Kazakh Grandmaster Breaks Into FIDE Women's Top Five

Following the July update of the FIDE ratings, Assaubayeva climbed to fifth place with a rating of 2538, achieving the highest ranking of her career.

Breaking into the FIDE Women's World Top Five marks a new career milestone for Assaubayeva and is one of the strongest results in the history of women's chess in Kazakhstan.

Her rise in the rankings came after winning Norway Chess Women 2026. The victory earned her 11 rating points, allowing her to move up from seventh to fifth in the FIDE Women's World Rankings.

The triumph in Norway also propelled the Kazakh player to the top of the current FIDE Women's Circuit standings. The series determines one of the qualifiers for the Women's Candidates Tournament. The winner of the FIDE Women's Circuit earns a place in the Candidates Tournament, where the eventual winner secures the right to challenge for the Women's World Championship title.

Assaubayeva's achievement was also recognized in Kazakhstan. In late June, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded her the Order of Barys, Second Class. The state decoration was presented on the president's behalf by Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva.

Assaubayeva is a two-time Women's World Blitz Champion. She is currently ranked fifth in the FIDE Women's World Rankings and leads the ongoing FIDE Women's Circuit standings. If she maintains her lead until the end of the series, she will qualify for the Women's Candidates Tournament, whose winner earns the right to play for the Women's World Championship.