Teimour Radjabov

39 years, Azerbaijan

World Rank

Summary

Player Details

Teimour Radjabov is an Azerbaijani chess grandmaster and one of the most recognizable players of the modern era. A prodigy from Baku, he won multiple European youth titles, became a grandmaster at 14, and was already defeating world champions as a teenager. His early wins over Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand established him as one of the boldest young talents in elite chess, and he later developed into a long-term presence in the world championship cycle. Radjabov won the 2019 FIDE World Cup, qualified for multiple Candidates events, and tied for third at the 2022 Candidates Tournament. He has also been central to Azerbaijan’s team success, helping his country win European Team Championship gold in 2013 and 2017. Even after his absolute peak years, he has remained dangerous across formats, adding strong results in online elite events and continuing to score against top opposition in rapid and blitz.

Azerbaijani chess grandmaster, World Cup winner, and former world No. 4.

Playing Style

Radjabov’s style has always combined courage with structure. As a young player he was known above all for his fighting spirit and willingness to challenge world champions head-on, often in dynamic openings. Over time, that energy matured into a more controlled version of the same identity: he still seeks active counterplay, but with a stronger positional base and better tournament management. His opening choices reflect that evolution perfectly — sharp enough to play for more than equality, but coherent enough to survive the heaviest elite preparation.

Best Games

2003
vs Garry Kasparov
Linares
This remains one of the iconic teenage wins in modern chess. Radjabov beat Kasparov with Black in 39 moves, and the game instantly established him as a prodigy capable of defeating the very best players in the world.
2003
vs Viswanathan Anand
Dortmund Sparkassen
Radjabov’s win over Anand in Dortmund reinforced that his Kasparov result was not a fluke. Beating two world champions in the same year gave his early career a historic shape.
2019
vs Ding Liren
FIDE World Cup Final
Radjabov defeated Ding in the tiebreak phase of the final and won the World Cup. It was the defining championship result of his mature career and secured his place in the Candidates cycle.
2025
vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Blitz Championship
One of the best recent additions to his card. A win over Nepomniachtchi in Doha showed that Radjabov could still produce elite results against top opposition in the closing months of 2025.
2025
vs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
World Blitz Championship
This was another fresh high-value result from the same event. Beating one of the strongest young players in the world added weight to an already strong finish in Doha.

Opening Repertoire

Radjabov’s repertoire is one of the clearest long-term signatures in elite chess. With White, he has often worked through Slav, Ragozin, Réti / Nimzowitsch-Larsen, and Grünfeld Exchange structures. With Black, his most recognizable families are the Sicilian Defense and the King’s Indian Defense, especially the more active branches that give Black dynamic counterplay.

As White

Slav Defense structures
often arising after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense
typically after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4
Réti / Nimzowitsch-Larsen systems
flexible flank-opening play built around 1.Nf3 or 1.b3 ideas
Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation
a recurring White-side structure after Black chooses a Grünfeld setup

As Black

Sicilian Defense: Rossolimo-related structures
arising after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Sicilian Defense: Sveshnikov / Chelyabinsk Variation
one of his signature answers to 1.e4
King’s Indian Defense: Normal Variation
typically after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
Sicilian Defense: Kalashnikov Variation
another recurring Sicilian branch in his Black repertoire

Career Highlights

European youth titles
won the Under-10 sections in 1996 and 1997, the Under-12 in 1998, and the Under-18 in 1999
Grandmaster title
earned at 14
Crossed 2700
in October 2005
FIDE World Cup winner
2019
Candidates appearances
qualified for 2011, 2013, and 2022, finishing tied for third in 2022
European Team Championship gold
with Azerbaijan in 2013 and 2017
Airthings Masters winner
2021
Peak FIDE classical rating
2793

Career Highlights

European youth titles
won the Under-10 sections in 1996 and 1997, the Under-12 in 1998, and the Under-18 in 1999
Grandmaster title
earned at 14
Crossed 2700
in October 2005
FIDE World Cup winner
2019
Candidates appearances
qualified for 2011, 2013, and 2022, finishing tied for third in 2022
European Team Championship gold
with Azerbaijan in 2013 and 2017
Airthings Masters winner
2021
Peak FIDE classical rating
2793