Players
Aleksandra Goryachkina
Photo: Dominik Töpfer
GM

Aleksandra Goryachkina

FIDEBorn 1998 (age 28)FIDE ID 4147103

Luft classical

250025502600265027002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2559
FIDE

FIDE classical

18002000220024002600200920122015201820212024
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2540
Luft

Flair

Aleksandra Goryachkina's classical flairs

4 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • TitanLuft classical rating averaged 2553 over the last 4 years, among the best women
  • Lightning#1 woman at speed chess (blitz 2453, rapid 2501)
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both among the best women
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 77, from 20 endgames, among the best women
  • 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
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • 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
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Titan
  • Lightning
  • Adaptable

Trophy cabinet

Aleksandra Goryachkina's classical titles

7 classical titles, 1 medal, newest first

  • Candidates 
  • FIDE Grand Prix×3
  • Russian Championship×3

Attributes

Tactics 78Positional 80Endgame 77Openings 78Composure 77Defence 76Speed 70Consistency 83

Luft classical rating

2559No. 168

From 29 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2575 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2575 level, blended with their FIDE rating+9
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+10
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event0
Activity29 classical games in top events0

Openings

Their most-played, from 106 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1457%
Ruy Lopez1065%
Queen's Gambit Declined475%
French Defense463%
Tarrasch Defense367%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 14 games, won 4, drew 8, lost 2 · 57%

VariationGamesScore
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack869%
French Variation367%
Moscow Variation317%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 10 games, won 3, drew 7, lost 0 · 65%

VariationGamesScore
Open383%
Closed367%
Morphy Defense350%
Berlin Defense150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Barmen Variation1100%
Harrwitz Attack1100%
Exchange Variation150%
Main line150%

French Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Tarrasch Variation275%
Winawer Variation150%
Steinitz Variation150%

Tarrasch Defense

With White: 3 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 0 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Variation1100%
Dubov Tarrasch150%
Prague Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 13 games, won 3, drew 10, lost 0 · 62%

VariationGamesScore
Semi-Tarrasch Defense650%
Exchange Variation463%
Main line2100%
Modern Variation150%

Italian Game

With Black: 13 games, won 2, drew 8, lost 3 · 46%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Defense550%
Classical Variation540%
Giuoco Pianissimo250%
Evans Gambit150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 13 games, won 1, drew 9, lost 3 · 42%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense736%
Closed350%
Open Berlin Defense150%
Morphy Defense150%
Exchange Variation150%

Four Knights Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Scotch Variation Accepted275%

Queen's Pawn Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation150%
Accelerated London System150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
41st European Chess Club Cup 202623 Oct 20264½/6+4+4
FIDE Candidates 202615 Apr 2026=3rd+2+2
FIDE World Team Championship 202523 Nov 20255/9−6−10
European Chess Club Cup 202525 Oct 20253½/6−2−4
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=72nd+13+13

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMB. Gelfand13 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252652
GMD. Yuffa12 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252648
GMD. Kollars7 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252647
GMZhu Jiner14 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20262578
GMTan Zhongyi3 Nov 2024 · FIDE Grand Prix 2024/252551

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMTan ZhongyiLast 15 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20269351
GMD. DeshmukhLast 9 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20267430
GMA. MuzychukLast 12 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20267160
GMK. LagnoLast 7 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20266042
GMZhu JinerLast 14 Apr 2026 · FIDE Candidates 20265140

Compare Luft

GMAleksandra GoryachkinaFIDE

Pick a player to compare with Aleksandra Goryachkina

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.