Pavel Eljanov – The Positional Powerhouse

Pavel Eljanov is a Ukrainian Super Grandmaster born in Kharkiv. He is one of the strongest players of his generation, peaking at World #6 with a rating of 2765.

Beyond his own playing career, he is famous for being a world-class "second" (trainer). He helped Magnus Carlsen win his first World Championship in 2013 and worked closely with Boris Gelfand for years.

Yes. His resume includes winning the FIDE Grand Prix in Astrakhan (2010), the Isle of Man International (2016) ahead of Caruana, and the Reykjavik Open (2013).

Eljanov is the definition of a "positional powerhouse." He excels in closed and semi-closed positions, using deep theoretical knowledge to gain small advantages that he converts with high technique.

He was a key second for Boris Gelfand during his 2012 World Championship match against Anand. He also coached Mariya Muzychuk to her Women's World Championship title.

Eljanov is widely respected by his peers as having one of the deepest and most accurate opening files in the world, often finding novelties at move 20+.

In 2013, he was part of "Team Carlsen" in Chennai, helping the Norwegian prodigy dethrone Vishy Anand to become World Champion.

He was a crucial member of the Ukrainian national team that won Olympic Gold twice, famously overcoming the mighty Russian team.

At his peak in 2016, he reached an ELO of 2765, cementing his status as one of the absolute elite players of the 21st century.

With White, he is a virtuoso of the Catalan Opening. His understanding of the subtle long-term pressure in these positions is textbook.

In 2016, he won the incredibly strong Isle of Man tournament, edging out Fabiano Caruana on tiebreaks after a brilliant performance.

For many years, he was the primary second for Boris Gelfand, helping him win the Candidates and nearly become World Champion in 2012.

He had a phenomenal run in the 2015 FIDE World Cup, winning his first 6 games in a row and reaching the semi-finals before losing a thriller to Karjakin.

Like Akiba Rubinstein or Karpov, Eljanov wins many games without tactical fireworks, simply by improving his position until the opponent runs out of moves.

He has released highly acclaimed courses on the English Opening and other systems, sharing his GM-level secrets with the public.

He has remained a 2700+ caliber player for over a decade, showing remarkable stability in his results.

As Black, he is an expert in the Ruy Lopez Breyer variation, a system that requires deep maneuvering skill and patience.

His approach to chess is scientific. He studies positions deeply with engines but interprets them with human understanding.

He won the Corus "B" group in 2007 with a dominant score of 9/13, qualifying him for the elite "A" group the following year.

While known for positional play, he is a universal player who can calculate accurately in sharp positions when forced.

His victory at the Astrakhan Grand Prix in 2010 was a major career milestone, putting him in the World Championship cycle conversation.

His coaching resume includes work with Women's World Champion Mariya Muzychuk, proving his versatility as a trainer.

He rarely throws away an advantage in the endgame. His conversion rate of "better" positions is extremely high.

Eljanov is known for his calm and professional demeanor at the board, earning him respect across the chess world.

He has popularized specific modern lines in the English Opening, particularly setups involving an early Be3.