Players
Pavel Eljanov
Photo: GibChess, CC BY 4.0, via YouTube
GM

Pavel Eljanov

UkraineBorn 1983 (age 43)FIDE ID 14102951

Luft classical

250026002700280029002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2673
FIDE

FIDE classical

240026002800200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2665
Luft

Flair

Pavel Eljanov's classical flairs

1 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • 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+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events
  • Hot Streak

Trophy cabinet

Pavel Eljanov's classical titles

0 classical titles, 12 medals, newest first

  • European Team Championship 2017Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2016Silver, team · Ukraine
  • European Team Championship 2015Silver, board 2 · Ukraine
  • World Team Championship 2015Silver, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2014Bronze, board 3 · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • World Team Championship 2011Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Silver, board 3 · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Gold, team · Ukraine
  • European Team Championship 2009Gold, board 1 · Ukraine
  • European Team Championship 2009Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2004Gold, team · Ukraine

Attributes

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

Luft classical rating

2673No. 53

From 21 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2729 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2729 level, blended with their FIDE rating+18
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−9
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity21 classical games in top events−3

Openings

Their most-played, from 59 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Nimzo-Indian Defense450%
Italian Game438%
Indian Defense383%
Petrov's Defense367%
English Opening367%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With White: 4 games, won 0, drew 4, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation250%
Classical Variation150%
Sämisch Variation150%

Italian Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation250%
Two Knights Defense225%

Indian Defense

With White: 3 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 0 · 83%

VariationGamesScore
Accelerated London System1100%
Dzindzi-Indian Defense1100%
Normal Variation150%

Petrov's Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Modern Attack275%
Classical Attack150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation1100%
Agincourt Defense150%
Four Knights System150%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 10 games, won 2, drew 6, lost 2 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense367%
Closed350%
Open225%
Marshall Attack150%
Open Berlin Defense150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 5 games, won 2, drew 2, lost 1 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack275%
Closed1100%
Taimanov Variation150%
French Variation10%

Catalan Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Open Defense367%
Closed150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 2, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation2100%

Scotch Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Göring Gambit150%
Mieses Variation150%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
sachy.cz Extraliga 2026/2731 Oct 2026½/1−2−2
41st European Chess Club Cup 202623 Oct 20263½/6−4−6
German Bundesliga 2026/2711 Oct 20262/3+5+5
German Bundesliga 2025/2626 Apr 20269/13+18+23
European Chess Club Cup 202525 Oct 20253½/6−1+1

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMS. Mamedyarov22 Oct 2025 · European Chess Club Cup 20252742
GMP. Maghsoodloo15 Dec 2023 · Chennai Grand Masters 20232742
GMA. Predke19 Dec 2023 · Chennai Grand Masters 20232689
GMF. Svane7 Feb 2026 · German Bundesliga 2025/262645
GMK. Alekseenko10 Oct 2026 · German Bundesliga 2026/272640

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMM. BluebaumLast 24 Apr 2026 · German Bundesliga 2025/263030
GMN. SarinLast 28 Apr 2024 · Bundesliga 2023/242020
GMR. RapportLast 9 Oct 2026 · German Bundesliga 2026/272011
GML. NisipeanuLast 3 Dec 2023 · Bundesliga 2023/242110
GMF. BlohbergerLast 31 Oct 2026 · sachy.cz Extraliga 2026/272110

Compare Luft

GMPavel EljanovUkraine

Pick a player to compare with Pavel Eljanov

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.