Igor Kovalenko

World rank: No. 64 (October 2026)
Rating: 2651 (+9 this month)
Peak rating: 2702 (August 2015)
Title: Grandmaster (2011)
Federation: Ukraine
Born: December 29, 1988, Novomoskovsk, Ukraine (age 37)
FIDE ID: 14117908

A Ukrainian grandmaster who played for Latvia from 2013 to 2021 and reached a peak of 2702 in 2015. Since Russia’s invasion he has largely put chess on hold to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He still returns for his country: at the 2025 European Team Championship he helped Ukraine win gold, with the best score on board four.

Career highlights

European Team Champion with Ukraine in 2025, best score on board four
Played three Olympiads for Latvia
Serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Peak rating 2702 (August 2015)

Igor Kovalenko in The Chess Herald

Oct 11, 2026Weekly Recap: Samarkand Afterglow, Fagernes Heats Up and Caruana Eyes a Record
Oct 5, 2026Speelman Hunts Samarkand's Miniatures, 40 Games in 25 Moves
Sep 27, 2026Uzbekistan's Lead Holds as Ding Liren Blunders in Round 10

FIDE profile · Wikipedia
Profile last reviewed September 29, 2026. Ratings update monthly from FIDE.