Players
Lilit Mkrtchian
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
IM

Lilit Mkrtchian

ArmeniaBorn 1982 (age 44)FIDE ID 13300601

Luft classical

230023502400245025002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2368
FIDE

FIDE classical

2300240025002600201620182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2368
Luft

Flair

Lilit Mkrtchian's classical flairs

1 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • Fighter56% decisive: 7 wins, 3 losses
  • 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
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Fighter

Trophy cabinet

Lilit Mkrtchian's classical titles

4 classical titles, 7 medals, newest first

  • Women's World Team Championship 2015Gold, board 2 · Armenia
  • European Women's Team Championship 2013Silver, board 2 · Armenia
  • European Women's Team Championship 2009Silver, board 2
  • Women's World Team Championship 2009Silver, board 2 · Armenia
  • Women's Chess Olympiad 2008Bronze, board 2 · Armenia
  • European Women's Team Championship 2007Bronze, team · Armenia
  • Armenian Championship 20051st
  • European Women's Team Championship 2003Gold, team · Armenia
  • Armenian Championship 20001st
  • Armenian Championship 19981st
  • Armenian Championship 19951st
  • Armenian Championship×4

Attributes

Tactics 68Positional 70Endgame 65Openings 69Composure 58Defence 68Speed 55Consistency 67

Luft classical rating

2368No. 413

From 18 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2373 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2373 level, blended with their FIDE rating+1
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+3
Activity18 classical games in top events−4

Openings

Their most-played, from 43 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
English Opening944%
King's Indian Attack438%
East Indian Defense275%
Pseudo Queen's Indian Defense275%
Queen's Pawn Game275%

English Opening

With White: 9 games, won 1, drew 6, lost 2 · 44%

VariationGamesScore
Anglo-Indian Defense438%
King's English Variation367%
Agincourt Defense225%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 4 games, won 1, drew 1, lost 2 · 38%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Defense317%
Main line1100%

East Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line275%

Pseudo Queen's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line275%

Queen's Pawn Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation1100%
Colle System150%

French Defense

With Black: 7 games, won 3, drew 3, lost 1 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation383%
Winawer Variation1100%
King's Indian Attack150%
Classical Variation150%
Steinitz Variation10%

Caro-Kann Defense

With Black: 3 games, won 0, drew 1, lost 2 · 17%

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation20%
Tartakower Variation150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Simagin Variation150%
Sämisch Variation150%

Philidor Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Lion Variation250%

Queen's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Kasparov-Petrosian Variation1100%
Spassky System10%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20266/10+29+28
25th European Chess Championship 20265 Jun 2026=19th−20
European Team Chess Championship 202514 Oct 20253½/9−11−11
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=43rd−25−24
FIDE World Cup 202510 Jul 20251/2−10

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMZhu Jiner15 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242487
IMY. Osmak14 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252464
IMD. Wagner22 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242452
WGMA. Khamdamova27 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262443
IMO. Kiolbasa12 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252405

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
IMA. MaltsevskayaLast 13 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20253102
IMD. Daulyte-CornetteLast 26 Feb 2024 · Chess Graz 20242020
IME. AtalikLast 13 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252011
GMZhu JinerLast 25 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262101
IMG. TokhirjonovaLast 15 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252110

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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.