Born on May 21, 1984, he started playing chess at a very young age and demonstrated prodigious talent throughout his early years.
Nikitenko attained the title of International Master in 2004 and later became a Grandmaster in 2012. He has an aggressive playing style and is known for his exceptional calculating skills. He has participated in numerous international tournaments, displaying consistent performance and bagging many victories.
Some of his most notable competitions include the European Individual Chess Championships and the Ukrainian Chess Championships. He won the Ukrainian Chess Championship in 2011. Nikitenko has also competed in FIDE Grand Prix events, which are part of the World Chess Championsh ip cycle.