Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (born 21 October 1990), often referred to as MVL, is a French chess grandmaster. He is the greatest French player in history. Known for his uncompromising style, he is the world's leading expert on the Grünfeld Defence and the Najdorf Sicilian. MVL is a World Blitz Champion (2021) and has spent years in the World Top 10. He is famously "unlucky" with World Championship cycles, often missing qualification by the narrowest margins. He holds a degree in mathematics and is known for his calm, analytical approach.