.

In September 2025, at the FIDE Grand Swiss, Gurel defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in classical chess, becoming one of the youngest players ever to beat a reigning world champion. He also briefly became Turkey's highest-rated player in July 2025 when he reached his peak rating of 2652.

Turkey's Chess Revolution

Gurel is part of Turkey's remarkable chess boom. Together with Erdogmus, the two teenagers have put Turkey on the chess map. Their success has inspired a new generation - Turkey now has over 1.2 million licensed chess players, and the Turkish Chess Federation has established 30,000+ chess classrooms in schools nationwide.

#4: Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) - Youngest GM in History

The Record Holder

Born: February 5, 2009 (age 16 in 2025)

Current rating: 2642

Peak rating: 2642

Title: Grandmaster (GM)

Nationality: USA 🇺🇸

Abhimanyu Mishra's name will be in chess history books forever. On June 30, 2021, at just 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days old, Mishra became the youngest grandmaster in chess history, breaking Sergey Karjakin's 19-year-old record by more than two months.

The Historic Achievement

Mishra spent several months in Budapest, Hungary, playing back-to-back tournaments specifically designed to achieve GM norms. In June 2021, he won the Vezerkepzo GM Mix tournament with 7.0/9 and a 2619 performance rating, securing his third and final GM norm.

His achievement earned congratulations from chess legends including Magnus Carlsen and the previous record holder Karjakin himself, who graciously said: "I hope that he will go on to become one of the top chess players and it will be just a nice start to his big career. I wish him all the best."

The 2025 Comeback

After achieving his record, Mishra went through a period of slower progress as he adjusted to competing regularly at the GM level. But in 2025, with Faustino Oro threatening his record, Mishra came roaring back.

At the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Mishra delivered a spectacular 2828 performance rating, finishing tied for third place with 7/11 points. He was just half a point away from qualifying for the Candidates Tournament, which would have made him one of the eight players competing for a World Championship match.

The tournament included a historic moment: Mishra defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in round 5, becoming the youngest player ever to beat a reigning World Chess Champion in classical chess.

Current Form

Mishra's October 2025 rating of 2642 is a career high, and he has climbed back into the top-10 of the "Prodigy Watch" rankings. At age 16, he's showing that his early success was no fluke - he's continuing to improve and compete with the world's best.

His record as youngest GM has now stood for over four years, but with Oro needing just two more norms by April 2026, Mishra's place in history could soon have company.

#5: Roman Shogdzhiev (Russia) - Youngest IM Ever

The Record Collector

Born: February 4, 2014

Current rating: 2403

Title: International Master (IM)

Nationality: Russia 🇷🇺

At just 10 years old, Roman Shogdzhiev is collecting records like trading cards. In January 2025, he became the youngest International Master in history, breaking Faustino Oro's recent record. Then in June 2025, he became the youngest player ever to cross the 2400 rating barrier, breaking a record set by Nodirbek Abdusattorov back in 2015.

Early Dominance

Shogdzhiev announced his arrival in spectacular fashion at the 2023 World Youth Chess Championship. Playing in the Under-8 category, he won all 11 games with a perfect score - an incredibly rare achievement that showcased his tactical brilliance and composure under pressure.

But it was at the 2023 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships where Shogdzhiev truly shocked the chess world. At just 9 years old, he defeated five different grandmasters across the two formats, demonstrating that his talent was no fluke.

The Competition with Oro

Shogdzhiev and Oro have already faced each other, with Oro winning their first encounter in Fujairah in 2024. As both pursue the youngest-GM record, they represent a fascinating rivalry. Shogdzhiev is younger (age 10 vs Oro's 11), but Oro has already crossed 2500 and earned a GM norm.

With a 2403 rating at age 10, Shogdzhiev is slightly behind Oro's pace, but he has time on his side. The battle for youngest GM in history could come down to whoever gets tournament opportunities first.

#6: Ivan Zemlyanskii (Russia) - Young Grandmaster

Born: August 31, 2010 (age 14-15 in 2025)

Current rating: 2585 (June 2025)

Title: Grandmaster (GM)

Nationality: Russia 🇷🇺

Ivan Zemlyanskii achieved the grandmaster title in August 2024 at approximately 13-14 years old, making him one of the youngest GMs in recent years. While not in the top-5 youngest GMs of all time, Zemlyanskii represents the steady, consistent approach to chess improvement. In June 2025, he gained 22 rating points in a single month, bringing him to 2585 and within striking distance of the 2600 barrier. Russia has a long history of producing chess prodigies, and Zemlyanskii is carrying on that tradition with solid, technical play and continuous improvement.

#7: Andy Woodward (USA) - Puzzle World Champion

Born: May 2, 2010 (age 14-15 in 2025)

Current rating: 2605 (2025)

Title: Grandmaster (GM)

Nationality: USA 🇺🇸

Andy Woodward became a grandmaster at 13 years, 8 months, and 28 days in 2023, making him the second-youngest US GM in history after Abhimanyu Mishra. Woodward earned his first GM norm at just 12 years old, demonstrating early promise.

