Leya Garifullina WGM

Leya Garifullina – Woman Grandmaster Extraordinaire

Meet Leya Garifullina, a chess virtuoso whose reign over the 64 squares is nothing short of spectacular. With the prestigious title of Woman Grandmaster bestowed by FIDE, Leya has demonstrated an uncanny ability to outfox opponents and hatch brilliant strategies—true proof that in the game of chess, she’s got nerves of steel and a brain wired for checkmate.

Her blitz rating soared from a modest 1604 in early 2019 to a stunning peak of 2401 in 2020—quite the evolutionary leap worthy of a Darwinian study! Known for a knack for "unknown openings," Leya turns the unpredictable into triumph, winning nearly 74% of her blitz games aired on mysterious gambits.

When Leya is not busy dethroning her rivals, she is busy cooking up long endgames, boasting an impressive frequency of 68% endgame play, proving patience and precision are her natural habitat. Her average winning game stretches for over 76 moves, showing she’s in it for the long haul—not your average squirrel darting off at the first shiny chance.

Her tactical prowess is equally remarkable—she boasts a 90% comeback rate and dazzles with a 96.67% win rate even after losing a piece, proving she has more lives than a cat (perhaps a chess cat?).

From Monday to Sunday—and every hour in between—Leya’s performance is consistently strong, with some days like Monday, Sunday, and Saturday clocking in at a perfect 100% win rate. She’s no creature of habit, though: her style adapts swiftly, like a chameleon changing colors as the position demands.

Beyond her numbers and ratings lies a player with a playful spirit and a keen sense of humor, always ready to say “check” and ready to pounce like a queen on the board. Leya Garifullina isn’t just playing chess—she’s redefining what it means to be a Woman Grandmaster in a league of her own.