Players
Jianchao Zhou
Photo: Charlotte Chess Center
GM

Jianchao Zhou

United StatesBorn 1988 (age 38)FIDE ID 8603537

Luft classical

250025502600265027002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2562
FIDE

FIDE classical

2200240026002800200320072011201520192023
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2556
Luft

Flair

Jianchao Zhou'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

No classical titles on record yet.

Attributes

Tactics 78Positional 77Endgame 83Openings 76Composure 78Defence 76Speed 74Consistency 81

Luft classical rating

2562No. 161

From 12 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2672 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2672 level, blended with their FIDE rating+10
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity12 classical games in top events−6

Openings

Their most-played, from 12 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
English Opening275%
Caro-Kann Defense1100%
Zukertort Opening1100%
King's Indian Attack150%
Nimzo-Indian Defense150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation1100%
Symmetrical Variation150%

Caro-Kann Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation1100%

Zukertort Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%

King's Indian Attack

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

VariationGamesScore
Double Fianchetto150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 2, drew 2, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Godiva Variation1100%
Taimanov Variation1100%
Najdorf Variation150%
Kan Variation150%

French Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation150%

Recent events

EventPlace+/−+/−
Reykjavik Open 202631 Mar 20262nd+15+15
2025 US Masters30 Nov 20255/8−10−10

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMM. Wadsworth31 Mar 2026 · Reykjavik Open 20262522
IMT. Razafindratsima30 Mar 2026 · Reykjavik Open 20262504
IMS. Mahadevan28 Mar 2026 · Reykjavik Open 20262454
IMN. Tutisani26 Mar 2026 · Reykjavik Open 20262454
IMS. Sethuraman29 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters2417

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
T. KungLast 26 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1100
FMD. LinLast 27 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1010
IMJ. FusLast 28 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1010
IMA. AtanasovLast 28 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1010
IMS. SethuramanLast 29 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1100

Compare Luft

GMJianchao ZhouUnited States

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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.