What sets Woodward apart is his exceptional tactical ability. In 2025, he won the Puzzle World Championship, defeating GM Ray Robson to claim the title. This victory proved Woodward's strength in calculation and pattern recognition - skills that translate directly to over-the-board success. By 2021, Woodward had earned his first IM norm at the North American Junior Championship in Charlotte, and he secured multiple IM norms in Serbia shortly after. His October 2022 GM norm, achieved by defeating strong grandmasters Illya Nyzhnyk and Gergely Kantor, set him on the path to the GM title.

#8: Lu Miaoyi (China) - Women's Chess Star

Born: February, 2010 (

Current rating: 2440 (June 2025)

Title: International Master (IM), Woman Grandmaster (WGM)

Nationality: China 🇨🇳

Lu Miaoyi represents the future of women's chess. The Chinese teenager achieved her Woman Grandmaster title at age 13 in 2023, and by 2024, she became Chinese Women's Champion at just 14 years old after a dramatic blitz playoff.

In 2025, Lu officially received her International Master title, making her the fourth-youngest female IM in history, behind only legends Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan, and Kateryna Lagno. Her current rating of 2440 places her within striking distance of 2500 - the grandmaster threshold.

Chess.com previously covered Lu's meteoric rise, during which she gained 200 rating points and three norms within just a few months. Born into a chess-playing family (her mother is Woman Grandmaster Xu Yuanyuan), Lu has been immersed in chess culture from an early age, taking part in FIDE-rated events at age five.

Approaching a peak of 2500 FIDE rating, Lu is considered a strong contender for the Grandmaster title and could become a leading force in women's chess, following in the footsteps of Chinese legends like Hou Yifan and Ju Wenjun.

#9: Ethan Pang (United Kingdom) - The Record Snatcher

Born: March 20, 2015

Current rating: 2199

Title: Candidate Master (CM)

Nationality: United Kingdom 🇬🇧

At just 9-10 years old, Ethan Pang is the youngest player on this list - and perhaps the most exciting. Born in 2015, Pang recently shattered Faustino Oro's records as the youngest player ever to achieve both 2200 and 2300 FIDE ratings, cementing his status as a rising superstar. Despite his age, Pang's confidence and maturity at the board are remarkable. He's already outplaying experienced opponents in international tournaments, as evidenced by his victory at the Vezerkepzo IM Tournament in Budapest.

Being born in 2015 and already ranking this high is a testament to Pang's extraordinary potential. While Oro currently leads the prodigy race, Pang is three years younger and could potentially surpass all of Oro's remaining records if he maintains his current trajectory.

#10: Ashwath Kaushik (India) - The Rating Rocket

Born: ~2014

Current rating: 2345 (October 2025)

Title: FIDE Master (FM)

Nationality: India 🇮🇳

Ashwath Kaushik earned his spot on this list through one of the most explosive rating gains in recent memory. In September 2025, Kaushik gained an incredible 172 rating points in a single month. Then in October, he added another 81 points, bringing his total two-month gain to 253 points. This catapulted him from around 2090 to 2345 - a massive leap that brought him to the edge of the 2400 barrier. At age 10, Kaushik now has a FIDE Master title and has climbed into the top-10 of the Prodigy Watch rankings.

India has been experiencing a chess renaissance, with World Champion Gukesh leading a generation of incredible talents. Kaushik represents the next wave - the 10-year-olds who grew up watching Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi compete at the highest level.

His recent explosion suggests he could be a serious contender for IM and eventually GM titles in the coming years.

The Youngest GM Race: A Closer Look

The race for youngest grandmaster in history is heating up. Abhimanyu Mishra currently holds the record at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, achieved in June 2021. Before Mishra, the record belonged to Sergey Karjakin (12 years, 7 months, 2002), which stood for 19 years.

Faustino Oro is now chasing Mishra's record. With one GM norm already secured and a 2509 rating (well above the 2500 requirement), Oro needs two more GM norms before April 14, 2026 - when he turns 12 years and 6 months old.

The challenge is getting into the right tournaments. GM norms can only be earned in tournaments that meet specific FIDE criteria for opponent strength and format. Oro will need his team to secure spots in appropriate events where he can face strong opposition and score the required results.

For context, here are the five youngest GMs in history: Abhimanyu Mishra (12y 4m 25d, USA, 2021), Sergey Karjakin (12y 7m, Ukraine/Russia, 2002), Gukesh Dommaraju (12y 7m 17d, India, 2019), Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (12y 9m 29d, Turkey, 2024), and Javokhir Sindarov (12y 10m, Uzbekistan, 2018).

If Oro succeeds, he would become the first player to achieve the GM title before age 12. If he falls short, Roman Shogdzhiev (age 10) might have a chance in future years.

What Makes 2025 Different?

Today's chess prodigies benefit from advantages that players from previous generations never had. Modern chess engines like Stockfish and Leela Chess Zero provide perfect analysis, meaning young players can learn correct evaluations from day one without needing to unlearn bad habits later.

