Format
ZI
Zaja, Ivan
GM🇭🇷FIDE 14500450· Male· Croatia· Born in 1965
Follow Ivan ZajaTrack his monthly FIDE ratings, games, tournaments and more.
Ivan Zaja, a 61-year-old Croatian Grandmaster, is rated 2394 and ranked 23rd among Croatian players, and in the top 1% worldwide. He has fluctuated between 2394 and 2428 over the past 2 years. 64 rated games in the past year (≈51/year long-term). Recent standard appearances include S: 2. HSL-JUG 2026 1-3, 2. Bundesliga Nord 2025-2026 Maerz 2026, and S: GRAND PRIX HSS - 2026.. Also played 1 rapid (including R: GRAND PRIX HSS - 2026. Rapid) and 2 blitz events (including B: GRAND PRIX HSS - 2026. Blitz) recently. His peak of 2516 was reached at age 47 (Mar 2012); he also reached Croatian #13 in Jul 2001.
Awarded GM in 2001 (age 36) and IM in 2001 (age 36).
Current rating
2394
Standard
Rpd2397·Blz2374
All-time high
2516
−122 pts below
Mar 2012 · age 47
Mar 2012 · age 47
Activity
50
games / yr avg. · ≈4/mo
64 past 12 mo · ≈5/mo
classical only
Active
classical only
Active
Signature stat
#23
#23 · Croatian players · of 2,412
Career timeline
19 entries2026
40th 60-65 player worldwide
at age 61 · rated 2407
Feb 2026
2021
40th 55-60 player worldwide
at age 56 · rated 2461
Oct 2021
2020
Inactive for 17 months
paused at 2458 → returned at 2457
Feb 2020
2018
1,000 career games
at age 53
Aug 2018
2016
51st 50-55 player worldwide
at age 51 · rated 2475
Jan 2016
2012
All-time peak 2516
at age 47 · −122 from today
Mar 2012
Standard rating history
Activity & highlights
Evolution
-27
2421 → 2394
Tournaments
13
58 games
Score
37/ 5863.8%
22W30D6L
Top 3 wins
Top 3 losses
Last 12 months — tournaments
13 events| Event | Date | Score | Rank | Perf | Δ Elo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Apr 2026 | 1.5/3 | #21 | 2255 | -5.7 |
Team | Mar 2026 | 0.5/1 | #61 | 2445 | +0.6 |
Team | Feb 2026 | 1.5/3 | #55 | 2377 | -1.2 |
Knockout | Jan 2026 | 1/4 | R16 | 2283 | -6.2 |
Open Swiss | Jan 2026 | 6.5/9 | #11 | 2380 | +2.4 |
Team | Nov 2025 | 1/2 | #18 | 2363 | -1.2 |
Team | Nov 2025 | 0.5/1 | #35 | 2445 | +0.6 |
Team | Nov 2025 | 2.5/3 | #3 | 2483 | +2.6 |
Open Swiss | Oct 2025 | 6/9 | #14 | 2370 | -2.8 |
Team | Oct 2025 | 2/3 | #13 | 2283 | -3.5 |
Most-Played Opponents
vsBranko RoguljIM
🇭🇷CRO·2250
+1 −1 =19
21 games·last met Aug 2024
View head-to-head →
vsAnte SaricGM
🇭🇷CRO·2471
+1 −7 =10
18 games·last met May 2026
View head-to-head →
vsMilan MrdjaIM
🇭🇷CRO·2186
+4 −1 =10
15 games·last met Sep 2024
View head-to-head →
vsRobert ZelcicGM
🇭🇷CRO·2446
+3 −2 =10
15 games·last met Jun 2018
View head-to-head →
vsZdenko PlenkovicIM
🇭🇷CRO·2350
+2 −5 =7
14 games·last met May 2026
View head-to-head →
Rankings
/
Croatia
#23
out of 2,907 players
Europe
#1,126
in continent
World
#1,783
out of 400,000+
National ranking
Europe & World
Europe
World
Croatia
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| ... | ||
| 23 | 2,394 | |
Europe
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| 1126 | 2,394 | |
World
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| 1783 | 2,394 | |