Players
Gukesh D
Photo: Dominik Töpfer
GM

Gukesh D

IndiaBorn 2006 (age 20)FIDE ID 46616543

Luft classical

260027002800290030002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2695
FIDE

FIDE classical

150020002500300020142017202020232026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2710
Luft

Flair

Gukesh D's classical flairs

2 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • PositionalPositional 91, from 33 positional games they steered
  • Hot Streak5 wins and 2 draws in 7 straight games
  • 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)
  • 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+
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Positional
  • Hot Streak

Trophy cabinet

Gukesh D's classical titles

3 classical titles, newest first

Attributes

Tactics 82Positional 91Endgame 83Openings 84Composure 83Defence 85Speed 85Consistency 89

Luft classical rating

2695No. 31

From 49 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2663 level, with 1 win against the top 10.

ResultsPlayed at a 2663 level, blended with their FIDE rating−27
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+10
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event−4
Activity49 classical games in top events+6

Openings

Their most-played, from 220 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Ruy Lopez1573%
Sicilian Defense1258%
Queen's Gambit Declined1246%
Italian Game956%
Nimzo-Indian Defense764%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 15 games, won 7, drew 8, lost 0 · 73%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense764%
Morphy Defense383%
Open2100%
Closed275%
Marshall Attack150%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 12 games, won 3, drew 8, lost 1 · 58%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation450%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack275%
Hyperaccelerated Dragon225%
Modern Variations1100%
Taimanov Variation1100%
Pin Variation150%
Richter-Rauzer Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 12 games, won 2, drew 7, lost 3 · 46%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation333%
Barmen Variation275%
Ragozin Defense250%
Harrwitz Attack250%
Semi-Tarrasch Defense1100%
Three Knights Variation10%
Charousek Variation10%

Italian Game

With White: 9 games, won 3, drew 4, lost 2 · 56%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Defense570%
Giuoco Pianissimo350%
Classical Variation10%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With White: 7 games, won 3, drew 3, lost 1 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation383%
Three Knights Variation367%
Sämisch Variation10%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 18 games, won 1, drew 12, lost 5 · 39%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense736%
Closed540%
Morphy Defense438%
Open Berlin Defense150%
Marshall Attack150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 13 games, won 6, drew 5, lost 2 · 65%

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense675%
Barmen Variation450%
Main line1100%
Three Knights Variation150%
Charousek Variation150%

Italian Game

With Black: 13 games, won 4, drew 6, lost 3 · 54%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation764%
Giuoco Pianissimo333%
Two Knights Defense250%
Giuoco Piano150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 10 games, won 2, drew 7, lost 1 · 55%

VariationGamesScore
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack450%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation275%
Taimanov Variation150%
Delayed Alapin Variation150%
Scheveningen Variation150%
Kan Variation150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 9 games, won 4, drew 3, lost 2 · 61%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation550%
Classical Variation3100%
Romanishin Variation10%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20268½/11+8+14
Chennai Grand Masters 202622 Jul 20268th−14−10
Norway Chess 20265 Jun 20266th−15−10
Prague International Chess Festival 20266 Mar 2026=9th−16−11
Tata Steel Chess 20261 Feb 2026=8th−6−3

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMM. Carlsen1 Jun 2025 · Norway Chess 20252837
GMH. Nakamura28 May 2025 · Norway Chess 20252804
GMF. Caruana21 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242798
GMA. Firouzja30 May 2023 · Norway Chess 20232785
GMA. Erigaisi2 Jun 2025 · Norway Chess 20252782

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMDing LirenLast 12 Dec 2024 · FIDE World Championship 202415393
GMPraggnanandhaa R.Last 4 Jun 2026 · Norway Chess 202611272
GMA. ErigaisiLast 20 Jul 2026 · Chennai Grand Masters 202610244
GMA. FirouzjaLast 17 Jul 2026 · Chennai Grand Masters 202610244
GMN. AbdusattorovLast 19 Jul 2026 · Chennai Grand Masters 202610172

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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.