Intro

Jan Gustafsson often asks during his chess commentary: “which name would have the strongest chess team?” This blog answers that question!

Strongest Olympiad teams

The first name chess Olympiad would comprise of teams of four, whose players have the same (or very similar) first names. Alexander, Vladimir and Jan would be the top seeds! Here’s a list of potential teams with an average rating greater than 2600, using the January 2023 classical ratings.

first_name last_name country rating birthday average_rating
Alexander Grischuk RUS 2745 1983 2683.00
Alexandr Predke FID 2684 1994 2683.00
Alexander Morozevich RUS 2659 1977 2683.00
Alexander Ipatov TUR 2644 1993 2683.00
Vladimir Kramnik RUS 2753 1975 2677.50
Vladimir Fedoseev FID 2674 1995 2677.50
Vladimir Malakhov FID 2650 1980 2677.50
Vladimir Afromeev RUS 2633 1954 2677.50
Ian Nepomniachtchi RUS 2793 1990 2674.75
Jan-Krzysztof Duda POL 2729 1998 2674.75
Jan Gustafsson GER 2618 1979 2674.75
Jan-Christian Schroeder GER 2559 1998 2674.75
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2737 1990 2661.75
Maxim Matlakov RUS 2662 1991 2661.75
Maksim Chigaev FID 2632 1996 2661.75
Maxim Rodshtein ISR 2616 1989 2661.75
Sergey Karjakin RUS 2747 1990 2659.75
Sergey A. Fedorchuk UKR 2640 1981 2659.75
Sergei Rublevsky RUS 2637 1974 2659.75
Sergei Movsesian ARM 2615 1978 2659.75
Dmitry Andreikin FID 2729 1990 2657.50
Dmitry Jakovenko RUS 2682 1983 2657.50
Dmitry Kononenko UKR 2613 1988 2657.50
Dmitrij Kollars GER 2606 1999 2657.50
David Navara CZE 2682 1985 2656.25
David Anton Guijarro ESP 2679 1995 2656.25
David W L Howell ENG 2663 1990 2656.25
David Baramidze GER 2601 1988 2656.25
Evgeny Tomashevsky RUS 2694 1987 2651.75
Evgeniy Najer RUS 2662 1977 2651.75
Evgeny Bareev CAN 2631 1966 2651.75
Evgeny Shtembuliak UKR 2620 1999 2651.75
Daniil Dubov RUS 2708 1996 2640.50
Daniel Naroditsky USA 2622 1995 2640.50
Daniele Vocaturo ITA 2619 1989 2640.50
Daniel Dardha BEL 2613 2005 2640.50
Peter Svidler FID 2683 1976 2638.00
Peter Leko HUN 2663 1979 2638.00
Peter Heine Nielsen DEN 2618 1973 2638.00
Peter Michalik CZE 2588 1990 2638.00
Matthew D Sadler ENG 2694 1974 2633.75
Matthias Bluebaum GER 2661 1997 2633.75
Mateusz Bartel POL 2615 1985 2633.75
Matthieu Cornette FRA 2565 1985 2633.75
Ivan Cheparinov BUL 2659 1986 2633.50
Ivan Saric CRO 2657 1990 2633.50
Ivan Popov RUS 2627 1990 2633.50
Ivan Salgado Lopez ESP 2591 1991 2633.50
Alexey Sarana FID 2668 2000 2628.25
Alexei Shirov ESP 2666 1972 2628.25
Aleksey Dreev RUS 2606 1969 2628.25
Alexey Korotylev RUS 2573 1977 2628.25
Igors Rausis FID 2685 1961 2627.75
Igor Kovalenko UKR 2674 1988 2627.75
Igor Lysyj RUS 2597 1987 2627.75
Igor Berdichevski RUS 2555 1964 2627.75
Vladislav Artemiev RUS 2701 1998 2627.25
Vladislav Tkachiev FRA 2660 1973 2627.25
Vladislav Kovalev FID 2623 1994 2627.25
Vladislav Borovikov UKR 2525 1973 2627.25
Andrey Esipenko FID 2675 2002 2626.75
Andrei Volokitin UKR 2666 1986 2626.75
Andriy Vovk UKR 2597 1991 2626.75
Andrey Baryshpolets UKR 2569 1991 2626.75
Sam Shankland USA 2710 1991 2625.25
Samuel Sevian USA 2687 2000 2625.25
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan ARM 2605 1993 2625.25
Samir Sahidi SVK 2499 2003 2625.25
Anton Korobov UKR 2651 1985 2624.75
Anton Kovalyov CAN 2631 1992 2624.75
Anton Demchenko FID 2625 1987 2624.75
Anton Filippov UZB 2592 1986 2624.75
Yuriy Kryvoruchko UKR 2649 1986 2616.75
Yuriy Kuzubov UKR 2618 1990 2616.75
Yuri Drozdovskij UKR 2616 1984 2616.75
Yuri Kruppa UKR 2584 1964 2616.75
Michael Adams ENG 2688 1971 2612.50
Mikhail Al. Antipov FID 2599 1997 2612.50
Mikhail Gurevich BEL 2586 1959 2612.50
Mikhail Kobalia RUS 2577 1978 2612.50
Boris Gelfand ISR 2667 1968 2608.50
Boris Alterman ISR 2608 1970 2608.50
Boris Grachev RUS 2592 1986 2608.50
Boris Avrukh ISR 2567 1978 2608.50
Pavel Eljanov UKR 2706 1983 2602.75
Pavel Ponkratov RUS 2577 1988 2602.75
Pavel Maletin RUS 2575 1986 2602.75
Pavel V. Tregubov FID 2553 1971 2602.75

