Players
Arkadij Naiditsch
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival
GM

Arkadij Naiditsch

BulgariaBorn 1985 (age 41)FIDE ID 4650891

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2581
FIDE

FIDE classical

240026002800200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2572
Luft

Flair

Arkadij Naiditsch'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

Arkadij Naiditsch's classical titles

1 classical title, 5 medals, newest first

  • European Team Championship 2017Gold, team · Azerbaijan
  • European Team Championship 2015Silver, board 3 · Azerbaijan
  • European Team Championship 2013Silver, board 1 · Germany
  • European Team Championship 2011Bronze, board 1 · Germany
  • European Team Championship 2011Gold, team · Germany
  • German Championship 20071st
  • German Championship 

Attributes

Tactics 83Positional 79Endgame 81Openings 77Composure 74Defence 74Speed 76Consistency 84

Luft classical rating

2581No. 135

From 21 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2599 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2599 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
Activity21 classical games in top events−3

Openings

Their most-played, from 73 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1271%
King's Indian Attack764%
Ruy Lopez570%
Caro-Kann Defense367%
Four Knights Game350%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 12 games, won 7, drew 3, lost 2 · 71%

VariationGamesScore
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack383%
Closed2100%
Najdorf Variation225%
Scheveningen Variation1100%
Delayed Alapin Variation1100%
French Variation1100%
Alapin Variation150%
Kramnik Variation10%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 7 games, won 4, drew 1, lost 2 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Defense2100%
Sicilian Variation275%
Main line20%
Double Fianchetto1100%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 5 games, won 3, drew 1, lost 1 · 70%

VariationGamesScore
Closed250%
Exchange Variation1100%
Berlin Defense1100%
Marshall Attack150%

Caro-Kann Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation275%
Advance Variation150%

Four Knights Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Spanish Variation350%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 10 games, won 0, drew 7, lost 3 · 35%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense540%
Closed317%
Open Berlin Defense250%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 8 games, won 5, drew 1, lost 2 · 69%

VariationGamesScore
Delayed Alapin Variation1100%
Classical Variation1100%
Richter-Rauzer Variation1100%
Alapin Variation1100%
Najdorf Variation1100%
Kupreichik Variation150%
Velimirovic Attack10%
Godiva Variation10%

English Opening

With Black: 5 games, won 3, drew 1, lost 1 · 70%

VariationGamesScore
Agincourt Defense367%
King's English Variation275%

King's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Orthodox Variation250%
Normal Variation1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%
Barmen Variation150%
Semi-Tarrasch Defense150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
2026 Chinese Chess League Division A31 Oct 20263/5+3+3
Atyrau Open 202620 Oct 20265/9−8−9
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202626 Sep 20266/10+10+11
European Team Chess Championship 202514 Oct 20253/8−5−5
31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival24 Aug 20254½/6+7+9

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMWang Hao28 Oct 2026 · 2026 Chinese Chess League Division A2694
GMI. Kovalenko21 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262642
GMA. Graf4 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20222558
GMXue Haowen23 Aug 2025 · 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival2535
GMA. Fawzy18 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242507

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMA. FawzyLast 10 Dec 2024 · Qatar Masters 20242101
IMA. PinginLast 18 Aug 2025 · 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival2020
GMA. GiriLast 23 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262002
FMM. DeuerLast 21 Oct 2022 · Bundesliga 20221100
GMA. GrafLast 4 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20221100

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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.