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Vadim Zvjaginsev
Zvjaginsev 
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons  

Number of games in database: 1,968
Years covered: 1989 to 2025
Last FIDE rating: 2538 (2470 rapid, 2504 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2688
Overall record: +454 -127 =875 (61.2%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 512 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (274) 
    B40 B50 B30 B31 B53
 Caro-Kann (73) 
    B10 B12 B18 B13 B11
 King's Indian Attack (73) 
    A07
 English (59) 
    A15 A16 A18 A13 A11
 French Defense (56) 
    C00 C02 C07 C03 C05
 English, 1 c4 e5 (46) 
    A28 A21 A29 A20 A22
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (211) 
    B32 B27 B30 B31 B45
 Queen's Gambit Declined (97) 
    D37 D31 D38 D35 D30
 Queen's Pawn Game (78) 
    A46 E00 A40 D02 E10
 French Defense (74) 
    C11 C09 C07 C03 C02
 Pirc (36) 
    B07 B09 B08
 Sicilian Taimanov (33) 
    B45 B47 B48 B46
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   R Cifuentes vs Zvjaginsev, 1995 0-1
   V Malakhov vs Zvjaginsev, 2004 0-1
   Zvjaginsev vs R Vasquez Schroeder, 2013 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs S Slugin, 2008 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs P Zhang, 2006 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs A Evdokimov, 2011 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs Y Vovk, 2008 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs B Bok, 2015 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs Topalov, 1995 1-0
   Zvjaginsev vs Khalifman, 2005 1-0

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: [what is this?]
   FIDE World Championship Knockout Tournament (1999)
   FIDE World Championship Knockout Tournament (2004)

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Loosdorf Open (1993)
   Reykjavik Open (1994)
   Hoogovens Open (1995)
   Korchnoi Memorial Open (2024)
   Groningen Candidates (1997)
   Cappelle Open (1993)
   Russian Championship Higher League (2007)
   Chigorin Memorial (2013)
   European Club Cup (2011)
   Russian Team Championship (2011)
   Smyslov Region Group Cup (2021)
   New York Open (1997)
   European Team Championship (1997)
   European Championship (2010)
   Calvia Olympiad (2004)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 161 by 0ZeR0
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 160 by 0ZeR0
   Who is this chap? by Sergio X Garcia
   Z is for Zvjaginsev by iron maiden
   Biel 1995 by suenteus po 147
   KERESOV's favorite games by KERESOV
   Tilburg Fontys 1998 by suenteus po 147
   KGA Zvjaginsev’s Games C33-C39 by oldhorse
   Karpov Poikovsky 2001 by Tabanus
   Karpov Poikovsky 2002 by Tabanus

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 TCh-RUS Premier
   K Shubin vs Zvjaginsev (May-04-25) 1/2-1/2
   A Grebnev vs Zvjaginsev (May-03-25) 1/2-1/2
   V Korchmar vs Zvjaginsev (May-02-25) 0-1
   R Kezin vs Zvjaginsev (Apr-29-25) 1/2-1/2
   I Iljiushenok vs Zvjaginsev (Apr-28-25) 1/2-1/2

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Vadim Zvjaginsev
Search Google for Vadim Zvjaginsev
FIDE player card for Vadim Zvjaginsev

VADIM ZVJAGINSEV
(born Aug-18-1976, 49 years old) Russia
PRONUNCIATION:
[what is this?]

Grandmaster.

Zvjanginsev won the European under-16 championship in 1992. Two year later, he tied for first place in the Reykjavik Open with Hannes Stefánsson and Evgeny Pigusov.

In 1997, at the FIDE World Championship, which took place in Groningen, he single-handedly knocked out most of the U.S. contingent. In consecutive rounds, he defeated Joel Benjamin, Gregory Kaidanov and Yasser Seirawan, before losing to fellow Russian GM Alexey Dreev in round 4. In the same year Zvjanginsev won the Vidmar Memorial in Portorož.

