Format
KJ
Karsten, Jan
IM🇿🇦FIDE 14350653· Male· South Africa· Born in 2008
Follow Jan KarstenTrack his monthly FIDE ratings, games, tournaments and more.
Jan Karsten, a 18-year-old South African International Master, is rated 2382 — just 3 short of his peak of 2385 (Jun 2025, age 17) and ranked 1st among South African players under 18, and in the top 1% worldwide. He is on a steady climb with +21 Elo over the past 12 months. 22 rated games in the past year (≈60/year long-term). Recent appearances: 2026 South African Closed Chess Championships (Open) and Cape Town Chess Federation Club League 2025 (A). Also played 1 rapid event (including Hermanus Chess Club Open 2026 (Championship)) recently. He reached South African #2 in Oct 2024 and has been in South African top 3 for 25 months and counting.
Awarded IM in 2023 (age 15). Earned a GM norm at African Juniors Championship 2022 Open. At junior level, he reached World #79 in U18, World #69 in U16 and #1 nationally in U14.
Current rating
2382
Standard
Rpd2277·Blz—
All-time high
2385
−3 pts below
Jun 2025 · age 17
Jun 2025 · age 17
Activity
45
games / yr avg. · ≈4/mo
22 past 12 mo · ≈2/mo
classical only
Active
classical only
Active
Signature stat
#1
#1 · South African players under 18 · of 305
National top 3 since Jan 2025
National top 3 since Jan 2025
Career timeline
14 entries2026
25 months in national top 3 (ongoing)
longest streak 17 months · since Feb 2024
May 2026
2025
79th U18 player worldwide
at age 17 · rated 2385
Jul 2025
All-time peak 2385
at age 17 · −3 from today
Jun 2025
2024
Peak South African rank: #2
at age 16 · rated 2329
Oct 2024
Re-crossed 2300
at age 16
Jun 2024
69th U16 player worldwide
at age 16 · rated 2323
Feb 2024
Standard rating history
Activity & highlights
Top opponent
Evolution
-3
2385 → 2382
Tournaments
2
22 games
Score
9/ 2240.9%
12W7D3L
Top 3 wins
Top 3 losses
Last 12 months — tournaments
2 events| Event | Date | Score | Rank | Perf | Δ Elo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round-Robin | Feb 2026 | 8/11 | #1 | 2366 | -3.0 |
Team | Jul 2025 | 1/2 | #114 | 2381 | -0.2 |
Most-Played Opponents
vsMatfey RogovFM
🇷🇺RUS·2380
+6 −2 =0
8 games·last met Apr 2026
View head-to-head →
vsWatu KobeseIM
🇿🇦RSA·2258
+3 −1 =4
8 games·last met Apr 2026
View head-to-head →
vsCalvin John KlaasenFM
🇿🇦RSA·2177
+4 −1 =2
7 games·last met Apr 2026
View head-to-head →
vsReegan PalmerCM
🇿🇦RSA·2048
+4 −2 =1
7 games·last met Apr 2026
View head-to-head →
vsCharlton Mnyasta
🇿🇦RSA·2195
+3 −1 =3
7 games·last met Apr 2026
View head-to-head →
Rankings
/
South Africa
#2
out of 1,842 players
Africa
#16
in continent
World
#1,994
out of 400,000+
National ranking
Europe & World
Europe
World
South Africa
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Africa
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World
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| ... | ||
| 1994 | 2,382 | |