Friday Feature: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL)

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is a French chess grandmaster and one of the top-ranked players in the world. Born on October 21, 1990 in Bayonne, France, he learned to play chess at the age of four and quickly gained recognition as a prodigy. Vachier-Lagrave earned the title of grandmaster in 2005, at the age of 14, and has since become known for his aggressive and tactical style of play.

Throughout his career, Vachier-Lagrave has achieved a number of impressive feats. He has won the French Chess Championship four times and has competed in several World Chess Championships. In addition, he has won several top international tournaments, including the Gibraltar Chess Festival, the Sinquefield Cup, and the London Chess Classic. Vachier-Lagrave has also represented France in multiple Olympiads, helping his team to win a gold medal in 2014 and 2018.

In terms of his ranking, Vachier-Lagrave has consistently been one of the top-rated players in the world. He has reached a peak rating of 2844, which puts him in the top five highest-rated players of all time. Vachier-Lagrave's skill and success have made him a formidable presence in the world of chess.