chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Luke McShane
McShane 
Photograph 2007, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.  

Number of games in database: 1,287
Years covered: 1990 to 2025
Last FIDE rating: 2615 (2668 rapid, 2594 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2713
Overall record: +428 -253 =440 (57.8%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 166 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (209) 
    B50 B90 B40 B51 B30
 Ruy Lopez (124) 
    C78 C67 C65 C85 C91
 French Defense (75) 
    C07 C05 C03 C02 C09
 French Tarrasch (55) 
    C07 C05 C03 C09 C04
 Caro-Kann (46) 
    B12 B11 B10 B17 B18
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (38) 
    C85 C91 C84 C99 C89
With the Black pieces:
 King's Indian (126) 
    E94 E62 E92 E97 E60
 Sicilian (100) 
    B33 B30 B31 B22 B23
 Ruy Lopez (82) 
    C67 C65 C95 C72 C78
 Slav (37) 
    D15 D10 D11 D17 D12
 Grunfeld (35) 
    D85 D87 D97 D86 D90
 Queen's Pawn Game (34) 
    A45 A40 A46 E00 D02
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   McShane vs Carlsen, 2010 1-0
   Aronian vs McShane, 2012 0-1
   McShane vs Koneru, 2003 1-0
   Nakamura vs McShane, 2009 0-1
   McShane vs Wojtaszek, 2011 1-0
   C Bauer vs McShane, 2003 0-1
   McShane vs I Cheparinov, 2009 1-0
   McShane vs M Illescas, 2005 1-0
   McShane vs Lagno, 2004 1-0
   McShane vs Kramnik, 2012 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   1st Malmo Masters (2003)
   Greenland Open (2003)
   Tata Steel Group B (2011)
   Canadian Open (2010)
   World Junior Championship (2002)
   British Championship (2018)
   Politiken Cup (1999)
   Politiken Cup (2003)
   British Championship (2002)
   European Championship (2018)
   Politiken Cup (2002)
   Reykjavik Open (2000)
   4NCL Div 1a 2018/19 (2018)
   European Championship (2003)
   Bundesliga 2014/15 (2014)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Agency International (Lonson `997) by docjan
   2010 Canadian open by gauer
   Agency International (Lonson `997) by Phony Benoni
   A45 Trompowsky by howardb86
   The Tromp by jheiner

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 Bundesliga 2024/25
   L Vrolijk vs McShane (Feb-23-25) 1/2-1/2
   McShane vs A Brkic (Feb-22-25) 1-0
   L'Ami vs McShane (Jan-12-25) 1/2-1/2
   McShane vs Giri (Jan-11-25) 1/2-1/2
   V Kazakouski vs McShane (Oct-06-24) 1/2-1/2

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Luke McShane
Search Google for Luke McShane
FIDE player card for Luke McShane

LUKE MCSHANE
(born Jan-07-1984, 41 years old) United Kingdom

[what is this?]
Luke McShane was World Under-10 Champion in 1993, and is the youngest-ever British player to achieve both the IM title (at age 13) and the GM title (age 16). McShane's international victories include the Greenland Open (2003), the 18th North Sea Cup (2003), the 1st Malmo Masters (2003), the Lausanne Young Masters in both 2003 and 2004, the Magistral Ciutat d'Igualada (2005), the 2010 Canadian Open and Tata Steel (Group B) (2011). He scored 7.5/11 in the 12th European Individual Championship (2011), placing 24th on tiebreak. He came 4th at the category 20 London Chess Classic (2011), scoring +3 -1 =4 (TPR of 2852).

Wikipedia article: Luke McShane


Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 52; games 1-25 of 1,287  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. McShane vs G Hassabis  1-0231990Barnet Knights U10B32 Sicilian
2. McShane vs E Barry Sandercock  0-1151992Kings Head tB90 Sicilian, Najdorf
3. Bacrot vs McShane 0-1391992Wch U10E81 King's Indian, Samisch
4. McShane vs Grischuk 1-0341992Wch U10C09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
5. F Vallejo Pons vs McShane  1-0621992Wch U10C15 French, Winawer
6. Ganguly vs McShane  ½-½221992Wch U10E62 King's Indian, Fianchetto
7. McShane vs Kasparov 0-1501993Casual gameB56 Sicilian
8. McShane vs K B McEwan ½-½57199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB56 Sicilian
9. J Manion vs McShane 0-143199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenE97 King's Indian
10. McShane vs P J Morris  0-143199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenC80 Ruy Lopez, Open
11. C O'Shaughnessy vs McShane  1-036199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenA01 Nimzovich-Larsen Attack
12. McShane vs H van Parreren  ½-½59199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB10 Caro-Kann
13. S T Ansell vs McShane  1-032199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenC07 French, Tarrasch
14. McShane vs F Bonaccorsi  0-131199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB07 Pirc
15. Abdelmalek Tazaroute vs McShane  0-146199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenA10 English
16. McShane vs P Fenn ½-½72199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB00 Uncommon King's Pawn Opening
17. D Okike vs McShane  1-026199317th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenC16 French, Winawer
18. McShane vs A M Leech  1-039199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB90 Sicilian, Najdorf
19. R Mainka vs McShane  ½-½56199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB90 Sicilian, Najdorf
20. McShane vs M Kaminski  ½-½45199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenC07 French, Tarrasch
21. R Gunawan vs McShane  1-035199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenA15 English
22. McShane vs A Hon  ½-½43199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenB56 Sicilian
23. J Salman vs McShane  0-149199418th Lloyds Bank Masters OpenE98 King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 9.Ne1
24. McShane vs T Hinks-Edwards  0-1281994Richmond Chess Initiative 1stB02 Alekhine's Defense
25. McShane vs A Summerscale  0-1541994Richmond Chess Initiative 1stB10 Caro-Kann
 page 1 of 52; games 1-25 of 1,287  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | McShane wins | McShane loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 9 OF 13 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-21-11  hand banana: 2682.2 live rating today.
if he keeps this up, might get over 2700 before the end of the tournament :)

