Highest classical chess ratings ever: New Zealand
The best rating of every player who represents New Zealand today, on FIDE's classical rating lists since July 1971.
GM Murray G Chandler's 2605 on the July 1988 list is the highest classical rating held by a player who represents New Zealand today.
| # | Player | Peak | First reached | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NZL · Jul 1988† · Latest 2518 | 2605 | Jul 1988† | 2518 |
| 2 | NZL · Sep 2010 · Latest 2455 | 2478 | Sep 2010 | 2455 |
| 3 | NZL · Jul 1999† · Latest 2124 | 2448 | Jul 1999† | 2124 |
| 4 | NZL · Oct 2026 · Latest 2439 | 2439 | Oct 2026 | 2439 |
| 5 | NZL · Jul 2006 · Latest 2339 | 2419 | Jul 2006 | 2339 |
| 6 | NZL · Nov 2018 · Latest 2336 | 2411 | Nov 2018 | 2336 |
| 7 | NZL · Jan 1987† · Latest 2180 | 2410 | Jan 1987† | 2180 |
| 7 | NZL · Jan 1993† · Latest 2375 | 2410 | Jan 1993† | 2375 |
| 9 | NZL · Jul 2025 · Latest 2362 | 2407 | Jul 2025 | 2362 |
| 10 | NZL · Jul 2000† · Latest 2336 | 2400 | Jul 2000† | 2336 |
| 11 | NZL · Jan 1989† · Latest 2313 | 2390 | Jan 1989† | 2313 |
| 12 | NZL · Feb 2019 · Latest 2373 | 2377 | Feb 2019 | 2373 |
| 13 | NZL · Feb 2025 · Latest 2326 | 2374 | Feb 2025 | 2326 |
| 14 | NZL · Jan 1999† · Latest 2168 | 2372 | Jan 1999† | 2168 |
| 15 | NZL · Apr 2016 · Latest 2304 | 2370 | Apr 2016 | 2304 |
| 16 | NZL · Jan 1982† · Latest 2296 | 2345 | Jan 1982† | 2296 |
| 16 | NZL · Jan 1993† · Latest 2275 | 2345 | Jan 1993† | 2275 |
| 18 | NZL · Jan 1981† · Latest 2194 | 2335 | Jan 1981† | 2194 |
| 18 | NZL · Feb 2023 · Latest 2263 | 2335 | Feb 2023 | 2263 |
| 20 | NZL · Mar 2012 · Latest 2190 | 2334 | Mar 2012 | 2190 |
| 21 | NZL · Jan 2008 · Latest 2093 | 2333 | Jan 2008 | 2093 |
| 22 | NZL · Jul 1993† · Latest 2049 | 2330 | Jul 1993† | 2049 |
| 22 | NZL · Jan 1994† · Latest 2235 | 2330 | Jan 1994† | 2235 |
| 24 | NZL · Jan 1989† · Latest 2251 | 2325 | Jan 1989† | 2251 |
| 25 | NZL · Jan 1991† · Latest 2211 | 2320 | Jan 1991† | 2211 |
| 26 | NZL · Jul 1991† · Latest 2259 | 2315 | Jul 1991† | 2259May 2010 |
| 27 | NZL · Jan 1995† · Latest 2131 | 2310 | Jan 1995† | 2131 |
| 28 | NZL · Sep 2010 · Latest 1982 | 2309 | Sep 2010 | 1982 |
| 29 | NZL · By Jul 1971† · Latest 2300 | 2300 | By Jul 1971† | 2300 |
| 29 | NZL · Jul 1988† · Latest 2245 | 2300 | Jul 1988† | 2245 |
| 29 | NZL · Sep 2012 · Latest 2294 | 2300 | Sep 2012 | 2294 |
| 32 | NZL · Jul 2026 · Latest 2239 | 2292 | Jul 2026 | 2239 |
| 33 | NZL · By Jul 1971† · Latest 2188 | 2290 | By Jul 1971† | 2188 |
