Player profile · Updated October 2026
Ian Nepomniachtchi Two-time Candidates winner and World Championship challenger
Russian grandmaster, two-time World Championship challenger (2021, 2023). Nepomniachtchi plays very quickly and puts opponents under pressure on the clock as well as on the board. His opening preparation is deep and he likes open, dynamic positions.
2795 peak rating
Russia
44.2% wins
2000–2026
At a glance
Ian Nepomniachtchi: key facts
- Full name
- Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Born
- July 14, 1990, Bryansk, Russia
- Country
- Russia
- Title
- Grandmaster
- Peak rating
- 2795
- Games in the archive
- 4,905 (2000–2026)
- Record in the archive
- 2,166 wins · 1,750 draws · 989 losses
- Win rate
- 44.2%
Timeline
Ian Nepomniachtchi's career
The results that made the name
2010
Wins the European Championship and the Russian Championship.
2021
Wins the Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg and plays Magnus Carlsen for the world title in Dubai.
2022
Wins the Candidates Tournament in Madrid, his second in a row.
2023
Plays Ding Liren for the world title in Astana and loses in the rapid tiebreaks.
Record
Nepomniachtchi in numbers
From the 4,905 games in the Rama Chess archive
Games
4,905
2000–2026
Wins
2,166
44.2% of games
Draws
1,750
35.7% of games
Losses
989
20.2% of games
Won the Candidates twice in succession and played for the world title in 2021 and 2023. A fast, sharply intuitive player, he holds a plus score against Carlsen in classical chess.
Head to head
Nepomniachtchi's most frequent opponents
Tap a name to replay every game between the two
Archive
Replay Ian Nepomniachtchi's games
Every game opens on a board you can step through, analyse or practise
All Games4,905 games — every game in our archive
SacrificesQueen, rook, bishop, knight, and exchange sacrifices
By OpeningBrowse by ECO code and opening name
By YearCareer chronology, year by year
By EventTournaments and matches
Top OpponentsMost-played opponents
Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus CarlsenHead-to-head record and every game between the two
Ian Nepomniachtchi games archive
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ian Nepomniachtchi?
Ian Nepomniachtchi: Two-time Candidates winner and World Championship challenger. Russian grandmaster, two-time World Championship challenger (2021, 2023).
What is Ian Nepomniachtchi's peak rating?
Ian Nepomniachtchi's highest rating is 2795.
What is Ian Nepomniachtchi's win rate?
In the 4,905 games of Ian Nepomniachtchi in the Rama Chess archive he won 2,166, which is 44.2%. He drew 35.7% and lost 20.2%.
When and where was Ian Nepomniachtchi born?
Ian Nepomniachtchi was born on July 14, 1990, Bryansk, Russia.
How many Ian Nepomniachtchi games can I replay on Rama Chess?
The archive has 4,905 games of Ian Nepomniachtchi from 2000–2026: 2,166 wins, 1,750 draws and 989 losses. Every game can be played through move by move.
Who has Ian Nepomniachtchi played most often?
In the Rama Chess archive the most frequent opponents are Carlsen, M (173 games), Nakamura, Hi (155 games), Giri, A (141 games).
What is Ian Nepomniachtchi's playing style?
Nepomniachtchi plays very quickly and puts opponents under pressure on the clock as well as on the board. His opening preparation is deep and he likes open, dynamic positions.