Players
Ruslan Ponomariov
Photo: Stefan64, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
GM

Ruslan Ponomariov

UkraineBorn 1983 (age 43)FIDE ID 14103320

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2616
FIDE

FIDE classical

25002600270028002900200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2625
Luft

Flair

Ruslan Ponomariov'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

Ruslan Ponomariov's classical titles

3 classical titles, 14 medals, newest first

  • Grand Prix Romania 20241st · 16½/20 · Perf. 2602
  • European Team Championship 2017Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2016Silver, team · Ukraine
  • World Team Championship 2015Silver, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2012Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Ukrainian Championship 20111st
  • Chess Olympiad 2010Gold, team · Ukraine
  • World Team Championship 2005Gold, board 2 · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2004Gold, team · Ukraine
  • European Team Championship 2003Silver, board 1 · Ukraine
  • World Championship 20021st
  • World Team Championship 2001Gold, board 2 · Ukraine
  • World Team Championship 2001Gold, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2000Gold, board 2 · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 2000Bronze, team · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 1998Silver, 2nd reserve board · Ukraine
  • Chess Olympiad 1998Bronze, team · Ukraine

Attributes

Tactics 77Positional 86Endgame 83Openings 80Composure 80Defence 79Speed 83Consistency 80

Luft classical rating

2616No. 97

From 12 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2670 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2670 level, blended with their FIDE rating+7
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−10
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event0
Activity12 classical games in top events−6

Openings

Their most-played, from 65 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1060%
Ruy Lopez658%
English Opening367%
Caro-Kann Defense275%
Petrov's Defense275%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 10 games, won 3, drew 6, lost 1 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation540%
Moscow Variation2100%
Richter-Rauzer Variation1100%
Delayed Alapin Variation150%
Taimanov Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 6 games, won 1, drew 5, lost 0 · 58%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense367%
Morphy Defense350%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation250%
Agincourt Defense1100%

Caro-Kann Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Attack1100%
Tartakower Variation150%

Petrov's Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Nimzowitsch Attack1100%
Cozio Attack150%

Italian Game

With Black: 6 games, won 0, drew 6, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation250%
Two Knights Defense250%
Giuoco Pianissimo250%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 5 games, won 1, drew 4, lost 0 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Berlin Defense560%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Ragozin Defense450%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 3 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 1 · 33%

VariationGamesScore
Sämisch Variation225%
Classical Variation150%

Caro-Kann Defense

With Black: 3 games, won 0, drew 1, lost 2 · 17%

VariationGamesScore
Two Knights Attack225%
Advance Variation10%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
sachy.cz Extraliga 2026/2731 Oct 2026½/10−1
German Bundesliga 2025/2626 Apr 20268/13+8+4
European Team Chess Championship 202514 Oct 20254/8+6+8
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=51st+8+12
European Individual Chess Championship 202418 Nov 2024=32nd−23−23

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMA. Korobov4 Aug 2024 · Grand Prix Romania 20242614
GMS. Brunello24 Mar 2024 · Grand Prix Romania 20242597
GMM. Bartel27 Sep 2025 · German Bundesliga 2025/262581
GMB. Cheng1 Mar 2026 · German Bundesliga 2025/262566
GMM. Kobalia7 Feb 2026 · German Bundesliga 2025/262538

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMD. KollarsLast 15 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20253030
GMLe Quang LiemLast 6 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232020
GMF. BerkesLast 10 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232011
GMA. IstratescuLast 3 Aug 2024 · Grand Prix Romania 20242110
GMN. VitiugovLast 14 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252020

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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.