Common names’ players

Here are the list of players who share a common name and have a classical rating greater than 2500.

first_name last_name country rating birthday
Alexander Grischuk RUS 2745 1983
Alexandr Predke FID 2684 1994
Alexander Morozevich RUS 2659 1977
Alexander Ipatov TUR 2644 1993
Aleksandar Indjic SRB 2641 1995
Alexander Onischuk USA 2640 1975
Aleksandr Rakhmanov RUS 2635 1989
Alexander Areshchenko UKR 2631 1986
Alexander Donchenko GER 2627 1998
Alexander Riazantsev RUS 2626 1985
Alexander Motylev FID 2624 1979
Alexander Chernin HUN 2614 1960
Alexander Galkin RUS 2611 1979
Alexander Khalifman RUS 2608 1966
Alexandr Fier BRA 2602 1988
Alexander Zubov UKR 2598 1983
Aleksandr Shimanov RUS 2581 1992
Alexander Goloshchapov UKR 2578 1978
Alexander Moiseenko UKR 2577 1980
Aleksandra Goryachkina RUS 2576 1998
Aleksandr Lenderman USA 2572 1989
Alexander Graf GER 2558 1962
Alexander Goldin USA 2542 1964
Alexander Volzhin RUS 2540 1971
Aleksander Mista POL 2534 1983
Alexandar Budnikov RUS 2530 1967
Alexander Huzman ISR 2526 1962
Alexandre Danin RUS 2525 1986
Alexander Rustemov RUS 2525 1973
Alexandr Kharitonov RUS 2522 1986
Alexandra Kosteniuk FID 2519 1984
Alexandre Lesiege CAN 2510 1975
Alexandr Triapishko RUS 2506 2000
Alexandre Qashashvili GEO 2505 1975
Aleksandr Poluljahov RUS 2503 1965
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Alexey Sarana FID 2668 2000
Alexei Shirov ESP 2666 1972
Aleksey Dreev RUS 2606 1969
Alexey Korotylev RUS 2573 1977
Alexey Kuzmin RUS 2540 1963
Aleksey Sorokin RUS 2537 2000
Aleksey Goganov RUS 2526 1991
Aleksei Lugovoi RUS 2507 1975
Aleksei Pridorozhni RUS 2504 1981
Alexei Kornev RUS 2500 1976
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Andrey Esipenko FID 2675 2002
Andrei Volokitin UKR 2666 1986
Andriy Vovk UKR 2597 1991
Andrey Baryshpolets UKR 2569 1991
Andrey Rychagov RUS 2547 1979
Andrey Stukopin RUS 2546 1994
Andrey Shariyazdanov RUS 2541 1976
Andrei Sokolov LAT 2516 1972
Andrey Kvon UZB 2513 1989
Andrey Orlov FID 2512 1977
Andrey Zhigalko BLR 2509 1985
Andrei Shchekachev FRA 2506 1972
Andrey Drygalov RUS 2502 1999
Andrey Sumets UKR 2502 1980
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Anton Korobov UKR 2651 1985
Anton Kovalyov CAN 2631 1992
Anton Demchenko FID 2625 1987
Anton Filippov UZB 2592 1986
Anton Smirnov AUS 2586 2001
Anton Shomoev RUS 2555 1981
Antonios Pavlidis GRE 2554 1993
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Bartosz Socko POL 2620 1978
Bartlomiej Heberla POL 2567 1985
Bart Michiels BEL 2556 1986
Bartlomiej Macieja POL 2525 1977
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Boris Gelfand ISR 2667 1968
Boris Alterman ISR 2608 1970
Boris Grachev RUS 2592 1986
Boris Avrukh ISR 2567 1978
Boris Savchenko RUS 2552 1986
Boris V. Spassky RUS 2548 1937
Boris Gulko USA 2542 1947
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Christopher Woojin Yoo USA 2584 2006
