The one and only

The man. The myth. The Legend.

Vasyl Ivanchuk is a Ukrainian chess Grandmaster who earned his title in 1988. He achieved a peak rating of 2787 and reached a career‐high world ranking of No. 2. Known affectionately among fans and friends as “Chucky”, Ivanchuk has won many major tournaments that includes events competed by Garry Kasparov himself. At one time he was widely regarded as a strong contender to become World Champion, and he came very close in 2002, when he reached the final of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2002, ultimately losing to Ruslan Ponomariov. Kasparov, among others, counted Ivanchuk as one of his most feared opponents.

Here's my thoughts on why I consider him to be special amongst the others and my favourite Chucky moments,

1. His Love for the Game and Enduring Rivalries

When I think of Vasyl Ivanchuk, I don’t just think of a chess grandmaster. I think of a genius, and someone who has given everything to the game purely out of love. He’s one of those rare players who hasn’t just survived across eras but has thrived, leaving his mark on every generation he’s faced.
Ivanchuk has beaten almost every elite player in modern chess. One of his most unforgettable victories was at Linares in 1991, where he defeated none other than Garry Kasparov. It was a memorable game for the chess world (you can find Agadmator & Gothamchess links on youtube - analyzing the game). Over the years, his rivalry with Kasparov was intense, and watching those battles taught me a lot about what it means to truly challenge the best.
Then there’s Viswanathan Anand. Ivanchuk and Anand have played countless games over the decades. I still remember the time when Ivanchuk defeated Anand in the semifinals of the 2002 FIDE World Championship - Ultimately reaching the finals. Both players had mutual respect despite the intense battles.
His games against Vladimir Kramnik were equally significant. One that particularly stands out was in the 2013 Candidates Tournament. Ivanchuk hadn’t had a great event overall, but in the final round, he defeated Kramnik. That one win changed the course of the entire tournament—it allowed Magnus Carlsen to win on tiebreaks (Magnus would lose to Svidler on round 14). It’s incredible how a single game can shape chess history.
And speaking of Carlsen, Ivanchuk has always been a tough opponent for him. Despite the age gap, Ivanchuk has given the modern world champion a run for his money. He even beat Carlsen during the 2013 Candidates and again at the 2016 World Rapid Championship, where he eventually took the title. Carlsen himself once described playing Ivanchuk as “annoying” because of how unpredictable he is—and honestly, that’s what makes him so special.
His rivalries with Boris Gelfand and Alexei Shirov also can’t be overlooked. These were players who, like him, were true artists of the game. The creativity & the sharp tactics made for some legendary encounters.
What amazes me even more is that Ivanchuk is still going strong. In an era where many players fade out in their 40s, here’s Ivanchuk in his mid-50s, still showing the younger generation that he belongs at the top. And not just showing up but competing. In the 2023 FIDE World Cup—arguably one of the most physically and mentally demanding tournaments out there—he finished 49th. Just think about that. A month-long event with minimal rest days, constant pressure and tiebreaks. Playing such a tournament requires serious stamina. And Ivanchuk, at over 50, was there, playing exciting and high-quality chess. (Must see tiebreaks against Wei Yi)
He’s also still holding a FIDE rating above 2600, which is no small thing for any player (forget about his age). But to be honest, I don’t think Ivanchuk plays for ratings anymore. Maybe he cares a little or maybe he doesn’t. What I believe is that he plays chess because he genuinely loves the game. It means something deeper to him. He continues to appear for an audience that still celebrates his creativity and passion for the game.

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2. His insane calculation - 16th Gibraltar Masters (2018)

Ivanchuk always loves to share his analysis about his game during the post-match interviews. And in this one, he shares his calculations on his victory against Lei Tingjie. This is one of the best chess interviews I've seen ever in my life & I do really like the way Ivanchuk explains in the video. At the bottom of the thumbnail, you can find 2 links - one to his interview on Youtube and the other to his analysis that I made as a readable PGN study.

Post game analysis : Ivanchuk Vassily (2726) - Lei Tingjie (2531)
Video | Analysis

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3. A game of checkers after winning the world rapid (2016)

Link to the game : Russian Checkers
A lot of funny things happened at the closing ceremony of the FIDE world rapid & blitz championships 2016. And I would be taking you through the hilariousness step-by-step.
Firstly, Ivanchuk was so absorbed in his game that he didn’t even realise his name was being called to the podium.
Secondly, when presented with the bouquet, he took a deep sniff, didn't pose as his mind clearly stayed on the board - Since, he was materially down against Jobava.
Thirdly, he makes gestures that tells us that his mind is nowhere but on how to trick Jobava & to win the game. (Take a look at both the videos tagged below)
Lastly, after settling down back on the board, he finds an amazing idea that forces Jobava to resign. (The entire video)

