Players
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Photo: Lichess
GM

Ian Nepomniachtchi

RussiaBorn 1990 (age 36)FIDE ID 4168119

Playing now: Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 2026

Luft classical

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Monthly Luft ratings, now 2730
FIDE

FIDE classical

220024002600280020022007201220172022
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2719
Luft

Flair

Ian Nepomniachtchi's classical flairs

3 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • Lightning#10 at speed chess (blitz 2763, rapid 2701)
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 90, from 35 endgames
  • PositionalPositional 91, from 30 positional games they steered
  • 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
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • 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+
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Lightning
  • Endgame Specialist
  • Positional

Trophy cabinet

Ian Nepomniachtchi's classical titles

7 classical titles, 4 medals, newest first

  • Aeroflot Open 20251st
  • Candidates 20221st
  • Russian Championship 20201st
  • Candidates 20201st
  • Chess Olympiad 2018Silver, board 2 · Russia
  • Chess Olympiad 2018Bronze, team · Russia
  • Chess Olympiad 2016Silver, board 4 · Russia
  • Chess Olympiad 2016Bronze, team · Russia
  • Aeroflot Open 20151st
  • Russian Championship 20101st
  • European Championship 20101st
  • Candidates×2
  • Aeroflot Open×2
  • Russian Championship×2

Attributes

Tactics 82Positional 91Endgame 90Openings 87Composure 94Defence 85Speed 91Consistency 94

Luft classical rating

2730No. 17

From 13 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2773 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2773 level, blended with their FIDE rating+15
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity13 classical games in top events−6

Openings

Their most-played, from 80 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Ruy Lopez1560%
Italian Game550%
Petrov's Defense367%
Sicilian Defense367%
Catalan Opening350%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 15 games, won 4, drew 10, lost 1 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Morphy Defense750%
Berlin Defense383%
Closed367%
Open250%

Italian Game

With White: 5 games, won 1, drew 3, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Defense367%
Classical Variation225%

Petrov's Defense

With White: 3 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 0 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Modern Attack1100%
French Attack150%
Nimzowitsch Attack150%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 3 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 0 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Taimanov Variation1100%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%
Najdorf Variation150%

Catalan Opening

With White: 3 games, won 0, drew 3, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Open Defense250%
Closed150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 9 games, won 0, drew 5, lost 4 · 28%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation425%
Moscow Variation225%
Closed150%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%
Four Knights Variation10%

Petrov's Defense

With Black: 8 games, won 1, drew 7, lost 0 · 56%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Attack750%
Paulsen Attack1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 7 games, won 0, drew 6, lost 1 · 43%

VariationGamesScore
Semi-Tarrasch Defense225%
Main line150%
Exchange Variation150%
Ragozin Defense150%
Three Knights Variation150%
Harrwitz Attack150%

Catalan Opening

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 4, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Open Defense250%
Closed250%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 4, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation350%
Classical Variation150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 202612 Nov 20262½/4+3+3
3rd UzChess Cup 202615 Jun 2026=3rd0+6
FIDE World Cup 20255 Nov 2025½/2−9−9
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=27th−10−3
2nd Uzchess Cup27 Jun 20259th−15−12

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMDing Liren24 Jan 2024 · Tata Steel Masters 20242780
GMA. Erigaisi12 Jun 2026 · 3rd UzChess Cup 20262761
GMA. Firouzja5 Apr 2024 · FIDE Candidates 20242760
GMH. Niemann14 Jun 2026 · 3rd UzChess Cup 20262742
GMS. Vidit17 Apr 2024 · FIDE Candidates 20242727

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMS. ViditLast 8 Jun 2026 · 3rd UzChess Cup 20266330
GMPraggnanandhaa R.Last 25 Jun 2025 · 2nd Uzchess Cup5050
GMA. FirouzjaLast 1 Feb 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/255131
GMGukesh D.Last 27 Jun 2024 · Superbet Romania Chess Classic 20244031
GMN. AbdusattorovLast 10 Jun 2026 · 3rd UzChess Cup 20264130

Compare Luft

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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.