Players
Levon Aronian
Photo: Brigham Aldrich
GM

Levon Aronian

United StatesBorn 1982 (age 44)FIDE ID 13300474

Playing now: Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 2026

Luft classical

26002700280029002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2748
FIDE

FIDE classical

260028003000200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2719
Luft

Flair

Levon Aronian's classical flairs

3 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • Lightning#3 at speed chess (blitz 2790, rapid 2730)
  • Black Belt12½/22 with black (57%), against 53% with white
  • ReliableConsistent across all top events (average performance 2727)
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Lightning
  • Black Belt
  • Reliable

Trophy cabinet

Levon Aronian's classical titles

13 classical titles, 25 medals, newest first

  • Biel Chess Festival 20261st · 4/8 · Perf. 2693
  • Chess Olympiad 2026Bronze, board 4 · United States
  • American Cup 20261st · 6½/12 · Perf. 2745
  • Freestyle Grand Slam Finals 2025Won the final
  • Freestyle Grand Slam Las Vegas 2025Shared 1st
  • Chess Olympiad 2024Gold, board 4 · United States
  • Chess Olympiad 2024Silver, team · United States
  • FIDE Grand Swiss 2023Shared 1st · 1/1 · Perf. 3434
  • European Team Championship 2019Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • European Team Championship 2017Gold, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Cup 20171st
  • Norway Chess 20171st
  • European Team Championship 2015Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • European Team Championship 2015Silver, team · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2015Gold, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2015Bronze, team · Armenia
  • Tata Steel 20141st
  • European Team Championship 2013Bronze, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2013Gold, board 1 · Armenia
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Gold, board 1 · Armenia
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Gold, team · Armenia
  • Tata Steel 20121st
  • European Team Championship 2011Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2011Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2011Gold, team · Armenia
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2010Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • Chess Olympiad 2008Gold, team · Armenia
  • European Team Championship 2007Silver, team · Armenia
  • Corus 20071st
  • Chess Olympiad 2006Gold, team · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2005Silver, board 1 · Armenia
  • World Team Championship 2005Bronze, team · Armenia
  • World Cup 20051st
  • Chess Olympiad 2004Bronze, team · Armenia
  • Armenian Championship 20021st
  • Armenian Championship 20021st
  • European Team Championship 1999Gold, team · Armenia

Attributes

Tactics 89Positional 84Endgame 88Openings 87Composure 88Defence 90Speed 93Consistency 91

Luft classical rating

2748No. 13

From 42 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2729 level, with 1 win against the top 10.

ResultsPlayed at a 2729 level, blended with their FIDE rating+6
Tournament wins59th Biel International Chess Festival 2026, 59th Biel International Chess Festival 2026+16
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+4
Activity42 classical games in top events+4

Openings

Their most-played, from 110 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1362%
Italian Game856%
English Opening750%
Ruy Lopez650%
Queen's Gambit Declined550%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 13 games, won 4, drew 8, lost 1 · 62%

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation383%
Najdorf Variation367%
Taimanov Variation250%
French Variation250%
Delayed Alapin Variation150%
Alapin Variation150%
Kramnik Variation150%

Italian Game

With White: 8 games, won 2, drew 5, lost 1 · 56%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation438%
Scotch Invitation Declined1100%
Giuoco Piano1100%
Two Knights Defense150%
Giuoco Pianissimo150%

English Opening

With White: 7 games, won 1, drew 5, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Four Knights System250%
King's English Variation225%
Agincourt Defense1100%
Anglo-Indian Defense150%
Symmetrical Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 6 games, won 1, drew 4, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense250%
Open1100%
Morphy Defense150%
Exchange Variation150%
Closed10%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense250%
Exchange Variation250%
Harrwitz Attack150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 9 games, won 2, drew 7, lost 0 · 61%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation350%
Main line275%
Barmen Variation275%
Ragozin Defense150%
Semi-Tarrasch Defense150%

French Defense

With Black: 9 games, won 1, drew 7, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Steinitz Variation450%
Classical Variation275%
Tarrasch Variation150%
Advance Variation150%
Winawer Variation10%

Slav Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Soultanbeieff Variation350%
Exchange Variation150%
Main line150%

Italian Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Defense275%
Giuoco Piano1100%
Giuoco Pianissimo150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation225%
Reshevsky Variation1100%
Classical Variation150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 202612 Nov 20263/5+20
U.S. Chess Championships 202621 Oct 2026=6th−6−10
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20266/80−1
GCT: Sinquefield Cup 202619 Aug 2026=5th+4+6
59th Biel International Chess Festival 202623 Jul 20261st−3−2

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMF. Caruana9 Mar 2026 · American Cup 20262795
GMN. Abdusattorov18 Aug 2025 · GCT: Sinquefield Cup 20252771
GMV. Keymer11 Aug 2026 · GCT: Sinquefield Cup 20262767
GMJ. Duda10 May 2025 · GCT: 20252739
GMM. Vachier-Lagrave9 Nov 2024 · Chennai Grandmasters 20242737

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMF. CaruanaLast 9 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20269162
GMW. SoLast 12 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20266051
GMPraggnanandhaa R.Last 16 Aug 2026 · GCT: Sinquefield Cup 20265050
GMS. SevianLast 11 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20265140
GMA. LiangLast 15 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20265041

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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.