• Starting moment of checkers
• Comes back to the board

This episode shows that his creativity knows no bounds—genius confirmed, both on and off the chessboard. And yes, there was a bit of fun too.
Extras : Carlsen - Ivanchuk (World Blitz 2015)

He was playing a friendly game of checkers against Grandmaster Jobava Baadur during the closing ceremony. When Chucky and Jobava were playing, Grandmasters: Nepo, Ganguly, Matlakov, Salem, Nils, MVL, Fressinet, Firouzja & some others were spectating their game. This photo depicts Ivanchuk, clearly still thinking about his game even as the closing ceremony unfolds. (On his right - Magnus Carlsen who finished 3rd in the event)

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4. The heartbreak at world blitz

Here’s a breakdown of the encounter between Vasyl Ivanchuk and Daniel Naroditsky at the 2024 World Blitz Championship

Both players, at the moment after the clock fell silent
(Round 11 of the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2024)

Let me decode the above picture for you in detail,
The final seconds of the game were chaotic, as they often are in blitz. But when Ivanchuk’s flag fell, everything suddenly stopped. Naroditsky sat still, catching his breath. He wasn’t celebrating. He understood who he had just beaten — not just a strong grandmaster, but a legend. And across from him, the man we are taking about, sat frozen too. Ivanchuk covered his face with both his hands (as you can see in the above thumbnail). He began to sob (audibly) & his shoulders were trembling. Overall, he wasn't crying discreetly — this wasn’t a tear slipping down in silence. This was "a man in pain". The kind of pain that only comes from something you care about too much. There was no way that someone could soothen Ivanchuk at that moment.
This wasn’t just about a game lost. It was about something much heavier. It’s not rare for blitz games to end in blunders. Everyone does it. But this was Ivanchuk — a player whose creativity and sensitivity have made him both admired and vulnerable. And it is important to mention that it wasn’t just any ordinary open event. It was "The World Blitz Chess Championship" and a game that could have changed the direction of his tournament**.** What makes things worse is that Ivanchuk was winning and he knew it.
Daniel Naroditsky stayed respectful, quiet. No victory celebration, no fist pump (like he does in his twitch streams). Just a quiet acknowledgment of a painful moment for his opponent, and maybe even for himself. And this moment reminds everyone that even the greatest can be fragile.
What made it unforgettable wasn’t the blunder. It was the fact that a genius showed us his heartbreak without a filter.

• Link to the OTB game
• Link to the Analysis

I know that it is absolutely normal to cry after losing a chess game. But when someone over 50, after achieving so much does it, it's something different.

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4. An amazing victory in 36 moves

Like I mentioned before, Ivanchuk still thrives and is capable of ouplaying a 2571 GM at this age. Simply astounding!

Both players signing their scoresheets : 0-1
(1st Fujairah Global Superstars 2025, Round 4)

Just as usual, after the game Ivanchuk takes the audience through his thought process at the post-game interview.
Technical aspects of the game :

1. Ivanchuk makes a great positional sacrifice - on move 22
2. An idea that restricts all sorts of counterplay from white - on move 32

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5. Winner at Menorca open 2025 (Chessresults)

I took part in this event too. Although it didn't go well for me, it was fun & exciting to watch Ivanchuk make his way to the top.

Tournament overview:

The tournament was held from the 22nd of April to 27th April 2025 in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain. It was a 9-round Swiss event (Group A) with time-control of 90+30. At the start Ivanchuk was seeded 8th - the top 3 seeds were Nihal Sarin, Shankland Sam & Murzin Volodar. Ivanchuk delivered a phenomenal performance, scoring 8 out of 9 with seven wins and two draws, finishing clear first in the standings. His performance rating was 2833 highlighting a strong comeback and confirming that he remains one of chess’s timeless greats. Key games (Rounds 5,6,9)

Ivanchuk posing after receiving the awards

My observations on his performance

• Consistency: Ivanchuk remained unbeaten throughout the event, maintaining exceptional control across all nine rounds despite facing several strong opponents.
• Endgame precision: His handling of endgames, particularly the win against Nihal, was my favourite. The last round endgame against Pranesh was topsy-turvy. But when Ivanchuk got the chance, he didn't miss it.
• Composure under pressure: Even in sharp or uncertain positions, Ivanchuk’s decision-making reflected composure and experience. He was able to recover from tense moments without losing control.
• Form and confidence: This performance clearly signaled a revival in his classical form. His level of play and confidence exhibits that he still has the fighting spirit inside of him. He gained a total of 22.1 ELO points at the end - which is not an east task for anyone over 2600.
  Now to the important rounds...

