Ildar Khairullin is a Russian chess Grandmaster and a former European Under-18 Chess Champion. Born on 26 July 1990 in Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia, Khairullin learned chess from his father and quickly developed a close connection to the game. He won his first significant medal, a silver, at the Russian Under-10 Championship in 2000.
Nationally, Khairullin saw considerable success from a young age. In 2004, he earned a silver medal at the Russian Under-14 Championship and a gold medal at the Under-16 Championship just two years later. These achievements paved the way for a promising career, leading to his victory at the European Under-18 Chess Championship in 2009.
Internationally, Khairullin achieved the ACP Golden Classic title in 2011 and also shared first place at the Chigorin Memorial tournament in 2012. He was awarded the prestigious title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 2007 when he was just 16 years old. Moreover, he is ranked seventh in Russia and between 30th to 40th worldwide depending on the international ratings.
Khairullin's style of play is generally aggressive and often focuses on achieving an advantageous position early on. His games have often been characterized by both tactical and strategic themes that showcase his immense understanding of the game. Over his career, he has played various formats of chess and has performed well in classical, rapid, and blitz games.