Players
David Navara
Photo: Paul Meyer-Dunker, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
GM

David Navara

CzechiaBorn 1985 (age 41)FIDE ID 309095

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2642
FIDE

FIDE classical

240026002800200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2619
Luft

Flair

David Navara's classical flairs

2 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • Underdog3 wins against players rated 50+ higher
  • WildcardPerformed anywhere from 2376 to 2778 in 4 events
  • TitanLuft classical rating averaging 2800+ over the last 4 years
  • Serial WinnerWon 2+ elite events in the last 12 months
  • 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
  • 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
  • Underdog
  • Wildcard

Trophy cabinet

David Navara's classical titles

14 classical titles, 4 medals, newest first

  • Czech Championship 20261st
  • Czech Championship 20241st
  • Czech Championship 20231st
  • Czech Championship 20221st
  • Czech Championship 20201st
  • Czech Championship 20191st
  • European Team Championship 2017Bronze, board 1 · Czech Republic
  • Czech Championship 20171st
  • Czech Championship 20151st
  • Czech Championship 20141st
  • Czech Championship 20131st
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Gold, board 2 · Czech Republic
  • Czech Championship 20121st
  • Czech Championship 20101st
  • Czech Championship 20051st
  • Czech Championship 20041st
  • European Team Championship 2003Bronze, board 2 · Czech Republic
  • European Team Championship 2001Silver, board 2 · Czech Republic
  • Czech Championship×14

Attributes

Tactics 84Positional 83Endgame 82Openings 83Composure 82Defence 78Speed 80Consistency 72

Luft classical rating

2642No. 70

From 46 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2668 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2668 level, blended with their FIDE rating+22
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event−5
Activity46 classical games in top events+5

Openings

Their most-played, from 133 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1164%
Ruy Lopez978%
Queen's Gambit Declined956%
Petrov's Defense570%
Catalan Opening463%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 11 games, won 4, drew 6, lost 1 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Chekhover Variation275%
Four Knights Variation250%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack1100%
Moscow Variation1100%
Modern Variations1100%
Taimanov Variation150%
Richter-Rauzer Variation150%
Kan Variation150%
Najdorf Variation10%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 9 games, won 5, drew 4, lost 0 · 78%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense383%
Closed367%
Fianchetto Defense1100%
Morphy Defense1100%
Classical Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 9 games, won 1, drew 8, lost 0 · 56%

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense250%
Exchange Variation250%
Main line1100%
Three Knights Variation150%
Semi-Tarrasch Defense150%
Barmen Variation150%
Cambridge Springs Defense150%

Petrov's Defense

With White: 5 games, won 2, drew 3, lost 0 · 70%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Attack350%
Modern Attack2100%

Catalan Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed367%
Open Defense150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 17 games, won 1, drew 15, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense1650%
Open Berlin Defense150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 10 games, won 3, drew 6, lost 1 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation550%
Moscow Variation350%
Closed1100%
Chekhover Variation1100%

Italian Game

With Black: 9 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 6 · 22%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation617%
Giuoco Pianissimo333%

English Opening

With Black: 5 games, won 3, drew 2, lost 0 · 80%

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation367%
Symmetrical Variation1100%
Agincourt Defense1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 4, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense450%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
sachy.cz Extraliga 2026/2731 Oct 2026½/1−1−1
41st European Chess Club Cup 202623 Oct 20265/6+6+5
German Bundesliga 2026/2711 Oct 20262/3+6+6
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20266/9+3+2
Chess Slovak Open Skalica 202630 Aug 2026=4th−2−3

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMGukesh D.2 Mar 2024 · Prague Chess Festival 20242747
GMM. Vachier-Lagrave9 Oct 2026 · German Bundesliga 2026/272717
GMP. Maghsoodloo25 Feb 2026 · Prague International Chess Festival 20262708
GMN. Yakubboev1 Mar 2026 · Prague International Chess Festival 20262691
GMR. Mamedov6 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252655

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMPraggnanandhaa R.Last 26 Feb 2025 · Prague International Chess Festival 20254031
GMV. KeymerLast 26 Feb 2026 · Prague International Chess Festival 20264031
GMD. DardhaLast 22 Oct 2026 · 41st European Chess Club Cup 20264211
GML. NisipeanuLast 9 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20253030
GMN. HuschenbethLast 25 Oct 2023 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20233021

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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.