In the last list of the top Chess players we published, we went over the best Argentinian Chess players. Now in this article, we’re ranking the best Georgian Chess players from Georgia, starting with the number ten spot in FIDE. Most of these players are Grandmasters with an Elo rating over 2500. For more information on ratings, see the guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
10. Konstantine Shanava
Full Name: Konstantine Shanava
Title: Grandmaster
Born: May 5, 1985
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 678
Rapid: 2395
Blitz: 2493
Classical: 2502
Profiles
Konstantine Shanava was given the title of Grandmaster in 2006, International Master in 2002, and the FIDE Master in 2001. He has been a chess player from 1995 to 2021, playing 678 games. In those games, he won 315, lost 160, and drew 203, earning him a percentage winning score of 61.43 percent. The most recent tournaments he played include; 80th ch GEO 2021, 79th ch-GEO 2020, Fuad Jafarov Mem Masters 2020, and Konyaalti Open 2019.
9. Nikolozi Kacharava
Full Name: Nikolozi Kacharava
Title: International Master
Born: January 1, 2004
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 646
Rapid: 2076
Blitz: 2202
Classical: 2507
Profiles
In 2019, Nikolozi was accorded the title of International Master and the FIDE Master title in 2012. Between 2016 and 2022, he played 168 games, for which he won 52, lost 54, and drew 62. He equaled a percentage winning of 49.4 percent. He played several notable tournaments, including the 2021 Online Olympiad Top DivA, 2021 2nd Ellobregat Open, 8th Sunway Sitges, and 81st ch-GE- 2022.
8. Zurab Sturua
Full Name: Zurab Sturua
Title: Grandmaster
Born: June 8, 1959
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 493
Rapid: 2498
Blitz: 2447
Classical: 2530
Profiles
Zurab Sturua was presented with the International Master title in 1991 and the International Master title in 1982. Zurab has a FIDE rating of 2530 and a Peak rating of 2605 and was recognized as a FIDE trainer in 2012. He has been crowned Georgia’s chess champion five times, and he has also represented Georgia in the Chess Olympiads in the even years between 1992 to 2002. He also clinched the Master Open in 1991 and 1996. In 2014, during the world senior tournament, he clinched 50-plus sections. He again clinched the same division in 2015, 2016, and 2019 at the European senior tournament.
7. Giorgi Margvelashvili
Full Name: Giorgi Margvelashvili
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 9, 1990
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 489
Rapid: N/A
Blitz: 2549
Classical: 2530
Profiles
In 2010, Giorgi Margvelashvili was granted the title of Grandmaster. Before that, he had been awarded the International Master title and the FIDE Master title in 2006 and 2004, respectively. He has played a couple of games from 2001 to 2021 totaling 390 games; 127 wins, 191 draws, and 72 losses account for 57.05 percent. The tournaments he last played include; the PNWCC Summer of Seattle 2021, PNWCC Master Artist Point 2021, 9th Philadelphia Open 2015, and College Final Four 2015.
6. Nana Dzagnidze
Full Name: Nana Dzagnidze
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 1, 1987
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 483
Rapid: 2463
Blitz: 2374
Classical: 2531
Profiles
Nana Dzagnidze was crowned the title of Grandmaster in 2008, the International Master in 2004, Women International Master in 2001, and Woman FIDE Master in 1999. In 1999, she won the Under-12 World Championship and the Under 18 and Under-20 World championships in 2003. Nana is a three times Georgia Chess Champion and helped her country win gold and bronze in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
5. Luka Paichadze
Full Name: Luka Paichadze
Title: Grandmaster
Born: March 6, 1991
Federation: Serbia
Ratings
World ranking: 368
Rapid: 2447
Blitz: 2537
Classical: 2555
Profiles
Luka Paichadze was conferred with the title of Grandmaster in 2012, the International Master in 2010, and the FIDE Master title in 2008. He has a FIDE rating of 2555 and a Peak rating of 2588. He is a two-time winner of the Georgian chess tournament, and Nona Gaprindashvili Cup opened A in 2014. Luka also managed to qualify for the 2021 chess world cup.
4. Merab Gagunashvili
Full Name: Merab Gagunashvili
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 3, 1985
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 322
Rapid: 2492
Blitz: 2579
Classical: 2569
Profiles
Merab Gagunashvili was granted the title of Grandmaster in 2002 and recognized as a FIDE trainer in 2016. He has a FIDE rating of 2569 and a Peak rating of 2625. He clinched the World Junior Chess tournament in 2001, the Hastings International Chess Congress in 2006/2007, the Tbilisi Municipality Cup in 2010, and the Fair Open Chess Championship. Merab represented Georgia in the Chess Olympiads of the even years between 2002 to 2010.
3. Mikheil Mchedlishvili
Full Name: Mikheil Mchedlishvili
Title: Grandmaster
Born: June 4, 1979
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 247
Rapid: 2548
Blitz: 2545
Classical: 2589
Profiles
Mikheil Mchedlishvili was accorded the title of Grandmaster in 2002. He has a FIDE rating of 2589 and a Peak rating of 2659. The most notable chess games he has taken part in include; the 2017 chess world cup, chess Olympiads, and the Georgian championship which he was victorious in 2002 and 2018. From 1986 to 2022, he has played a total of 892 games, winning 237, losing 96, and drawing 389. His FIDE rating is 2570 and a Peak rating of 2659.
2. Levan Pantsulaia
Full Name: Levan Pantsulaia
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 26, 1986
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 242
Rapid: 2522
Blitz: 2563
Classical: 2590
Profiles
In 2005, Levan Pantsulaia was accorded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE. He has a peak rating of 2629 and a FIDE rating of 2629. He has represented his country in various chess Olympiads – 2008, 2010, and 2016. Additionally, he participated in the 2017 Chess world cup but was eliminated by Duda Krzystof in the initial attempt.
1. Baadur Jobava
Full Names: Baadur Jobava
Title: Grandmaster
Birth: November 26, 1983
Federation: Georgia
Ratings
World ranking: 229
Rapid: 2688
Blitz: 2617
Classical: 2595
Profiles
Baadur Jobava earned the title of Grandmaster in 2001 and the International Master title in 2000. He has a peak rating of 2595 and a FIDE rating of 2734. In 2003,2007, and 2012, he clinched the Georgian championship after facing stiff competition from the other players in his country. Jobava also participated in the FIDE World chess tournament in 2004 and five times in the FIDE world cup. Since 2000, he has represented his country in the Chess Olympiad and became a gold medalist in the award of trophies based on individual performance.
That concludes the list of the best Georgian Chess players. If you like list posts like this, you may also be interested in seeing the ten best Peruvian Chess players or the best Azerbaijani Chess players.
Sources
- “FIDE Archive. Tournament report July 2008: President’s Cup, 2008”. World Chess Federation. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- “European Rapid Chess Championship 2011”. PoloniaChess.pl. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- “The chess games of Mikhael Mchedlishvili”. chessgames.com. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
- Mchedlishvili, Mikheil OlimpBase
- “Tournament report November 2009: The Ravana Challenge”. World Chess Federation. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- “Campeonato de Georgia”. Ajedrezdeataque.com. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- “Four new European Senior Champions crowned for 2015”. Chessdom. 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
- Crowther, Mark (1998-11-09). “TWIC 209: Zonal 1.5 Panormo, Crete”. The Week in Chess. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- “Kaczarawa piłkarzem Korony!” (in Polish). Korona Kielce. 18 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- “2016-17 Cypriot First Division Topscorers”. cfa.com.cy. Cyprus Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
