Players
Gata Kamsky
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival
GM

Gata Kamsky

FranceBorn 1974 (age 52)FIDE ID 2000024

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2570
FIDE

FIDE classical

25002600270028002900200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2586
Luft

Flair

Gata Kamsky'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

Gata Kamsky's classical titles

6 classical titles, 4 medals, newest first

  • U.S. Championship 20141st
  • U.S. Championship 20131st
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Bronze, board 2 · United States
  • World Team Championship 2011Bronze, board 1 · United States
  • U.S. Championship 20111st
  • U.S. Championship 20101st
  • Chess Olympiad 2008Bronze, team · United States
  • World Cup 20071st
  • Chess Olympiad 2006Bronze, team · United States
  • U.S. Championship 19911st
  • World Cup 
  • U.S. Championship×5

Attributes

Tactics 75Positional 81Endgame 81Openings 76Composure 78Defence 80Speed 72Consistency 84

Luft classical rating

2570No. 147

From 16 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2552 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2552 level, blended with their FIDE rating−7
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−6
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity16 classical games in top events−5

Openings

Their most-played, from 41 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense570%
Queen's Pawn Game550%
Indian Defense275%
Ruy Lopez275%
King's Indian Attack1100%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed1100%
Moscow Variation1100%
Accelerated Dragon150%
Pin Variation150%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%

Queen's Pawn Game

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

VariationGamesScore
London System450%
Symmetrical Variation150%

Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Accelerated London System1100%
Spielmann-Indian150%

Ruy Lopez

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

VariationGamesScore
Morphy Defense1100%
Closed150%

King's Indian Attack

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 8 games, won 0, drew 5, lost 3 · 31%

VariationGamesScore
Closed540%
Morphy Defense225%
Berlin Defense10%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 3, lost 1 · 38%

VariationGamesScore
Taimanov Variation225%
Alapin Variation150%
Closed150%

Slav Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Chebanenko Variation150%
Quiet Variation150%

Zukertort Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line150%
Sicilian Invitation10%

Four Knights Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Glek System1100%

Recent events

EventPlace+/−+/−
Atyrau Open 202620 Oct 20265½/9−7−10
German Bundesliga 2025/2626 Apr 20265/9−1−1
German Bundesliga 2024/2527 Apr 20255½/10−1−7
Bundesliga 2023/2428 Apr 20242½/7−10−13
Bundesliga 202230 Apr 20233½/7−6−7

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMA. Sarana12 Jan 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252677
GML. Engel18 Mar 2023 · Bundesliga 20222555
GME. Krivoborodov10 Jan 2026 · German Bundesliga 2025/262542
IMP. Zelbel26 Apr 2025 · German Bundesliga 2024/252484
IMM. Smirnov16 Oct 2026 · Atyrau Open 20262451

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMH. StevicLast 28 Sep 2025 · German Bundesliga 2025/262020
GMZ. EfimenkoLast 27 Sep 2025 · German Bundesliga 2025/262020
GMM. TabatabaeiLast 21 Oct 2022 · Bundesliga 20221010
GMA. BrkicLast 25 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20221010
GML. FressinetLast 26 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20221010

Compare Luft

GMGata KamskyFrance

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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.