Players
Denis Makhnev
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Denis Makhnev

KazakhstanBorn 2000 (age 26)FIDE ID 13707647

Playing now: Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026

Luft classical

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Monthly Luft ratings, now 2622
FIDE

FIDE classical

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Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2581
Luft

Flair

Denis Makhnev's classical flairs

4 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • ReliableConsistent across all top events (average performance 2612)
  • Underdog5 wins against players rated 50+ higher
  • Ironman54 classical games over the last 12 months
  • Fighter59% decisive: 22 wins, 10 losses
  • 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
  • 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
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Reliable
  • Underdog
  • Ironman

Trophy cabinet

No classical titles on record yet.

Attributes

Tactics 85Positional 79Endgame 81Openings 84Composure 85Defence 77Speed 74Consistency 76

Luft classical rating

2622No. 91

From 54 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2634 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2634 level, blended with their FIDE rating+26
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+6
Activity54 classical games in top events+8

Openings

Their most-played, from 85 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Queen's Gambit Declined580%
Sicilian Defense570%
King's Indian Defense550%
English Opening463%
Queen's Pawn Game383%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense275%
Three Knights Variation275%
Main line1100%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation2100%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack275%
Modern Variations10%

King's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation450%
Petrosian Variation150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation250%
Agincourt Defense1100%
Neo-Catalan150%

Queen's Pawn Game

With White: 3 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 0 · 83%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation2100%
London System150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 13 games, won 3, drew 6, lost 4 · 46%

VariationGamesScore
Morphy Defense838%
Closed367%
Fianchetto Defense150%
Main line150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 5 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 3 · 20%

VariationGamesScore
Barmen Variation225%
Three Knights Variation225%
Exchange Variation10%

Italian Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation250%
Giuoco Pianissimo1100%
Two Knights Defense1100%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Agincourt Defense275%
Symmetrical Variation150%
Main line150%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Delayed Alapin Variation250%
Kan Variation1100%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Asian Nations Chess Cup 202613 Nov 20264/5+11+10
KazChess Masters Almaty 20263 Nov 20269½/18+5−2
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20267/10+13+9
Oskemen Open 202629 Jul 2026=11th−2−6
Aktobe Open 202611 Jun 20265½/8+8+5

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMWang Hao11 Jun 2026 · Aktobe Open 20262684
GMM. Karthikeyan28 Nov 2025 · KazChess Masters2662
GMS. Shankland1 Jul 2026 · KazChess Masters Almaty 20262658
GMV. Murzin24 Nov 2025 · KazChess Masters2655
GMA. Hakobyan28 Oct 2026 · KazChess Masters Almaty 20262638

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMK. NogerbekLast 25 Jul 2026 · Oskemen Open 20263030
GMA. SaranaLast 23 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20263012
IMR. Mohammad FahadLast 24 Jul 2026 · Oskemen Open 20262110
FMS. ChinguunLast 21 Jul 2025 · Oskemen Open 20252011
IMM. ChakrabortyLast 19 Aug 2025 · 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival2110

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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.