Player Profile: Bobby Cheng

Full Name: Bobby Cheng 

Peak FIDE Rating: 2596

Active Since: 2005 

Federation: Australia 

Player Description:

From across the ditch in New Zealand to becoming a top gun on the Aussie chess scene, Bobby Cheng’s rise has been nothing short of legendary He’s not just a chess player, but he’s the only Aussie to snag an over-the-board title, and now that's impressive, mate!

Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Bobby Cheng made headlines early on by winning the World Under-12 Chess Championship in 2009, a historic feat as he's still the only Australian to win a world title in over-the-board play.

That victory launched his career, and by 2010, he had already become a FIDE Master. His progress didn’t slow down as he became an International Master in 2013, the same year he won the Australian Open at just 15 years old. A few years later, he captured the national title in 2016. Cheng officially became a Grandmaster in 2019 and has since been a key figure on the Australian chess team, representing the country at the Olympiads and other major events. 

As of 2025, he holds the top national ranking, peaking at a FIDE rating of 2596 in late 2024.

Career Scorecard:

Games played - 1224- (W-D-L | 706 - 292 - 226)

Games Played as White - 620 - (W-D-L | 379 - 138 - 103)

Games Played as Black - 604 - (W-D-L | 327 - 154 - 123)

World Championship Cycle Appearances: 

• FIDE World Cup - 2021, 2023 

• World Youth Chess Championship 2007 - Tied for 3rd place 

National Championships:

• Australian Open Championship 2013 - Winner 

• Australian Chess Championship 2016 - Winner 

• Australian Junior Championship 2012 - Winner 

Olympiad Medals: None to date

Tournaments Won:

1. World Youth U12 Championship 2009

2. Australian Junior Championship, 2010

3. Australian Junior Championship, 2011

4. Victorian Championship Title, 2011

5. Australian Masters, 2012 (Joint First)

6. Australian Chess Championship, 2016

7. Australian Young Masters, 2019

8. Wightlink Isle of Wight International 2025 (Joint First) 

Memorable Games: [2-3 most notable performances]

Cheng vs. Igor Khenkin, Australian Open 2013 - 

A highlight of Cheng’s 2013 Australian Open victory was his win against veteran GM Igor Khenkin (2659). In this game, the 15-year-old Cheng outplayed a much higher-rated opponent, showcasing strategic maturity and helping secure his first major adult title.

Cheng vs. Vasyl Ivanchuk, 45th Chess Olympiad 2024 -

In a stunning Olympiad upset, Cheng defeated legendary former world #2 GM Vasyl Ivanchuk while representing Australia in 2024. Facing the Ukrainian icon, Cheng handled the game with great composure, capitalizing on opportunities to achieve one of the biggest wins of his career.

Cheng vs. David Howell, 45th Chess Olympiad 2024 - 

In the same Olympiad, Cheng also scored a victory over English GM David Howell. In a tense rook endgame, Howell went astray and Cheng seized the advantage to convert the win. These back-to-back triumphs over elite Grandmasters at the Olympiad solidified Cheng’s reputation for punching above his weight on the world stage.