In 2000, he was first at Essen (ahead of Dreev and Klaus Bischoff) and triumphed there again in 2002 (this time ahead of Leko). At the Mainz Chess Classic in 2003, he finished joint second behind Levon Aronian, repeating his placing the following year. At the Russian Championships of 2005, he took 3rd place at the Kazan qualifier and finished joint 4th at the Superfinal. In 2006, he tied for 2nd at the Poikovsky Karpov Tournament, behind Alexei Shirov.

In 2002, Zvjanginsev took part in the Russia vs Rest of the World match, held in Moscow.

He won the Russian Cup knockout tournament in 2011 by beating Denis Khismatullin in the final. In the 2013 Chigorin Memorial in Saint Petersburg, Zvjanginsev tied for 1st–11th with Pavel Eljanov, Dmitry Kokarev, Maxim Matlakov, Alexander Areshchenko, Denis Khismatullin, Oleg Korneev, Dragan Solak, Sanan Sjugirov, Ivan Bukavshin and Ildar Khairullin. In the 2016 Aeroflot Open, he tied 3rd-10th with Vladimir Fedoseev, Gata Kamsky, Daniil Dubov, Mateusz Bartel, Sanan Sjugirov, Maxim Matlakov, and Mikhail Kobalia.

In team competitions, he took team and individual silver medals at the 1997 European Team Chess Championship. At the 1994 Chess Olympiad, while still only an International Master, he helped the Russian second team obtain a team bronze medal. In the 1997 World Team Chess Championship Zvjanginsev won two gold medals, team and individual playing second reserve board. With the main Russian team, in 1998 and 2004, he contributed respectively to team gold and team silver medals at the Chess Olympiad.

https://www.chessjournal.com/vadim-...

Wikipedia article: Vadim Zvjaginsev

Last updated: 2023-08-18 07:57:49

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 79; games 1-25 of 1,968  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Zvjaginsev vs I Kogan  1-0561989Moscow opD45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
2. Zvjaginsev vs D Losev  ½-½421989Moscow opA40 Queen's Pawn Game
3. Zvjaginsev vs S Yuferov  0-1541989Moscow opE21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights
4. V Bukhtin vs Zvjaginsev  0-1291989Moscow opD30 Queen's Gambit Declined
5. K Kulaots vs Zvjaginsev 0-1451990URS-ch U20C36 King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia Defense
6. Zvjaginsev vs Svidler 0-1631990URS-ch U20D80 Grunfeld
7. Kramnik vs Zvjaginsev 1-0301990URS-ch U20C41 Philidor Defense
8. Zvjaginsev vs R Irzhanov  1-0311990URS-ch U20E92 King's Indian
9. Zvjaginsev vs Svidler  0-1141990URS-ch U20D91 Grunfeld, 5.Bg5
10. Zvjaginsev vs S Guliev  0-1451990URS-ch qualD11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
11. Zvjaginsev vs A Ivanov  ½-½281990URS-ch qualD06 Queen's Gambit Declined
12. Zvjaginsev vs B Kantsler  1-0521990URS-ch qualA42 Modern Defense, Averbakh System
13. Zvjaginsev vs A Kudriashov  ½-½441990URS-ch qualE92 King's Indian
14. Morozevich vs Zvjaginsev  ½-½191991Moscow GMC78 Ruy Lopez
15. Svidler vs Zvjaginsev 1-0391991URS Junior ChampionshipB07 Pirc
16. Zvjaginsev vs V Chekhov 0-1171991Moscow7 opE12 Queen's Indian
17. Zvjaginsev vs Savon  ½-½691991Moscow7 opE12 Queen's Indian
18. Zvjaginsev vs A Shariyazdanov  ½-½531991URS Junior ChampionshipA33 English, Symmetrical
19. Zvjaginsev vs M Ceteras  ½-½401991Gyor op U18D45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
20. Zvjaginsev vs Z Jusic  1-0321991Gyor op U18E92 King's Indian
21. Zvjaginsev vs B Margolin  ½-½171991Gyor op U18D45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
22. Zvjaginsev vs D Moldovan  ½-½181991Gyor op U18A31 English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation
23. Zvjaginsev vs V Anokhin  ½-½471991Moscow6C02 French, Advance
24. Zvjaginsev vs S Guliev  ½-½191991Moscow6A90 Dutch
25. Zvjaginsev vs A Mitenkov  ½-½151991Moscow6E12 Queen's Indian
 page 1 of 79; games 1-25 of 1,968  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Zvjaginsev wins | Zvjaginsev loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Apr-21-06  AgentRgent: <percyblakeney: but no one has yet tried his recommendation b6.> The first game in your subsequent link is 2...b6.
Apr-21-06  acirce: <Dreev chose 2. ... e6, the other three Nc6, which Sakaev thinks is bad, but no one has yet tried his recommendation b6.>

