In terms of chess-playing countries and the number of grandmasters produced, Australia isn't really up there. Countries like Russia, Germany, Ukraine, and the United States have produced hundreds of GMs, but there are only a handful in Australia. However, that doesn't mean that Australia doesn't have some excellent chess players. In fact, there are some outstanding Australian chess players out there. For the purpose of this list, we've chosen the top-ranked players on the FIDE Australia rankings (standard rating).
| Rank | Player | Title | Current FIDE Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby Cheng | GM | 2583 | Highest-rated active Australian player |
| 2 | Temur Kuybokarov | GM | 2540 | Australian Open Champion (2017, 2019) |
| 3 | Justin Tan | GM | 2512 | Multidisciplinary athlete and law graduate |
| 4 | David C. Smerdon | IM | 2470 | Chess author and commentator |
| 5 | Rishi Sardana | IM | 2459 | Consistent top-five Australian performer |
| 6 | Zong-Yuan Zhao | GM | 2442 | Youngest Australian IM at age 14 |
| 7 | James Morris | IM | 2422 | Long-standing elite national competitor |
| 8 | Igor Bjelobrk | IM | 2388 | Veteran presence in Australian chess |
| 9 | Brodie McClymont | IM | 2386 | Active international-level competitor |
| 10 | Samuel Chow | FM | 2360 | Emerging top-10 Australian player |
10. Samuel Chow
Samuel Chow is Australia's 10th-ranked active chess player. He holds the title of FIDE Master (FM) and has consistently performed well in both Australian and regional tournaments. Chow's a reliable competitor, and with his activity on the Australian circuit, he's definitely one to watch.
Samuel Chow’s position in Australia’s top 10 reflects consistency rather than a single breakthrough result. Regular participation in national and regional tournaments has allowed him to steadily improve his standing and remain competitive at a high level.
9. Brodie McClymont
At the time of writing, Brodie McClymont sits in 9th place in terms of his FIDE rating (find out how to get your own FIDE rating). If you're new to chess, it may surprise you to find that many of the top-rated players in both Australia and worldwide are particularly young, much like you'd find in top-level sports. Brodie, like many of the others on our list, was born in the 1990s, and many of the top 10 players in the country are still relatively young! His current FIDE rating is 2386.
8. Igor Bjelobrk
Igor Bjelobrk is one of Australia's more experienced top-ranked active competitors. The International Master (IM) has been a long-standing figure in Australian chess. He's played in various events and is still an active presence despite a rising generation of younger players.
Longevity is a key marker of elite chess performance. Bjelobrk’s continued presence among Australia’s top-ranked players highlights his adaptability and sustained competitive strength across multiple generations of opponents.
7. James Morris
Australia's 7th highest-rated player currently has a FIDE rating of 2422 and has been a recognised chess player since a very young age. James placed 5th in the MCC January Invitational and 6th in the Australian Junior Championship in 2007, aged just 12, the same year he was granted his FIDE Master (FM) title. Aged 13, he won the Ballarat Begonia Open and the Oceania Zonal! By 2010, he was granted the title of International Master (IM).
In 2013, he was involved in a motor accident that claimed the lives of two other chess players on the way back from the Doeberl Cup. He placed second in his first internationally-rated tournament after the accident, the Melbourne Chess Club Cup Weekender 2013.
FIDE ratings are calculated using results from officially rated tournaments and are updated monthly. In Australia, active players compete in both domestic and international FIDE-rated events, with their performances contributing to the national rankings. A player’s position can change quickly depending on tournament activity, strength of opponents, and recent results. This is why rankings reflect current form rather than long-term reputation, and why younger or more active players can rise rapidly through the standings.
6. Zong-Yuan Zhao
One of the "older" Australian players on our list (he was born in the 1980s!), Zong-Yuan Zhao has been playing chess for some time and was Australia's youngest International Master (IM) when he earned the title at age 14. In 2008, he was granted the title of Grandmaster (GM). His current FIDE rating is 2442, which is definitely a good FIDE rating, placing him among Australia’s top active players.
