Players
Mihail Nikitenko
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Mihail Nikitenko

BelarusBorn 2000 (age 26)FIDE ID 13506862

Luft classical

230024002500260027002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2435
FIDE

FIDE classical

23002400250026002700201620182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2427
Luft

Flair

Mihail Nikitenko'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

Mihail Nikitenko's classical titles

1 classical title, newest first

  • Belarusian Championship 20201st
  • Belarusian Championship 

Attributes

Tactics 70Positional 71Endgame 76Openings 65Composure 74Defence 74Speed 63Consistency 74

Luft classical rating

2435No. 368

From 10 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2494 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2494 level, blended with their FIDE rating+13
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity10 classical games in top events−7

Openings

Their most-played, from 37 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense463%
Ruy Lopez463%
King's Indian Attack1100%
Caro-Kann Defense1100%
King's Indian Defense1100%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 4 games, won 1, drew 3, lost 0 · 63%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation275%
Delayed Alapin Variation250%

Ruy Lopez

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed250%
Berlin Defense1100%
Morphy Defense150%

King's Indian Attack

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%

Caro-Kann Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Endgame Variation1100%

King's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Makogonov Variation1100%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 5 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 2 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Taimanov Variation250%
Najdorf Variation1100%
Accelerated Dragon150%
Alapin Variation10%

Indian Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 2, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Anti-Nimzo-Indian2100%

Slav Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Quiet Variation1100%
Exchange Variation150%

Semi-Slav Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation10%
Stoltz Variation10%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Barmen Variation150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
1st Chola Chess Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 20267 Nov 2026=24th+10+4
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20264½/8+1−4
Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 202512 Aug 20256/9+13+12
Oskemen Open 202529 Jul 20253½/6−2−3
Sharjah Masters 202525 May 2025=62nd0+1

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMM. Yilmaz16 May 2024 · Sharjah2641
GMP. Idani19 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20252630
GMM. Muradli17 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20252603
GMB. Adhiban5 Nov 2026 · 1st Chola Chess Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 20262573
GMG. Dudin21 May 2024 · Sharjah2554

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMS. SargsyanLast 21 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20252011
GMS. Ter-SahakyanLast 31 Oct 2026 · 1st Chola Chess Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 20262002
FMS. ChinguunLast 4 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20252110
GMM. YilmazLast 16 May 2024 · Sharjah1100
GMN. SarinLast 17 May 2024 · Sharjah1001

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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.