What I was quoting from was Sakaev's live commentary. I wonder if he had really analysed 2.Na3 or if that was all just something he came up with at the moment. If then he might have changed his mind later... his reasoning does seem to make sense though.

Apr-21-06  square dance: <I've been saying for years that I consider 1...c5 to be a refutation of 1.e4 on positional grounds (specifically because of 3. d4? cxd4!).> ohhhh, you're the one i always make fun of to my friends. ;-)
Apr-21-06  AgentRgent: <square dance: ohhhh, you're the one i always make fun of to my friends. ;-)> Cool! I'm famous! Oh wait.. you said to your "friends"? Damn! So much for fame. ;-)
Apr-21-06  percyblakeney: <The first game in your subsequent link is 2...b6>

Yep, found those games after having written the previous post. Those are of course only blitz games, but three players tried b6 then, they had maybe read Sakaev's live commentary...

Apr-21-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: <AgentRgent> Yep, Larsen said it, but I can't remember where. Maybe the Santa Monica 1966 book.

I always have a dismal feeling looking where my d pawn used to be and seeing Black's two center pawns...

Apr-21-06  square dance: <AgentRgent> yeah, and i lied about having friends too. sorry.
Apr-22-06  Akavall: At first it might seem that Zvjaginsev prepared 2.Na3 as a surprise weapon for the Russian Championship, but now it's obvious that he has more faith in it than that. I am sure that Ponomariov was prepared for 2.Na3, but still couldn't handle it. Go Zvjaginsev!
Apr-22-06  BIDMONFA: Vadim Zvjaginsev

ZVJAGINSEV, Vadim
http://www.bidmonfa.com/zvjaginsev_...
_

Apr-22-06  percyblakeney: No Na3 today against Karpov, Zvjaginsev opened with d4. Some other exciting games: Radjabov-Ponomariov, Movsesian-Morozevich, Karjakin-Kasimdzhanov, Moiseenko-Ivanchuk, Aronian-Tiviakov...

http://www.chessliga.ru/online2006/

Apr-22-06  Karpova: the game ended in a draw on move 21
Apr-22-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  alexmagnus: Zvjaginsev about Na3: "It's a move for a complicated fight"
Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: "Larsen used to say that it might be that 2.Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 was a strategical error because exchanges a central pawn for a wing pawn! 2 Na3 avoids this"

There are many ways of avoiding exchanging the center pawn in the sicilian. 2 Na3 is one of the least logical. It seems likely that he is seeking non-theoretical positions where the two players are on their own devices. Also, in some cases, one derives a psychological advantage by playing an "inferior" move. The opponent becomes overconfident and tries too hard to refute a move that is not as bad as he thinks.

Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Open Defence: <Khalifman reacted to 2.Na3?! in a questionable way> I think some of Andraj Adorjan's ideas in the Alapin Sicillian can be applied here as the positions some time become simmilar.. he was extremely strong on the Black side of that line
Apr-26-06  notyetagm: The Z-man does it again, using his patented 2 ♘a3!? anti-Sicilian to defeat 2738(!)-rated Ponomariov.