Online chess platforms like Chess.com and Lichess allow unlimited practice against players worldwide at any time. Comprehensive databases give access to millions of games for free. Online coaching has made GM-level instruction affordable and accessible globally. Video courses and YouTube tutorials democratize chess education.

Perhaps most importantly, today's prodigies compete against each other constantly, raising the entire generation's level. Tournaments specifically for youth talent have proliferated, giving young players more opportunities to earn norms and ratings.

The result: prodigies in 2025 are significantly stronger at younger ages than any previous generation in chess history.

Country Spotlight: Turkey's Chess Boom

Turkey deserves special recognition for producing two of the top three prodigies on this list. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (#2) and Ediz Gurel (#3) represent Turkey's incredible investment in chess development.

According to the Turkish Chess Federation, the country now has over 1.2 million licensed chess players - the highest number for any sport in Turkish history. The federation has established more than 30,000 chess classrooms in schools nationwide in collaboration with sponsors.

In 2023, Turkey participated in the World Cup with four players for the first time. Turkish teams have won the World Schools Chess Championship and the World Under-16 Chess Olympiad undefeated, without conceding any points in either event.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky has praised the Turkish federation's work, stating that players like Erdogmus and Gurel are "expected to lead the development of chess in their country." With international chess authorities closely tracking Turkish chess achievements, top-rated players from around the globe are now engaging in leagues within Turkey.

Historical Context: How Fast Are They Improving?

To understand how exceptional today's prodigies are, consider the progression of the "youngest GM" record over time.

In the 1950s-60s, Bobby Fischer became GM at 15 years, 6 months (1958) - a record that stood for decades. In the 1990s, Judit Polgar achieved it at 15 years, 4 months (1991). Ruslan Ponomariov lowered it to 14 years (1997). Then Sergey Karjakin made a massive leap to 12 years, 7 months (2002) - a record that stood for 19 years.

Abhimanyu Mishra broke through at 12 years, 4 months (2021), and now Faustino Oro is attempting to reach 11 years.

Each era produces players who achieve the GM title younger than was previously thought possible. The trend is clear: prodigies are getting younger, stronger, and faster.

Looking Ahead: 2026-2030 Predictions

Based on current trajectories, here's what we might expect over the next five years.

By 2026, Faustino Oro will likely become the youngest GM in history, breaking Abhimanyu Mishra's record. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus should cross the 2700 barrier, possibly becoming the first player under 16 to do so. Ethan Pang might become the youngest IM in history.

By 2027, multiple teenagers should be rated above 2700. Oro could approach 2600 rating. Roman Shogdzhiev might become the youngest GM (if Oro doesn't break the record first).

By 2030, we could see the first 2800-rated teenager, 10-year-old GMs becoming more common, and World Championship contenders emerging at age 16.

The pace of chess development is accelerating faster than anyone predicted.

FAQ: Chess Prodigies 2025

Who is the youngest chess prodigy in 2025?

Ethan Pang (born 2015, age 9-10) is the youngest prodigy on the watchlist, having broken records as the youngest player to reach both 2200 and 2300 FIDE ratings.

Who is the best chess prodigy under 18 in 2025?

Faustino Oro (age 11, rated 2509) is considered #1 due to his record-breaking achievements as the youngest 2500+ player ever and his fastest trajectory toward becoming the youngest GM in history.

What is the youngest age to become a chess grandmaster?

Abhimanyu Mishra holds the record at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, achieved in June 2021. Faustino Oro is currently attempting to break this record before April 2026.

Has anyone beaten Magnus Carlsen as a prodigy?

Yes, both Faustino Oro and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus have defeated Magnus Carlsen in online chess (Bullet Brawl tournaments), though not in classical time controls.

Why are chess prodigies getting younger?

Modern prodigies benefit from chess engines (perfect training from day one), online chess (unlimited practice), comprehensive databases (millions of games available), better coaching (online access to GMs), and constant competition against other prodigies worldwide.

Who is the youngest 2600-rated player ever?

Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus from Turkey became the youngest player to cross 2600 FIDE rating in 2024 at age 13, and later became the youngest 2650+ player at age 14 in October 2025.

The Bottom Line

Chess in 2025 is witnessing a golden age of prodigies that surpasses anything seen in the game's history.

Eleven-year-old Faustino Oro is chasing the youngest-GM record with a 2509 rating and one GM norm already secured. Fourteen-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus is the highest-rated teenager ever at 2651. Sixteen-year-old Ediz Gurel won an Olympiad bronze medal with a 2755 performance.

And they're not alone. Abhimanyu Mishra, Roman Shogdzhiev, Ivan Zemlyanskii, Andy Woodward, Lu Miaoyi, Ethan Pang, and Ashwath Kaushik are all rewriting what's possible at their respective ages.

The records will fall. The barriers will break. The question isn't IF, but WHEN.

Welcome to the future of chess: where 10-year-olds perform like grandmasters, teenagers compete for world titles, and the impossible becomes routine.

This is the golden generation. And they're just getting started.

Follow ChessTV.com for updates on chess prodigies and breaking chess news from around the world.

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