Players
Igor Kovalenko
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Igor Kovalenko

UkraineBorn 1988 (age 38)FIDE ID 14117908

Luft classical

260026502700275028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2677
FIDE

FIDE classical

2200240026002800200520092013201720212025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2651
Luft

Flair

Igor Kovalenko'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

Igor Kovalenko's classical titles

2 classical titles, newest first

  • Latvian Championship 20141st
  • Latvian Championship 20131st
  • Latvian Championship×2

Attributes

Tactics 84Positional 83Endgame 81Openings 85Composure 85Defence 88Speed 80Consistency 86

Luft classical rating

2677No. 49

From 34 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2690 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2690 level, blended with their FIDE rating+16
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+8
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+1
Activity34 classical games in top events+1

Openings

Their most-played, from 42 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Queen's Gambit Declined580%
Ruy Lopez488%
Sicilian Defense463%
Bogo-Indian Defense275%
English Opening225%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Semi-Tarrasch Defense2100%
Harrwitz Attack250%
Ragozin Defense1100%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 4 games, won 3, drew 1, lost 0 · 88%

VariationGamesScore
Closed2100%
Berlin Defense275%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation250%
Delayed Alapin Variation1100%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%

Bogo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Grünfeld Variation1100%
Retreat Variation150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation150%
Agincourt Defense10%

English Opening

With Black: 3 games, won 3, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation2100%
Anglo-Indian Defense1100%

Queen's Gambit Accepted

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line367%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 3 games, won 0, drew 3, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack250%
Kan Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Tartakower Defense1100%
Three Knights Variation150%

King's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation1100%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20267/10+10+6
19th Arad Open Grand Prix Classic 20268 Aug 20260/1−7−8
Brasov Grand Prix Classic 202631 Jul 20263½/4+7+7
KazChess Masters Almaty 20268 Jul 20265½/9−3−2
European Individual Chess Championship 202619 Apr 2026=24th−13−14

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMDing Liren26 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262733
GMA. Donchenko30 Jun 2026 · KazChess Masters Almaty 20262640
GML. van Wely12 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252630
GMA. Indjic9 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252618
GMP. Laurent-Paoli10 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252570

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMT. SanikidzeLast 5 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20251100
GME. CanLast 6 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20251010
GMS. MartinovicLast 7 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20251100
GMA. IndjicLast 9 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20251100
GMP. Laurent-PaoliLast 10 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20251100

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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.