Tamaz Gelashvili

Tamaz Gelashvili is a chess grandmaster from Georgia, earning the title in 1999 at the age of 21. His highest FIDE rating has been 2623, achieved in October 2007. He is currently ranked fourth in Georgia, and he has represented his country at several Olympiads over the years . In 2001 he tied for 1st with Yannick Pelletier, Mark Hebden and Vladimir Tukmakov in the 9th Neuchâtel Open and in 2006 won the Acropolis International tournament in Athens. In 2008 he tied for 2nd with Giorgi Bagaturov in the Gyumri International tournament and tied for 1st with Nigel Short, Vadim Milov, Aleksej Aleksandrov, Baadur Jobava, Alexander Lastin, Gadir Guseinov and Farid Abbasov in the President's Cup in Baku. In 2011 he won the 5th Annual Philadelphia Open.

He is noted for playing some unusual opening variations, such as 2.b3 in response to the Sicilian, French and Caro–Kann Defense. He also utilizes the Queen’s Pawn Game opening for both white and black pieces the majority of the time.