Players
Xu Xiangyu
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Xu Xiangyu

ChinaBorn 1999 (age 27)FIDE ID 8608288

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2626
FIDE

FIDE classical

2000220024002600280020122015201820212024
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2628
Luft

Flair

Xu Xiangyu'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

Xu Xiangyu's classical titles

1 classical title, newest first

Attributes

Tactics 77Positional 85Endgame 82Openings 81Composure 82Defence 81Speed 76Consistency 79

Luft classical rating

2626No. 86

From 14 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2629 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2629 level, blended with their FIDE rating0
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+2
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+1
Activity14 classical games in top events−5

Openings

Their most-played, from 52 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Nimzo-Indian Defense642%
Queen's Gambit Declined350%
Queen's Pawn Game350%
King's Indian Defense275%
King's Indian Attack1100%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With White: 6 games, won 0, drew 5, lost 1 · 42%

VariationGamesScore
Kmoch Variation350%
Classical Variation150%
Normal Variation150%
Rubinstein System10%

Queen's Gambit Declined

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

VariationGamesScore
Harrwitz Attack150%
Exchange Variation150%
Main line150%

Queen's Pawn Game

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

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation250%
London System150%

King's Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Karpov System275%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%

Sicilian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation350%
Richter-Rauzer Variation225%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack1100%
Dragon Variation150%
Moscow Variation150%
Four Knights Variation150%
Hyperaccelerated Dragon150%

Petrov's Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Attack550%
Modern Attack333%
Paulsen Attack1100%
French Attack150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation250%

French Defense

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

VariationGamesScore
Tarrasch Variation150%
Paulsen Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Accepted

With Black: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Main line1100%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20265/8−30
2026 Chinese Chess League Division B 中国国际象棋乙级联赛30 Jul 20262/3−10
Asian Individual Chess Championship 20266 Jun 2026=9th−6−4
2026 Chinese Team Chess Championship27 Apr 2026=16th−8−7
2025 Chinese Chess League Division A 中国国际象棋甲级联赛 Relegation Playoffs 总决赛保级组29 Jan 20262/4−20

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMA. Donchenko21 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262625
GMK. Venkataraman16 Apr 2023 · Menorca Open 20232516
GMJ. Malek23 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20252511
IMA. Mittal15 Apr 2023 · Menorca Open 20232505
GMS. Megaranto4 Jun 2026 · Asian Individual Chess Championship 20262478

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
Huang RenjieLast 24 Apr 2026 · 2026 Chinese Team Chess Championship3030
GMM. MadaminovLast 23 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262020
GMXiao TongLast 31 Aug 2025 · 2025 Chinese Chess League Division A 中国国际象棋甲级联赛2020
GMLi ChaoLast 25 Apr 2026 · 2026 Chinese Team Chess Championship2020
IMChen QiLast 21 Apr 2026 · 2026 Chinese Team Chess Championship2020

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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.