[Event "XIII TCh-RUS"]
[Site "Sochi RUS"]
[Date "2006.04.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Zvjaginsev,V"]
[Black "Ponomariov,R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[EventDate "2006.04.20"]
[ECO "B20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Na3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d3 Nf6 6. f4 O-O 7. Nf3 d6 8. O-O Bd7 9. Qe1 e6 10. Qh4 Nh5 11. g4 Qxh4 12. Nxh4 Bf6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. gxh5 gxh5 15. Ba4 d5 16. Bd1 c4 17. e5 Be7 18. dxc4 d4 19. Nc2 dxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22. Nxa3 Rac8 23. Be2 f6 24. Rad1 Be8 25. f5 fxe5 26. fxe6 Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1 Kg7 28. Bf3 b5 29. cxb5 Rxc3 30. Nb1 Rc5 31. Be2 e4 32. Kf2 e3+ 33. Kxe3 Re5+ 34. Kf3 Bxb5 35. Bxb5 Rxb5 36. Re1 Rf5+ 37. Kg3 Kf8 38. Nd2 Ke7 39. Nf3 Rd5 40. Kh4 Nc4 41. Ng5 Rd2 42. Rc1 Nd6 43. h3 Ne8 44. Kxh5 Rxa2 45. Kg6 Ra4 46. Rb1 Nd6 47. Rb8 Rf4 48. Ra8 Rf6+ 49. Kh5 Nb5 50. h4 Rf4 51. Rh8 Nd6 52. Rh7+ Ke8 53. Rxa7 Nf5 54. Nh7 Nd4 55. Kg6 Nxe6 56. Nf6+ Kd8 57. Ra8+ Kc7 58. Nd5+ 1-0

Apr-26-06  AgentRgent: <notyetagm> FYI Percyblakeney already posted the game earlier.
Jul-05-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Here are some critical positions from Vadim's games: http://www.wtharvey.com/zvja.html
Sep-04-06  Caissanist: I remember reading the statement that <tamar> refer's to in Larsen's chapter of <How to Open a Chess Game>--he considered 3.d4 to be "something like a cheap trap". However, he later wrote in Chess Life that, although "I don't like to give up my good KP for that stupid Sicilian QBP", he got good results when he did. Larsen was never one to let foolish consistency get in the way of scoring points.
Dec-06-06  Whitehat1963: How about a bio on this exciting, creative mind?
Dec-06-06  nescio: <Whitehat1963> I see you have discovered Zvjaginsev. Please don't fail to comment on the following masterpieces, two of the most exciting games I have seen: R Cifuentes-Parada vs Zvjaginsev, 1995
V Malakhov vs Zvjaginsev, 2004
Dec-06-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ron: I agree he is a creative player; here is a game where he plays a genuine gambit in the opening Zvjaginsev vs A A Kharitonov, 2006
Dec-16-06  Whitehat1963: Why didn't Z-man play in the Russian Championship? Or was he eliminated at some earlier stage? Anyone know?
Dec-16-06  Whitehat1963: Never mind my last comment. I see the answer here: 59th Russian Championship (2006)/Vadim Zvjaginsev

He did play.

Dec-16-06  Whitehat1963: I guess a game between two "Z-men" Vadim Zvjaginsev and Zhang Pengxiang was recently voted the best game of August 2006 here: http://e3e5.com/eng/petersburg/crea... I hope <Chessgames.com> can get ahold of this one.
Dec-16-06  Whitehat1963: Found it. Please, <Chessgames.com> can you upload this game:

[Event "CHN-RUS Chess Summit"]
[Site "Ergun CHN"]
[Date "2006.08.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Zvjaginsev,V"]
[Black "Zhang Pengxiang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[EventDate "2006.08.10"]
[ECO "C00"]

1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd7 6. Na3 f6 7. g3 c4 8. b3 Qa5 9. b4 Qb6 10. d4 a5 11. b5 Na7 12. Rb1 f5 13. Nd2 Bxa3 14. Bxa3 Nxb5 15. Bb2 a4 16. Ba3 g6 17. g4 Qd8 18. Rxb5 Bxb5 19. h4 Nh6 20. gxf5 Nxf5 21. Nf3 Qd7 22. Kf2 O-O-O 23. Bh3 h6 24. Qb1 Rdf8 25. Qb4 Rf7 26. Qa5 Ba6 27. Rb1 Ne7 28. Bd6 Nc6 29. Qb6 g5 30. Rg1 Re8 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Nxg5 Rxf4+ 33. Ke3 Rh4 34. Bxe6 Rxe6 35. Nxe6 Rh3+ 36. Ke2 Rh8 37. Rg7 Nxd4+ 38. Qxd4 1-0

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