The Rating Roller Coaster

The Highs of 2024

Every chess player has a target rating, a milestone we’re desperate to reach. Even those who claim "rating doesn't matter" are usually chasing a number. But the climb is rarely linear; instead, it moves through seasons of rapid growth, frustrating stagnation, and painful decline.
For me, 2025 was a year of deep stagnation that hit hard, especially coming off the heels of my best year ever. In 2024, I surged from 1736 to 1795 and secured second place in the National Championship. The secret to that success was simple but demanding: consistent training, a high volume of rated games, and some research into sports psychology.

Great Expectations

Fresh off that National podium, I built an ambitious roadmap for 2025. I was aiming for 1850 ELO, a Regional Championship title, and another podium finish at the Nationals. I knew that if I maintained that performance, I would seriously increase my chances to be selected for the 2026 Chess Olympiad Team.
The year started with a mix of results. It was a massive milestone. However, the rest of the picture was less bright. While I technically broke the 1800 ELO barrier for the first time in early 2025, my play felt sluggish. I was lucky to even maintain my rating.

The Plateau and the Fall

As often happens, life intervened. Personal challenges forced me to take a break. What I intended to be a one-month reset in April turned into a six-month hiatus.
When I finally returned to the board, I won the Regional Championship—a goal I had been chasing for five years with only 2 weeks of preparation. After that I had just seven weeks to prepare for the National Championship. I trained hard, but the results were devastating. I played poorly, finished 14th, and saw my rating slip away. I ended the year with the exact same rating that I started with, 1795. With that performance, my dreams of the 2026 Olympiad vanished.

So, what is the plan for 2026?

Keep going.