Players
Ivan Schitco
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Ivan Schitco

MoldovaBorn 2003 (age 23)FIDE ID 13905465

Luft classical

24002500260027002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2470
FIDE

FIDE classical

2000220024002600201620182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2496
Luft

Flair

Ivan Schitco's classical flairs

1 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • SignatureSicilian Defense in 4 of 8 games with black
  • 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
  • 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
  • Signature

Trophy cabinet

No classical titles on record yet.

Attributes

Tactics 74Positional 74Endgame 77Openings 70Composure 74Defence 71Speed 67Consistency 76

Luft classical rating

2470No. 326

From 16 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2420 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2420 level, blended with their FIDE rating−19
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event−1
Activity16 classical games in top events−5

Openings

Their most-played, from 50 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
English Opening1233%
King's Indian Defense275%
Sicilian Defense250%
King's Indian Attack1100%
Indian Defense150%

English Opening

With White: 12 games, won 2, drew 4, lost 6 · 33%

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation633%
Agincourt Defense317%
Mikenas-Carls Variation1100%
Anglo-Indian Defense150%
Symmetrical Variation10%

King's Indian Defense

With White: 2 games, won 1, drew 1, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Orthodox Variation1100%
Karpov System150%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 2 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Smith-Morra Gambit150%
Delayed Alapin Variation150%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Defense1100%

Indian Defense

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Main line150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 9 games, won 1, drew 5, lost 3 · 39%

VariationGamesScore
Morphy Defense463%
Berlin Defense317%
Fianchetto Defense150%
Closed10%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 3, lost 1 · 38%

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation250%
Richter-Rauzer Variation150%
Modern Variations10%

Queen's Pawn Game

With Black: 2 games, won 1, drew 0, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
London System250%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation250%

Slav Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 0, drew 1, lost 1 · 25%

VariationGamesScore
Quiet Variation225%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Romanian Team Chess Championships 202610 Oct 20262½/6−50
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20264½/9−1+2
2025 US Masters30 Nov 20251½/3+3+4
European Team Chess Championship 202514 Oct 20253½/800
45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 202421 Sep 20242½/10−17−14

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMS. Shankland2 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232711
GMR. Wojtaszek5 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232676
GMA. Salem14 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242631
N. Mamedov31 Jul 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232589
GMM. Parligras7 Oct 2026 · Romanian Team Chess Championships 20262517

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMR. WojtaszekLast 20 Nov 2023 · European Team Championship3111
GMD. NavaraLast 26 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20263003
N. MamedovLast 31 Jul 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232110
GMS. ShanklandLast 3 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232110
GMD. VocaturoLast 10 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252020

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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.