It was around this time that he could be regarded as playing his strongest chess, as was reflected by his peak Elo rating of 2680, recorded in July 1995.

He has also been a noted expert on the Lasker Defence of the Queen's Gambit Declined, bringing many new ideas to an opening over one hundred years old.

Throughout his playing career, Yusupov has been coached and mentored by Mark Dvoretsky, an International Master who was widely considered to be the world's leading chess trainer.

Students of the school have included strong grandmasters Peter Svidler, Sergei Movsesian and Vadim Zvjaginsev.

Yusupov has also been a frequent contributor to Dvoretsky's books and has been a second and advisor to both Viswanathan Anand and Peter Leko during their world championship campaigns.