Round 5 :

Ivanchuk faced the 2687-rated Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin, who had the white pieces. The game featured a French Defence, though both players quickly deviated from known theory. The middlegame transitioned into an endgame featuring a knight versus bishop with both pairs of rooks still on the board. Ivanchuk was satisfied with a draw, but the ambitious Indian grandmaster decided to press for more.
As the minor pieces were exchanged, the game evolved into a pure rook endgame. Ivanchuk remained steady, still ready to split the point, but Nihal’s attempt to push for a win backfired. Overextension created multiple weaknesses, and at a critical juncture, the young grandmaster failed to find the only move that would have kept the balance. Ivanchuk immediately seized the opportunity, converting his advantage with flawless technique.

Round 6 :

Next, Ivanchuk took on GM Lu Shanglei, the Chinese grandmaster who famously defeated Magnus Carlsen in the 2014 World Blitz Championship. Playing with the white pieces, Ivanchuk employed a positional and thematic pawn sacrifice early in the opening to gain long-term activity (typical in Benko-like structures). His pressure mounted move by move, and he soon obtained a clear advantage as Black’s position began to deteriorate.
However, in the ensuing endgame, time trouble began to tell. Ivanchuk was down to just seconds on his clock, while Lu still had a few minutes remaining. The tension escalated as Black generated counterplay, and Ivanchuk, under severe time pressure, let his advantage slip. The game eventually fizzled out into a hard-fought draw

Round 9 :

In the final round, Ivanchuk (with the black pieces) was paired against GM Pranesh M, who was trailing him by just half a point. Known for his lightning-fast calculation, Pranesh entered a messy Sicilian, but it was Ivanchuk who gained the upper hand in the middlegame. Once again, Chucky opted for a positional exchange sacrifice, steering the game into an endgame where he emerged with a winning advantage. (Knight vs Rook endgame)
I had finished my own game early and watched the top board unfold. The clock situation was astonishing — by move 35, Pranesh still had around 28 minutes, while Ivanchuk was already under two minutes, with no extra time after move 40. Despite the time pressure, it was a one sided game in favour of Chucky.
Then came a dramatic twist. A careless pawn move, 39...g4, allowed White to open the h-file and generate counterplay. The momentum swung briefly in Pranesh’s favor, but he grew hasty (as he was purely playing for Ivanchuk's time), missing the precise continuation that would have converted his advantage. In an ironic reversal, he overpressed and handed the initiative back. Once Ivanchuk regained control, he converted with precision, thereby securing the win — and with it, the tournament title.
What a fittingly dramatic conclusion to a brilliant tournament run! (Always happens right!?)

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6. Game against Yu Yangi

This is one of my personal favourite games of Ivanchuk - A game of precise calculation and amazing defense in the Sicilian Najdorf.

GM Yu Yangi (white) - GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (black)
Dubai Police Global CHESS Challenge – MASTERS (Round 9)

Yu Yangyi (rated ~2728) entered the tournament as the top seed, while Vasyl Ivanchuk, rated around 2609, arrived as one of the most seasoned and respected competitors in the field. Over nine rounds, Ivanchuk delivered an impressive unbeaten performance, scoring 6.5/9 to finish 5th overall with a tournament performance rating of approximately 2693, gaining around 10 rating points in the process.
Though he did not claim the title, Ivanchuk’s games were rich with energy & creativity. His performance throughout the event demonstrated that experience, when paired with imagination, can still unsettle even the sharpest of modern talents.
The defining moment of his campaign came in the final round against Yu Yangyi, the top seed. With the black pieces, Ivanchuk entered the game superbly prepared, sidestepping mainstream theory early on to guide the position into less explored territory. What initially appeared to be a dubious or risky deviation soon turned into a masterstroke.
As the middlegame unfolded, Ivanchuk began to apply pressure, exploiting dynamic imbalances and creating subtle problems for his opponent. Gradually, it transitioned into an endgame where Chucky's coordination and strategic clarity took over. With faultless technique, he converted his advantage, giving Yu Yangyi virtually no counterplay.
This final-round victory over the tournament’s top seed stood out as the highlight of his event — a complete display of strategic courage, deep understanding, and technical finesse.
It was yet another reminder that, even after decades at the highest level, Vasyl Ivanchuk remains a player capable of brilliance in every phase of the game. The man just loves Chess so much...

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Thank you for the time and the opportunity to share my appreciation for this true legend of the game.

Credits: Wikipedia (for intro infomation on Ivanchuk) | Chessbaseindia (for thumbnails inserted in the blog)
Links: Youtube, Chessresults, Lichess broadcasts, WIkipedia, lidraughts, chessgames.com