Players
Zahar Efimenko
Photo: This photo was taken by Przemysław JahrAutorem zdjęcia jest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
GM

Zahar Efimenko

UkraineBorn 1985 (age 41)FIDE ID 14107201

Luft classical

250025502600265027002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2541
FIDE

FIDE classical

240026002800200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2547
Luft

Flair

Zahar Efimenko'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

Zahar Efimenko's classical titles

1 classical title, 4 medals, newest first

  • World Team Championship 2011Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Silver, board 4 · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Gold, team · Ukraine
  • European Team Championship 2009Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Championship of Ukraine 20061st
  • Championship of Ukraine 

Attributes

Tactics 76Positional 79Endgame 80Openings 76Composure 76Defence 73Speed 72Consistency 80

Luft classical rating

2541No. 198

From 16 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2487 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2487 level, blended with their FIDE rating−9
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+9
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event−1
Activity16 classical games in top events−5

Openings

Their most-played, from 48 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense856%
Ruy Lopez550%
Zukertort Opening250%
Petrov's Defense225%
Slav Defense1100%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 8 games, won 2, drew 5, lost 1 · 56%

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation350%
Chekhover Variation1100%
Najdorf Variation150%
Closed150%
Scheveningen Variation150%
O'Kelly Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed333%
Morphy Defense1100%
Berlin Defense150%

Zukertort Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Queenside Fianchetto Variation150%
Main line150%

Petrov's Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Attack150%
Modern Attack10%

Slav Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Quiet Variation1100%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 5 games, won 0, drew 5, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Closed350%
Morphy Defense150%
Marshall Attack150%

English Opening

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 2 · 25%

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation20%
Agincourt Defense150%
Anglo-Indian Defense150%

Italian Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation350%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation250%

Queen's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Kasparov-Petrosian Variation150%

Recent events

EventPlace+/−+/−
German Bundesliga 2026/2711 Oct 20261½/3−1−1
German Bundesliga 2025/2626 Apr 20266½/15−17−17
German Bundesliga 2024/2527 Apr 20257½/14+8+6
Bundesliga 2023/2428 Apr 20245½/11+2+3
Bundesliga 202230 Apr 20234/9−13−10

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMF. Svane13 Jan 2024 · Bundesliga 2023/242618
GMM. Andersen12 Jan 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252594
GMA. Gupta22 Mar 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252577
GMS. Gupta26 Apr 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252548
GMS. Zilka30 Nov 2024 · German Bundesliga 2024/252525

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMA. GuptaLast 22 Mar 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252101
GMR. KempinskiLast 1 Feb 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252020
GMM. RaggerLast 7 Dec 2025 · German Bundesliga 2025/262011
GMG. KamskyLast 27 Sep 2025 · German Bundesliga 2025/262020
GMS. ZilkaLast 9 Oct 2026 · German Bundesliga 2026/272110

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.