Player Profile: Temur Kuybokarov

Full name: Temur Kuybokarov (formerly known as Temur Igonin)

Peak FIDE Rating: 2600 (December 2023)

Highest Ranking: #408

Active Since: 2010–present 

Federation: Australia Chess Federation

Player’s Description

Temur Kuybokarov was born on 22 July, 2000, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He now represents Australia after moving from his native Uzbekistan in 2018. He won the title of Grandmaster in 2019. 

He grew up in a very supportive environment, where his early interest in chess again received full support. He started playing chess at the age of 5 years. Tatyana Igonina, his mother, was his first coach, from whom he learned the basics and fundamentals of chess. Under her guidance, at age 10, he won a bronze medal in the 2010 Asian Youth Championships (U10) in Beijing.

He gained more popularity when, in 2011, he defeated Viswanathan Anand. It was a jaw-dropping moment, not because it happened in a world championship match, but because Temur was just 11 years old, and Anand was the reigning world champion.

Kuybokarov’s style is tactically sharp and positionally sound. He’s known for aggressive initiative when playing White and solid, counterattacking setups as Black.

Career Status (as of 2025)

• Total: 345 classical games

• Wins: 128 

• Draws: 121

• Losses: 96

Current Ranking (as of 2025)

• FIDE Classical Rating: 2535

• Rapid Rating: 2458 (inactive)

• Blitz Rating: 2454 (inactive)

• World Ranking (Classical): #408

• National Ranking (Australia): #2

World Championships

Kuybokarov hasn’t yet broken into the Candidates or World Championship match cycle.

National Championship

• Australian Champion 2020 (the first West Australian to claim the title in the event’s 135-year history.)

• Australian Open Champion: 2017 and 2019

Olympiad & Team Medals 

Kuybokarov has represented Australia in multiple Olympiads, but Australia hasn’t medaled during his tenure. 

Notable tournament wins

• 8th Penang Open (2016)

• Australasian Masters GM Norm Tournament (2019)

• Australian Championship (2020) 

• Mersin Open (2021) 

• Perth Open (2022) 

• Oceania Zonal Championship (2023) 

3 most memorable wins

• Temur Kuybokarov vs. Viswanathan Anand in 2011

Kuybokarov played solidly, choosing a classical setup. He capitalized on a slight inaccuracy by Anand, seizing the initiative and launching a kingside attack.

• Roberto Florin Neagu vs. Temur Kuybokarov 

Kuybokarov gradually built pressure on the queenside, using the long diagonal to restrict Neagu’s bishop and rooks. He converted a small space advantage into a passed pawn, then used precise king maneuvering to force resignation. 

• Elnur Aliyev vs. Temur Kuybokarov 

Kuybokarov launched a kingside pawn storm early, sacrificing a pawn to open lines. Then, with the coordination of rooks and a knife, he leapt into the heart of Aliyev’s position, and a final tactical flourish sealed the deal.