he made 18.2 points in 6 rounds, still has 7 left to play.

Jan-30-11  fisayo123: Congratulations winning Corus B on tie-breaks.Although i knew he was very talented,i was suprised he won after 13 rounds and with such a strong field
Jan-30-11  radicalcation: Congrats for winning Tata Steel B!
Jan-30-11  rclb: Great tournament for Luke after his very successful London Classic. Hopefully he will be able to stand up to the big boys next year. Maybe a bit more opening prep will see him 2700+ by then.
Jan-30-11  FISCHERboy: Congratulations GM Luke McShane for winning Tata Steel Group B. Fantastic games!
Jan-31-11  BobCrisp: <Keats> ahead of his rivals.
Feb-01-11  talisman: Congratulations Bang Bang Lucas McShane a direct descendent of The Rifleman Lucas McCain.
Feb-02-11  bronkenstein: The gyu with the epidemic smile B)
Feb-08-11  Maatalkko: Luke is an interesting case. We see someone who was talented enough to be a top competitor abandon chess in favor of other activities in his early 20's. Personally I think he is young in chess years and being a more rounded person might not hurt him. When did Carlsen say McShane is already over 2700 in strength? Bang Bang's last two tournaments seem to agree.
Mar-09-11  JRJN: Chess magazine, March 2011 issue, features a long interview I did with McShane. Thought it might interest some of his fans. http://www.ukgamesshop.com/Merchant...
Mar-09-11  GalileoPiccolino: Is he a full time Goldman Sachs stockbroker, or a part time professional chessplayer?

Oxford grad. Economics, I believe. Neat credentials.
Pursued his education first, tried the market, then moved on with his chess plans.

Impressive against the likes of Carlsen, Nakamura, and So. Tata Steel 2011 Gp B top, and will play next year's edition in Gp A. Currently England's No.2, as Nigel slipped to third.

Mar-10-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Troller: Luke is playing in the pretty strong Reykjavik Open now. Live games: http://dl.skaksamband.is/mot/2011/M...

Also on chessbomb.

May-25-11  Caissanist: Of the world's elite players, McShane appears to be the one least inclined to take a short draw, averaging 56 moves per draw with the white pieces: http://www.chessninja.com/dailydirt....
Jun-05-11  cbpatzer: A great game by McShane played this year, not a draw at all http://blip.tv/chess/chess-luke-mcs...
Jul-29-11  ceebo: An interesting tidbit from http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/201...

"recently McShane has reverted to a full-time job and is not competing in the current British Championship, which reaches half-way at Sheffield this weekend"

Sep-16-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: Good luck at the London Classic
Oct-26-11  Ezzy: Luke qualified to play in the Tata Steels 'A group' and declined due to work commitments. How sad is that.

He must be making lots of money on the stockmarket.

Dec-02-11  Squares: Good luck Luke. I think with your chess skills it is a safer bet to play chess than be a banker
Dec-02-11  bubuli55: If I had known that Mr McShane is not a full time professional chess player, I would not have bet 500 of my bookie money on draw with Aronian. I need a better scouting report :(
Dec-03-11  bubuli55: GM McShane! My apologies. Nice game there. :)
Dec-05-11  Ladolcevita: Wow,now I see why I found him,at first sight,particularly impressive or perhaps even handsome(though actually maybe one cant say he has very impressive or handsome features,but these two words just emerged themselves)...At first I thought it was just something about British fashion,like British accent, posh and gentleman,but then I realize it is also something personal.And indeed,he seems quite successful everywhere...(But of course no one is perfect,so I used the word"seems")

Anyway,I guess if he had concentrated on chess,he should have well been a 2700+ or 2750+ player(according to his game versus Magunus yesterday),but then he has such a broader life,and its very successful too.

Dec-05-11  Atking: <Anyway,I guess if he had concentrated on chess,he should have well been a 2700+ or 2750+ player(according to his game versus Magnus yesterday)> and many other games. McShane is inspired. He has some up and down but he could challenge the top in the world.
Dec-05-11  knighterrant999: Is there a doctor in the house?? We have a choking man here!
Dec-05-11  Ladolcevita: <Atking>
Yes,I also notice that he was the world champion under 10,which quite proves his remarkable talent for chess.
Dec-06-11  Atking: <Ladolcevita> You proved to be right as yesterday McShane won vs the "best" (By rating) English player, M Adams.
Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 13)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 9 OF 13 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC