Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, widely known as MVL, is a French chess grandmaster and one of the world’s elite players. Born in 1990, he earned his grandmaster title at 14, quickly establishing himself on the international stage. Renowned for his deep opening preparation, particularly in the Grünfeld Defence, MVL combines strategic precision with tactical sharpness, excelling across classical, rapid, and blitz formats.

His career highlights include winning the World Junior Chess Championship in 2009, five Biel Chess Tournament titles, and elite victories at the Sinquefield Cup in 2017 and 2021. He has been instrumental in France’s team successes at Chess Olympiads and European Championships, earning multiple medals. MVL also claimed the World Blitz Championship title in 2021, underlining his mastery of fast-paced play.

As of 2024, MVL maintains a FIDE rating of 2731, firmly placing him among the world’s top 20 players. His consistent performance, versatility, and deep theoretical knowledge make him a perennial contender in major international tournaments.