Players
Xiao Tong
Photo: Selina Xie
GM

Xiao Tong

ChinaBorn 2008 (age 18)FIDE ID 8622388

Playing now: Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026

Luft classical

2200240026002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2604
FIDE

FIDE classical

1800200022002400260020182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2598
Luft

Flair

Xiao Tong's classical flairs

1 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • RisingRating increased by +81 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
  • 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
  • Rising

Trophy cabinet

Xiao Tong's classical titles

1 classical title, newest first

  • Chinese Championship 20251st
  • Chinese Championship 

Attributes

Tactics 77Positional 75Endgame 84Openings 79Composure 77Defence 87Speed 74Consistency 74

Luft classical rating

2604No. 110

From 35 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2603 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2603 level, blended with their FIDE rating+2
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year−1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+3
Activity35 classical games in top events+2

Openings

Their most-played, from 68 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Sicilian Defense1254%
Ruy Lopez1050%
Petrov's Defense463%
French Defense275%
English Opening275%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 12 games, won 2, drew 9, lost 1 · 54%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation570%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack438%
Dragon Variation150%
Richter-Rauzer Variation150%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 10 games, won 1, drew 8, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Closed650%
Morphy Defense350%
Berlin Defense150%

Petrov's Defense

With White: 4 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 1 · 63%

VariationGamesScore
Nimzowitsch Attack1100%
Kaufmann Attack1100%
Classical Attack150%
Modern Attack10%

French Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Winawer Variation1100%
Steinitz Variation150%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation275%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 17 games, won 2, drew 11, lost 4 · 44%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation642%
Closed225%
Kan Variation225%
Alapin Variation1100%
French Variation150%
Richter-Rauzer Variation150%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation150%
Accelerated Dragon150%
Main line150%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 6 games, won 1, drew 3, lost 2 · 42%

VariationGamesScore
St. Petersburg Variation275%
Normal Variation225%
Classical Variation150%
Sämisch Variation10%

English Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Neo-Catalan1100%
Symmetrical Variation150%
Four Knights System150%

Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Anti-Nimzo-Indian1100%
London System150%

Catalan Opening

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

VariationGamesScore
Closed250%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Asian Nations Chess Cup 202613 Nov 20265/7+2+1
2026 Chinese Chess League Division A31 Oct 20267/110−1
19th Arad Open Grand Prix Classic 20269 Aug 20262/3−1−1
Brasov Grand Prix Classic 202631 Jul 20262½/4−20
59th Biel International Chess Festival 202623 Jul 20264/7−20

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMP. Eljanov24 Oct 2025 · European Chess Club Cup 20252657
GMLi Chao29 Jun 2026 · 2026 Chinese Chess League Division A2625
GMM. Warmerdam25 Oct 2025 · European Chess Club Cup 20252582
GMV. Akobian21 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20252564
GMDai Changren25 Apr 2026 · 2026 Chinese Team Chess Championship2561

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
IMM. MateriaLast 22 Jul 2026 · 59th Biel International Chess Festival 20263120
GMBai JinshiLast 30 Oct 2026 · 2026 Chinese Chess League Division A3030
GMK. VenkataramanLast 6 Apr 2024 · Menorca Open 20242011
GMXu XiangyuLast 31 Aug 2025 · 2025 Chinese Chess League Division A 中国国际象棋甲级联赛2020
GMXu YiLast 29 Oct 2026 · 2026 Chinese Chess League Division A2110

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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.