Christopher Lutz GER 2527 1971
Christopher Noe GER 2516 1996
Christopher Repka SVK 2511 1998
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Daniil Dubov RUS 2708 1996
Daniel Naroditsky USA 2622 1995
Daniele Vocaturo ITA 2619 1989
Daniel Dardha BEL 2613 2005
Daniel Stellwagen NED 2605 1987
Daniil Yuffa ESP 2604 1997
Daniel Fridman GER 2595 1976
Daniel Forcen Esteban ESP 2576 1994
Daniil Lintchevski RUS 2551 1990
Danyyil Dvirnyy ITA 2548 1990
Daniel Alsina Leal ESP 2520 1988
Daniel Eduardo Pulvett Marin ESP 2509 1991
Daniel Sadzikowski POL 2503 1994
first_name last_name country rating birthday
David Navara CZE 2682 1985
David Anton Guijarro ESP 2679 1995
David W L Howell ENG 2663 1990
David Baramidze GER 2601 1988
David Paravyan RUS 2586 1998
David Arutinian GEO 2549 1984
David Gavrilescu ROU 2522 2003
David Zilberstein ITA 2500 1941
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Denis Khismatullin RUS 2594 1984
Denis Kadric MNE 2584 1995
Dennis Wagner GER 2584 1997
Denis Lazavik BLR 2532 2006
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Dmitry Andreikin FID 2729 1990
Dmitry Jakovenko RUS 2682 1983
Dmitry Kononenko UKR 2613 1988
Dmitrij Kollars GER 2606 1999
Dmitry Kokarev RUS 2588 1982
Dmitry Obolenskikh RUS 2536 1985
Dmitriy Khegay RUS 2532 1997
Dmitry Gordievsky RUS 2517 1996
Dmitry Bocharov RUS 2516 1982
Dmitry Kryakvin RUS 2505 1984
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Eric Hansen CAN 2609 1992
Erik Van den Doel NED 2581 1979
Erik Blomqvist SWE 2538 1990
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Evgeny Tomashevsky RUS 2694 1987
Evgeniy Najer RUS 2662 1977
Evgeny Bareev CAN 2631 1966
Evgeny Shtembuliak UKR 2620 1999
Evgeny Romanov NOR 2596 1988
Evgenij Miroshnichenko UKR 2589 1978
Evgeny Alekseev RUS 2575 1985
Evgenij Agrest SWE 2567 1966
Evgeny Postny ISR 2556 1981
Evgeny Pigusov RUS 2555 1961
Evgeny Prokopchuk RUS 2523 1978
Evgeny Shaposhnikov RUS 2517 1981
Evgeny Ermakov RUS 2513 1965
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Francisco Vallejo Pons ESP 2710 1982
Francesco Rambaldi ITA 2569 1999
Francesco Sonis ITA 2558 2002
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Grigoriy Oparin USA 2670 1997
Grzegorz Gajewski POL 2594 1985
Gregory Kaidanov USA 2557 1959
Grzegorz Nasuta POL 2550 1996
Grigory Serper USA 2522 1969
Grigor Grigorov BUL 2510 1987
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Igors Rausis FID 2685 1961
Igor Kovalenko UKR 2674 1988
Igor Lysyj RUS 2597 1987
Igor Berdichevski RUS 2555 1964
Igor Janik POL 2535 2000
Igor Novikov USA 2527 1962
Igor Koniushkov RUS 2514 1962
Igor Khenkin GER 2508 1968
Igor Miladinovic SRB 2507 1974
Igor-Alexandre Nataf FRA 2506 1978
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Illya Nyzhnyk UKR 2654 1996
Ilia Smirin ISR 2596 1968
Ilya Gurevich USA 2586 1972
Ilia Iljiushenok RUS 2543 1993
