Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Players
  3. /Ponomariov, Ruslan

Ponomariov, Ruslan

World Champion

modern era

Ruslan Ponomariov became the youngest FIDE World Champion in history at age 18 in 2002, defeating Vassily Ivanchuk in the final to claim the title. The Ukrainian grandmaster was a child prodigy who earned his grandmaster title at 14 and went on to be a consistent presence in the world top 20 for over a decade.

Total Games

2653

Wins

937

Draws

1217

Losses

498

35.3% wins45.9% draws18.8% losses

Most Played Openings

B90 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation102C67 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall54D37 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack45C65 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense44B12 - Caro-Kann Defense42C42 - Petrov's Defense41A07 - King's Indian Attack37D27 - Queen's Gambit Accepted: Furman Variation37A45 - Canard Opening35C50 - Italian Game34

Most Faced Opponents

Gelfand,B53 gamesIvanchuk,V49 gamesGrischuk,A43 gamesMamedyarov,S39 gamesSvidler,P36 gamesAnand,V35 gamesLeko,P31 gamesKramnik,V30 gamesAronian,L30 gamesEljanov,P29 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov, Ruslan vs Ermekov, Almas

Wch U12

1994

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Georgiev,Ki

FIDE WCh KO

2001

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Ponomariov,R vs Karjakin,Sergey

Tal Memorial Blitz

2008

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Svidler,P

19th Amber Rapid

2010

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Ivanchuk,V

FIDE WCh KO Final

2002

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Morozevich,A

FIDE WCh KO

2001

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Aronian,L

19th Amber Blindfold

2010

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov,R vs Anand,V

Dual of the WCh

2002

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Kunte, Abhijit vs Ponomariov, Ruslan

Wch U20

1997

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ponomariov, Ruslan vs Grischuk, Alexander

Wch U12

1994

View Print

Games (2653)

Search & Filter All Games →
Ponomariov, Ruslan vs Vokarev, Sergey
0-1
RUS-chT 1995 D85
Ponomariov, Ruslan vs Eismont, Oleg
1/2-1/2
RUS-chT 1995 E15
Akobian, Varuzhan vs Ponomariov, Ruslan
0-1
EU-ch U12 1995 A00
PreviousPage 54 of 54

Explore More

All PlayersAll OpeningsFamous Games