| 34 | NZL · Oct 2003 · Latest 2026 | 2283 | Oct 2003 | 2026 |
| 35 | NZL · Jan 1995† · Latest 2216 | 2260 | Jan 1995† | 2216 |
| 36 | NZL · Apr 2009 · Latest 2067 | 2256 | Apr 2009 | 2067 |
| 37 | NZL · Jul 1991† · Latest 2124 | 2255 | Jul 1991† | 2124 |
| 38 | NZL · Jul 1983† · Latest 1981 | 2250 | Jul 1983† | 1981Jan 2018 |
| 39 | NZL · Jul 1973† · Latest 2034 | 2245 | Jul 1973† | 2034 |
| 39 | NZL · Jan 1983† · Latest 1961 | 2245 | Jan 1983† | 1961 |
| 41 | NZL · Apr 2003 · Latest 2030 | 2243 | Apr 2003 | 2030 |
| 42 | NZL · Jan 1981† · Latest 2240 | 2240 | Jan 1981† | 2240 |
| 42 | NZL · Jul 1983† · Latest 2215 | 2240 | Jul 1983† | 2215 |
| 44 | NZL · Feb 2014 · Latest 2077 | 2236 | Feb 2014 | 2077 |
| 45 | NZL · Jul 1988† · Latest 1885 | 2230 | Jul 1988† | 1885 |
| 46 | NZL · Jul 1985† · Latest 2225 | 2225 | Jul 1985† | 2225 |
| 47 | NZL · Jan 2000† · Latest 2221 | 2221 | Jan 2000† | 2221Apr 2003 |
| 48 | NZL · Jul 1984† · Latest 2123 | 2220 | Jul 1984† | 2123 |
| 49 | NZL · Jan 2004 · Latest 2203 | 2218 | Jan 2004 | 2203 |
| 50 | NZL · Jan 1995† · Latest 1938 | 2215 | Jan 1995† | 1938Aug 2026 |
| 50 | NZL · Mar 2010 · Latest 2092 | 2215 | Mar 2010 | 2092 |
| 52 | NZL · Oct 2008 · Latest 1975 | 2212 | Oct 2008 | 1975 |
| 53 | NZL · Sep 2015 · Latest 2027 | 2207 | Sep 2015 | 2027 |
| 54 | NZL · Jan 1985† · Latest 1980 | 2205 | Jan 1985† | 1980Jul 2024 |
| 54 | NZL · Jul 1985† · Latest 1938 | 2205 | Jul 1985† | 1938Aug 2023 |
| 54 | NZL · Jul 1985† · Latest 1875 | 2205 | Jul 1985† | 1875 |
| 54 | NZL · Feb 2020 · Latest 2205 | 2205 | Feb 2020 | 2205 |
| 58 | NZL · Jul 1996† · Latest 2125 | 2200 | Jul 1996† | 2125 |
| 58 | NZL · Jan 1999† · Latest 1818 | 2200 | Jan 1999† | 1818 |
| 58 | NZL · Jan 1999† · Latest 1885 | 2200 | Jan 1999† | 1885Oct 2022 |
| 61 | NZL · Apr 2006 · Latest 2197 | 2197 | Apr 2006 | 2197 |
| 61 | NZL · Mar 2010 · Latest 2115 | 2197 | Mar 2010 | 2115 |
| 63 | NZL · Nov 2012 · Latest 2196 | 2196 | Nov 2012 | 2196 |
| 64 | NZL · Jul 1997† · Latest 2170 | 2195 | Jul 1997† | 2170 |
| 64 | NZL · Jul 2026 · Latest 2126 | 2195 | Jul 2026 | 2126 |
| 66 | NZL · Mar 2021 · Latest 2131 | 2193 | Mar 2021 | 2131 |
| 66 | NZL · Feb 2026 · Latest 2102 | 2193 | Feb 2026 | 2102 |
| 68 | NZL · Oct 2006 · Latest 2070 | 2188 | Oct 2006 | 2070 |
| 69 | NZL · Jul 2009 · Latest 2186 | 2186 | Jul 2009 | 2186 |
| 70 | NZL · Oct 2004 · Latest 2178 | 2184 | Oct 2004 | 2178 |
| 71 | NZL · Nov 2015 · Latest 2177 | 2183 | Nov 2015 | 2177 |