To earn the Grandmaster (GM) title, a player must achieve a FIDE rating of at least 2500 and secure three GM norms in high-level international tournaments. These norms must be earned against strong opposition from multiple federations. As a result, becoming a grandmaster typically requires years of international competition, travel, and consistent elite performance, making the title one of the most difficult achievements in professional sport.
5. Rishi Sardana
Rishi Sardana is currently the 5th-ranked player and another highly-rated young player (he’s still in his 20s!). He became an International Master in 2014 and then studied economics in India. His current FIDE rating is 2459.
Players like Sardana represent the modern professional chess path, combining academic study with competitive play. His continued presence near the top of Australian rankings shows how international training and competition feed into national success.
4. David C. Smerdon
David C. Smerdon is one of Australia's most recognisable chess players. In addition to playing high-level competitive chess, he's also an author, commentator, and educator. An International Master (IM), Smerdon has represented Australia in Chess Olympiads.
He's also known for writing on chess strategy and psychology, publishing books and articles, and contributing to online platforms. He's just outside the country's top three and one of the finest players the country currently boasts.
3. Justin Tan
Justin Tan is a chess player, gymnast, and law graduate. In addition to becoming a FIDE Master (FM) in 2013, an International Master (IM) in 2015, and a Grandmaster (GM) in 2018, he was also a member of Australia's national gymnastics team, where he was the Under-16 pommel horse champion in 2012! His current FIDE rating of 2512 places him 3rd among active Australian chess players.
2. Temur Kuybokarov
Temur Kuybokarov was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This young and exceptional player was taught chess at the age of 5 and tied for first place at the Asian Youth Championships in Beijing. At the time, Temur was still representing Uzbekistan.
In 2016, he moved to Perth in Western Australia and since then, has won the Australian Open Championship in 2017 and 2019. He achieved the title of FIDE Master (FM) in 2010, International Master (IM) in 2016, and Grandmaster (GM) in 2019.
The reason Temur is on our list is that he's an exceptional chess player, but he also transferred his national federation from Uzbekistan to Australia in 2018 and has represented Australia ever since. He also lives there. His exceptional FIDE rating places him 2nd currently in Australia.
1. Bobby Cheng
Bobby Cheng is Australia’s highest-rated chess player. Bobby was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 1997. He moved with his family to Melbourne in 2007 and won the Under-12 title at the World Youth Championships. Much like Temur Kuybokarov, Bobby Cheng transferred his federation to Australia and, since 2009, has represented Australia in chess. 2009 was also the year Bobby won the Under-12 title at the World Youth Championships.
When he won the Australian Junior Championship in 2010, he was the youngest player ever to do it. He won it again the following year and became the youngest-ever Victorian Championship title holder, too. When he won the Australian Open Championship, one of Australia's best chess tournaments, he was also the youngest player to ever do so (can you see a pattern emerging?). He achieved FIDE Master (FM) in 2010, International Master (IM) in 2013, and Grandmaster (GM) in 2019. His current FIDE rating is 2583.
So there you have it, some of Australia's finest chess players. Of course, as we mentioned before we started, these are just active chess players. If you're looking for even more great Australian chess players, you should also look up Ian Rogers, David Smerdon, and Max Illingworth.
Once a player retires, their FIDE rating doesn't change or deteriorate, so inactive players retain their rating. It's a good way to see how good they are, but it's not very helpful for seeing who the best players are at the moment. Don't forget that active players' FIDE ratings will change, too, and since most of the very best have seemingly meteoric rises to the top, especially the younger generation of Australian players, it wouldn't be surprising if we didn't see some excellent young players making their way into this top 10 soon!
Are there any Australian players that you would have included? Which players do you think will be in the country's top 10 in the coming years? Are the current players better than the inactive masters? Let us know in the comments!
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I have played your number 4 many times as a member of the Coffs Barbour NSW chess club. He was around 8 and already a very smart chess player. He wanted to play me often because my game was unorthodox and I was beating him regularly, it did not take him very long to work it out and soon he was beating me.He was club open champion at 12.