Prepare against Grant Xu
FM · United States · World #4,176 classical · FIDE ID 2052318
When preparing against Grant Xu, expect 1.e4 in 83% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (49% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (35%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit as White, 58.3% over 24 games.
Our database contains 188 games by Grant Xu, covering Jul 2010 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Grant Xu's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Grant Xu before a game. You can open the same data in the free interactive preparation workstation, which builds a move-by-move opening tree from every game.
Ratings
| Time control | Current | Peak | Peak date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 2,298 | 2,320 | Feb 2026 |
| Rapid | 2,166 | 2,171 | Jun 2018 |
| Blitz | 2,186 | 2,186 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 188 | 74 | 39 | 75 | 39.4% |
| As White | 96 | 44 | 20 | 32 | 45.8% |
| As Black | 92 | 30 | 19 | 43 | 32.6% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Grant Xu's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Grant Xu's side.
First moves as White (96 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 80 | 83.3% | 56.3% |
| d4 | 6 | 6.3% | 83.3% |
| Nf3 | 6 | 6.3% | 50.0% |
| c4 | 2 | 2.1% | 50.0% |
| g3 | 2 | 2.1% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 83% of White games, 56.3% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Xu usually continues d4 (64.6% score)
- …e5 (19% of these games) — Xu usually continues Nf3 (60.7% score)
- …e6 (18% of these games) — Xu usually continues b3 (50.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 6% of White games, 83.3% score
- …Nf6 (50% of these games) — Xu usually continues Nc3 (100.0% score)
- …e6 (17% of these games) — Xu usually continues Bf4 (100.0% score)
- …f5 (17% of these games) — Xu usually continues Nc3 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (43 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 21 | 48.8% | 40.5% |
| d6 | 14 | 32.6% | 42.9% |
| d5 | 6 | 14.0% | 66.7% |
| g6 | 2 | 4.7% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (31 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 11 | 35.5% | 63.6% |
| Nf6 | 10 | 32.3% | 30.0% |
| g6 | 8 | 25.8% | 37.5% |
| f5 | 2 | 6.5% | 25.0% |
Grant Xu's chess games
All 188 games by Grant Xu in the Chess.ceo database (Jul 2010 - Jul 2026) are free to browse, search and replay: filter by opening, opponent, event or date on the player page, or step through any game on the analysis board. Record: 74 wins, 39 draws, 75 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 24 | 14/3/7 | 58.3% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 11 | 4/4/3 | 36.4% |
| C00 | French Defense | 9 | 4/2/3 | 44.4% |
| C54 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | 6 | 2/1/3 | 33.3% |
| C54 | Italian Game | 6 | 4/1/1 | 66.7% |
| B19 | Caro-Kann: Classical | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| A30 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B15 | Caro-Kann: Main Line | 4 | 1/0/3 | 25.0% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A70 | Modern Defense | 12 | 4/0/8 | 33.3% |
| C41 | Philidor | 11 | 3/2/6 | 27.3% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 10 | 3/1/6 | 30.0% |
| E15 | Queen's Indian Defense | 7 | 0/4/3 | 0.0% |
| C05 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| A30 | English Opening | 5 | 4/0/1 | 80.0% |
| A08 | French Defense | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | Christopher Woojin Yoo | 2,575 | Titled Tue Late | B03 |
| Jan 2017 | Patrick G Wolff | 2,564 | PRO League Pacific | B21 |
| Jan 2019 | Oliver Barbosa | 2,552 | PRO League Stage | B21 |
| Dec 2023 | Andrew Tang | 2,509 | Edward Lasker Memorial 107th | C55 |
| Feb 2019 | Hans Moke Niemann | 2,466 | PRO League Stage | C19 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRO League Stage | 2019 | 28 | 13 | 2,394 |
| PRO League Pacific | 2017 | 12 | 3.5 | 2,338 |
| 112th US Open | 2011 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,096 |
| New York Fischer GM | 2022 | 9 | 2.5 | 2,234 |
| Titled Tuesday | 2022 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,448 |
| Sardinia World Open A | 2025 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,349 |
| New York President's Day IM-B | 2024 | 9 | 3 | 2,163 |
| New York Spring IM-B | 2023 | 9 | 5 | 2,377 |
Interactive opening tree from all 188 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Grant Xu's chess games?
188 games by Grant Xu, from Jul 2010 to Jul 2026, are free to browse and replay move by move — no signup needed. The preparation view groups them into an opening tree showing every line Grant Xu has played.
What does Grant Xu play on the first move as White?
Across 96 games with White in our database, Grant Xu opens with 1.e4 (83% of games), 1.d4 (6% of games), 1.Nf3 (6% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Grant Xu answers 1...e6 (49% of games), 1...d6 (33% of games), 1...d5 (14% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (35% of games), 1...Nf6 (32% of games), 1...g6 (26% of games).
What openings does Grant Xu play as White?
As White, Grant Xu's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit (24 games, 58.3% win rate); Sicilian: Alapin (11 games, 36.4% win rate); French Defense (9 games, 44.4% win rate). The full breakdown of 96 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Grant Xu play as Black?
As Black, Grant Xu most often plays: Modern Defense (12 games, 33.3% win rate); Philidor (11 games, 27.3% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (10 games, 30.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 92 games.
What is Grant Xu's FIDE rating?
Grant Xu is currently rated 2,298 in classical chess, 2,166 in rapid and 2,186 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,320 (Feb 2026).
How many games has Grant Xu played?
Our database contains 188 games by Grant Xu, covering Jul 2010 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 74 wins, 39 draws, 75 losses (39.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Grant Xu?
188 games by Grant Xu reveal their opening repertoire, most-played lines, and the variations where they score worst — the raw material for targeted preparation. The interactive opening tree lets you walk every line to any depth.