| 72 | NZL · Jan 1996† · Latest 1835 | 2180 | Jan 1996† | 1835 |
| 73 | NZL · Jul 1995† · Latest 2150 | 2175 | Jul 1995† | 2150 |
| 74 | NZL · Jan 2006 · Latest 2048 | 2173 | Jan 2006 | 2048 |
| 75 | NZL · Apr 2006 · Latest 1926 | 2171 | Apr 2006 | 1926 |
| 76 | NZL · May 2014 · Latest 2051 | 2167 | May 2014 | 2051 |
| 77 | NZL · Oct 2006 · Latest 1956 | 2164 | Oct 2006 | 1956 |
| 78 | NZL · Jan 2002 · Latest 2031 | 2161 | Jan 2002 | 2031 |
| 79 | NZL · Jan 2006 · Latest 2160 | 2160 | Jan 2006 | 2160Jan 2006 |
| 79 | NZL · Jul 2009 · Latest 1985 | 2160 | Jul 2009 | 1985 |
| 81 | NZL · Jan 1995† · Latest 1992 | 2155 | Jan 1995† | 1992Mar 2011 |
| 82 | NZL · May 2026 · Latest 2153 | 2153 | May 2026 | 2153 |
| 83 | NZL · Jan 2009 · Latest 2095 | 2143 | Jan 2009 | 2095 |
| 84 | NZL · Jan 2000† · Latest 1921 | 2140 | Jan 2000† | 1921 |
| 85 | NZL · Apr 2004 · Latest 2110 | 2139 | Apr 2004 | 2110 |
| 85 | NZL · Apr 2007 · Latest 2049 | 2139 | Apr 2007 | 2049 |
| 87 | NZL · Jul 1999† · Latest 1885 | 2138 | Jul 1999† | 1885 |
| 88 | NZL · Apr 2006 · Latest 1976 | 2133 | Apr 2006 | 1976 |
| 88 | NZL · Jul 2009 · Latest 1963 | 2133 | Jul 2009 | 1963 |
| 90 | NZL · Jan 2006 · Latest 2130 | 2130 | Jan 2006 | 2130 |
| 90 | NZL · Jan 2012 · Latest 2080 | 2130 | Jan 2012 | 2080 |
| 92 | NZL · Apr 2004 · Latest 2022 | 2128 | Apr 2004 | 2022 |
| 93 | NZL · Oct 2003 · Latest 1966 | 2127 | Oct 2003 | 1966 |
| 93 | NZL · Jan 2004 · Latest 1709 | 2127 | Jan 2004 | 1709 |
| 93 | NZL · Apr 2004 · Latest 1903 | 2127 | Apr 2004 | 1903 |
| 93 | NZL · Mar 2026 · Latest 2127 | 2127 | Mar 2026 | 2127Mar 2026 |
| 97 | NZL · Apr 2009 · Latest 2119 | 2126 | Apr 2009 | 2119 |
| 98 | NZL · Jan 2006 · Latest 1951 | 2125 | Jan 2006 | 1951 |
| 99 | NZL · Oct 2004 · Latest 1900 | 2120 | Oct 2004 | 1900 |
| 100 | NZL · Oct 2025 · Latest 2065 | 2117 | Oct 2025 | 2065 |
Peak is a player's highest rating on any of FIDE's classical rating lists since July 1971. When a player reached the same peak more than once, the first month is shown; 'By Jan 2001' means the peak was already on the earliest list we have for that player, so it may be older. Latest is the rating on the most recent list that rates the player. Players are listed under the federation they represent today, with every rating they have held, including ratings held while representing another federation.
† From FIDE's rating lists before 2001, compiled by Wojciech Bartelski at OlimpBase (olimpbase.org).