Players
Andrey Esipenko
Photo: Lichess
GM

Andrey Esipenko

RussiaBorn 2002 (age 24)FIDE ID 24175439

Playing now: Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026

Luft classical

26002700280029002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2680
FIDE

FIDE classical

2000220024002600280020122015201820212024
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2683
Luft

Flair

Andrey Esipenko's classical flairs

0 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • TitanLuft classical rating averaging 2800+ over the last 4 years
  • Serial WinnerWon 2+ elite events in the last 12 months
  • UnderdogRegularly beats players rated 50+ higher
  • Fortress25+ games in a row without a loss
  • Black BeltDoes better with black than with white
  • IronmanPlayed 50+ games over the last 12 months
  • RisingAged 18 or under, Luft rating up 40+ over the last 12 months
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 90+: converting, saving and not throwing endgames
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • LightningTop 20 at speed chess (mostly blitz, some rapid)
  • Hot StreakAt least 6 points from 7 straight games against strong opposition
  • SignatureSticks to one defence with black far more than most
  • ChameleonPlays a wide range of defences with black
  • WildcardBrilliant one event, off the next: hard to predict
  • ReliableConsistent across all top events
  • FighterRarely draws, and wins far more than they lose
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events

No classical flair in the last year yet.

Trophy cabinet

Andrey Esipenko's classical titles

3 classical titles, newest first

Attributes

Tactics 86Positional 85Endgame 84Openings 83Composure 94Defence 82Speed 84Consistency 86

Luft classical rating

2680No. 45

From 42 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2649 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2649 level, blended with their FIDE rating−15
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+7
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+1
Activity42 classical games in top events+4

Openings

Their most-played, from 105 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1471%
Italian Game869%
English Opening560%
Petrov's Defense540%
Queen's Gambit Declined463%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 14 games, won 9, drew 2, lost 3 · 71%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation667%
Four Knights Variation275%
Moscow Variation1100%
Kan Variation1100%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation1100%
Closed1100%
Taimanov Variation150%
Delayed Alapin Variation10%

Italian Game

With White: 8 games, won 3, drew 5, lost 0 · 69%

VariationGamesScore
Giuoco Pianissimo367%
Classical Variation275%
Two Knights Defense275%
Paris Defense150%

English Opening

With White: 5 games, won 1, drew 4, lost 0 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Agincourt Defense350%
King's English Variation1100%
Symmetrical Variation150%

Petrov's Defense

With White: 5 games, won 0, drew 4, lost 1 · 40%

VariationGamesScore
Nimzowitsch Attack250%
Modern Attack225%
Paulsen Attack150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 4 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 1 · 63%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation350%
Three Knights Variation1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 10 games, won 2, drew 6, lost 2 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Charousek Variation350%
Harrwitz Attack250%
Three Knights Variation225%
Vienna Variation1100%
Exchange Variation150%
Modern Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 10 games, won 1, drew 6, lost 3 · 40%

VariationGamesScore
Closed729%
Exchange Variation1100%
Open150%
Marshall Attack150%

Italian Game

With Black: 5 games, won 2, drew 3, lost 0 · 70%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Defense463%
Classical Variation1100%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 3 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 0 · 83%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation383%

Four Knights Game

With Black: 3 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 0 · 83%

VariationGamesScore
Scotch Variation Accepted275%
Spanish Variation1100%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Asian Nations Chess Cup 202613 Nov 20264/6−10
Oskemen Open 202629 Jul 20261st+1+2
Aktobe Open 202611 Jun 20266/9−6−5
FIDE Candidates 202615 Apr 20268th−13−11
FIDE World Cup 202525 Nov 20259/14+17+11

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMI. Nepomniachtchi15 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252732
GMN. Sarin12 Nov 2026 · Asian Nations Chess Cup 20262720
GMN. Yakubboev25 Nov 2025 · FIDE World Cup 20252689
GMS. Sargsyan11 Dec 2024 · Qatar Masters 20242646
GMA. Volokitin9 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252628

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMWei YiLast 14 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20264022
GME. SafarliLast 18 May 2024 · Sharjah3030
GMN. SarinLast 12 Nov 2026 · Asian Nations Chess Cup 20262110
GMJ. MoussardLast 2 Feb 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252011
GMP. VallejoLast 6 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232020

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How attributes are calculated

From their games in top events over the last 12 months, each judged against the opponent's rating

  • TacticsHow well they score in sharp games they chose to make sharp.
  • PositionalHow well they score in quiet, manoeuvring games they steered.
  • EndgameHow they do in endgames against what the position promised when it began: converting a winning one earns a little, saving a losing one earns a lot, and throwing a winning one costs a lot.
  • OpeningsThe engine's verdict on their position around moves 15 to 20, against what's normal for that colour, as the score it points to. Over the last 4 years, with older games counting less.
  • ComposureHow well they score under pressure: the game straight after a loss, and the last 3 games of an event while they can still win it. Over the last 4 years.
  • DefenceHow they do in games where they were 0.8 pawns or more worse after move 18, against what that position usually scores: holding the draw earns, turning it around earns more, and losing costs a little.
  • SpeedTheir Luft rapid and blitz ratings. With neither, an estimate a little below their classical level.
  • ConsistencyTheir Luft rating, less their off days: tournaments (5+ games each) over the last 4 years where they played 50+ below it. Anything better never counts against them.

  • "How well they score" is a performance rating: the opponent's rating, plus 400 for a win and minus 400 for a loss, averaged. So it's always judged against who they played.

    The score out of 100: 80 is a 2600 level, and each 13 rating points adds one, so 2860 and up is 100.

    Fair to everyone: with only a few games of a kind, the result leans towards their overall Luft rating. Strengths and weaknesses are measured against their overall level and compared with the top 100, so a specialist's best side stands out. A little recent form is added to all but Speed.