Ilja Zaragatski GER 2516 1985
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Ivan Cheparinov BUL 2659 1986
Ivan Saric CRO 2657 1990
Ivan Popov RUS 2627 1990
Ivan Salgado Lopez ESP 2591 1991
Ivan Sokolov NED 2588 1968
Ivan Bocharov RUS 2559 1990
Ivan Smikovski RUS 2534 1972
Ivan Ivanisevic SRB 2531 1977
Ivan Schitco MDA 2515 2003
Ivan Rozum RUS 2513 1991
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Ian Nepomniachtchi RUS 2793 1990
Jan-Krzysztof Duda POL 2729 1998
Jan Gustafsson GER 2618 1979
Jan-Christian Schroeder GER 2559 1998
Jan Smeets NED 2558 1985
Jan Markos SVK 2555 1985
Jan Werle NED 2550 1984
Ian Rogers AUS 2545 1960
Jan H Timman NED 2526 1951
Jan Krejci CZE 2522 1992
Jan Bernasek CZE 2506 1986
Jan Smejkal CZE 2504 1946
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Kirill Alekseenko FID 2686 1997
Kirill Shevchenko UKR 2662 2002
Kiril Georgiev MKD 2546 1965
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Konstantin Sakaev RUS 2589 1974
Konstantin Tarlev UKR 2589 1987
Konstantin Maslak RUS 2555 1984
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Matthew D Sadler ENG 2694 1974
Matthias Bluebaum GER 2661 1997
Mateusz Bartel POL 2615 1985
Matthieu Cornette FRA 2565 1985
Matthias Wahls GER 2541 1968
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2737 1990
Maxim Matlakov RUS 2662 1991
Maksim Chigaev FID 2632 1996
Maxim Rodshtein ISR 2616 1989
Maxime Lagarde FRA 2583 1994
Maxim Turov RUS 2565 1979
Maxim Vavulin FID 2552 1998
Maxim Dlugy USA 2523 1966
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Michael Adams ENG 2688 1971
Mikhail Al. Antipov FID 2599 1997
Mikhail Gurevich BEL 2586 1959
Mikhail Kobalia RUS 2577 1978
Michael Roiz ISR 2577 1983
Mikhail Demidov RUS 2568 1992
Mikhail Panarin RUS 2562 1983
Mikheil Mchedlishvili GEO 2553 1979
Michal Krasenkow POL 2541 1963
Michael Wilder USA 2540 1962
Michail Brodsky UKR 2524 1969
Mikhail Mozharov RUS 2521 1990
Michal Olszewski POL 2521 1989
Michael Prusikin GER 2514 1978
Mikhail Kazakov UKR 2513 1972
Michael Brown USA 2509 1997
Michael F Stean ENG 2500 1953
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Nikita Vitiugov FID 2723 1987
Nikita Meshkovs LAT 2576 1994
Nikita Afanasiev RUS 2562 2000
Nikita Petrov RUS 2535 1996
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Pavel Eljanov UKR 2706 1983
Pavel Ponkratov RUS 2577 1988
Pavel Maletin RUS 2575 1986
Pavel V. Tregubov FID 2553 1971
Pavel Smirnov RUS 2545 1982
Pavel Anisimov RUS 2523 1986
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Peter Svidler FID 2683 1976
Peter Leko HUN 2663 1979
Peter Heine Nielsen DEN 2618 1973
Peter Michalik CZE 2588 1990
Peter Acs HUN 2582 1981
Peter Prohaszka HUN 2574 1992
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Robert Markus SRB 2609 1983
Robert Hovhannisyan ARM 2597 1991
Robert Hess USA 2591 1991
Robert Huebner GER 2574 1948
Robert Fontaine SUI 2547 1980
