Players
Maxim Matlakov
Photo: Stefan64, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
GM

Maxim Matlakov

RussiaBorn 1991 (age 35)FIDE ID 4168003

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2587
FIDE

FIDE classical

220024002600280020022007201220172022
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2592
Luft

Flair

Maxim Matlakov'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

Maxim Matlakov's classical titles

1 classical title, 4 medals, newest first

  • European Team Championship 2019Gold, team · Russia
  • European Team Championship 2017Silver, board 4 · Russia
  • European Team Championship 2017Silver, team · Russia
  • World Team Championship 2017Silver, team · Russia
  • European Championship 20171st
  • European Championship 

Attributes

Tactics 83Positional 72Endgame 81Openings 80Composure 81Defence 81Speed 83Consistency 84

Luft classical rating

2587No. 125

From 14 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2558 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2558 level, blended with their FIDE rating−6
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+6
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event0
Activity14 classical games in top events−5

Openings

Their most-played, from 35 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
King's Indian Attack367%
Italian Game350%
Sicilian Defense250%
Ruy Lopez250%
English Opening225%

King's Indian Attack

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

VariationGamesScore
Main line275%
Sicilian Variation150%

Italian Game

With White: 3 games, won 1, drew 1, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Giuoco Piano1100%
Classical Variation150%
Two Knights Defense10%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation150%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%

Ruy Lopez

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed150%
Berlin Defense150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Anglo-Indian Defense150%
Symmetrical Variation10%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation383%
Moscow Variation150%

Queen's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Fianchetto Variation250%
Classical Variation150%

Italian Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation1100%
Giuoco Pianissimo150%

Ruy Lopez

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed150%
Open10%

Bogo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Nimzowitsch Variation150%
Retreat Variation10%

Recent events

EventPlace+/−+/−
Atyrau Open 202620 Oct 20264½/7−3−2
Oskemen Open 202629 Jul 2026=5th−6−5
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=86th−3−1
Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 202512 Aug 20256/9+10
FIDE Grand Swiss 202325 Oct 20230/1−6−6

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMA. Suleymenov20 Oct 2026 · Atyrau Open 20262502
IME. Khubukshanov10 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20252489
IMA. Davtyan7 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20252479
IMS. Gan-Erdene24 Jul 2026 · Oskemen Open 20262474
IMJiang Haochen5 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20252464

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
IMS. Gan-ErdeneLast 24 Jul 2026 · Oskemen Open 20262110
GMV. SivukLast 14 Oct 2026 · Atyrau Open 20262020
GMT. KuybokarovLast 25 Oct 2023 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20231001
IMJiang HaochenLast 5 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20251100
IMA. DavtyanLast 7 Aug 2025 · Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup 20251100

Compare Luft

GMMaxim MatlakovRussia

Pick a player to compare with Maxim Matlakov

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.