Robert Kempinski POL 2539 1977
Robert Aghasaryan ARM 2537 1994
Robert Ruck HUN 2537 1977
Roberto Garcia Pantoja CUB 2507 1992
Robert Hungaski USA 2506 1987
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Sam Shankland USA 2710 1991
Samuel Sevian USA 2687 2000
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan ARM 2605 1993
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Sergey Karjakin RUS 2747 1990
Sergey A. Fedorchuk UKR 2640 1981
Sergei Rublevsky RUS 2637 1974
Sergei Movsesian ARM 2615 1978
Sergej Dyachkov RUS 2572 1976
Sergei Zhigalko BLR 2572 1989
Sergey Grigoriants HUN 2569 1983
Sergei Azarov FID 2562 1983
Sergey Dolmatov RUS 2560 1959
Sergey Erenburg USA 2559 1983
Sergei Ovsejevitsch UKR 2554 1977
Sergey Smagin RUS 2551 1958
Sergei Tiviakov NED 2548 1973
Sergey Drygalov RUS 2547 1999
Sergei Shipov RUS 2541 1966
Sergei Lobanov RUS 2540 2001
Sergei Matsenko RUS 2530 1990
Sergey Makarichev RUS 2520 1953
Sergey Trushnikov RUS 2513 1975
Sergey Kayumov UZB 2505 1981
Sergey Ionov RUS 2502 1962
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Viktor Laznicka CZE 2610 1988
Viktor Erdos HUN 2588 1987
Victor Bologan MDA 2574 1971
Viktor Gazik SVK 2555 2001
Viktorija Cmilyte LTU 2538 1983
Viktor Matviishen UKR 2533 2002
Victor Mikhalevski ISR 2516 1972
Viktor Savinov UKR 2507 1966
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Vladimir Kramnik RUS 2753 1975
Vladimir Fedoseev FID 2674 1995
Vladimir Malakhov FID 2650 1980
Vladimir Afromeev RUS 2633 1954
Volodymyr Onyshchuk UKR 2619 1991
Vladimir Akopian USA 2612 1971
Vladimir Belov FID 2598 1984
Vladimir Potkin RUS 2574 1982
Vladimir Chuchelov BEL 2554 1969
Vladimir Baklan UKR 2544 1978
Vladimir B Tukmakov UKR 2540 1946
Vladimir Zakhartsov RUS 2537 1997
Vladimir Kozhakin RUS 2533 1957
Vladimir Magai KGZ 2521 1968
Vladimir Kosyrev RUS 2520 1980
Vladimir Belous RUS 2512 1993
Vladimir Hamitevici MDA 2505 1991
Volodymyr Eryomenko UKR 2503 1987
Volodymyr Vetoshko UKR 2502 1998
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Vladislav Artemiev RUS 2701 1998
Vladislav Tkachiev FRA 2660 1973
Vladislav Kovalev FID 2623 1994
Vladislav Borovikov UKR 2525 1973
Vladislav Nozdrachev RUS 2515 1992
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Yuriy Kryvoruchko UKR 2649 1986
Yuriy Kuzubov UKR 2618 1990
Yuri Drozdovskij UKR 2616 1984
Yuri Kruppa UKR 2584 1964
Yuri Vovk UKR 2534 1988
Yuri Yakovich RUS 2526 1962
Yuri Gonzalez Vidal CUB 2525 1981
Yuri Solodovnichenko UKR 2514 1978
Yuriy Ajrapetjan UKR 2502 1988
first_name last_name country rating birthday
Zoltan Almasi HUN 2677 1976
Zoltan Gyimesi HUN 2674 1977
Zoltan Medvegy HUN 2509 1979

About

The list of players can be downloaded from the FIDE website https://ratings.fide.com/download_lists.phtml. This was a quick data manipulation exercise using R and dplyr. I applied personal judgement when deciding whether names are the same or not.