Nikita Meshkovs is a formidable Grandmaster who has made a name for himself in the fast-paced world of online chess, particularly excelling in blitz games. Known for his tactical acuity and endurance, Nikita has battled through thousands of games, demonstrating resilience and skill that earned him the prestigious Grandmaster title from FIDE.
Playing Style & Strengths
Nikita’s games often feature a dynamic and resourceful style, with a particular flair for rapid tactical play and comebacks after setbacks — boasting an exceptional 89% comeback rate! His preference for openings like the Reti and King’s Indian Attack in blitz and a variety of English Opening lines shows his versatile approach to the board.
Preferred Time Control: Blitz
Early Resignation Rate: 1.2% – he usually fights to the end!
Endgame Expertise: Encountered in over 85% of his games
Average Moves per Game: About 82 in wins and 87 in losses
Career Highlights
With an impressive peak blitz rating crossing 3000, Nikita’s journey shows continuous growth. Key milestones include:
Achieved peak blitz rating of 3037 as recently as March 2025.
Maintained bullet ratings over 3000, showcasing lightning-fast reflexes.
Strong performances in various opening lines, notably the Reti and Anglo-Indian Defense variations.
Renowned for his strategic use of the Zukertort Opening and Ruy Lopez variations in competitive play.
Fun Facts
Nikita’s favorite time to play is early morning, around 4:00 AM, apparently bringing chess brilliance while most of us are still dreaming!
He holds a winning record against several well-known opponents, showing his competitive spirit and tactical depth.
Despite his aggressive playstyle, Nikita's patience shines in lengthy endgames and strategic battles.
With over 6,000 blitz wins under his belt, he could probably crown himself King of Speed Chess!
Opening Repertoire (Blitz)
Reti: King’s Indian Attack – Win rate: ~54%
Queen’s Pawn Game – Win rate: 50%
English: 1...e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 – Balanced and versatile
Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto – Most successful with 57% wins
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anti-Anti-Grünfeld – Flexible and effective
Performance Snapshot
Nikita has achieved remarkable win rates across various time controls with over 6,400 wins in blitz and a solid record in bullet games as well. His bullet peak rating soared above 3000 in recent years, showcasing his blazing speed and precision.
Coach Chesswick
Overall Performance and Rating Trends
Nikita, your recent blitz play shows a solid strength adjusted win rate of about 50%, which is quite respectable given the competitive opponents you've faced. Over the past 6 months, you have experienced a positive rating gain of 32 points, and over the last 3 months an impressive gain of 51 points overall.
However, it's worth noting that some recent trends indicate a slight downward slope in your rating progress when observed over 3 and 6 month periods. Conversely, the last month shows a positive slope, suggesting a possible upward correction in your form.
Positive Highlights
Your victories often stem from sharp tactical plays and good piece coordination, shown especially in your quick execution to convert material advantages.
You're comfortable initiating middle game attacks, pushing forward pawns and developing your pieces actively as seen in several wins.
Good ability to maintain pressure and gradually improve your position, wearing down opponents until they make mistakes.
Effective use of common openings such as the Queen's Pawn structures, dominating with consistent and thematic moves.
Areas for Improvement
Endgame Technique: A few losses reveal missed chances to hold draws or convert better positions, especially in rook and minor piece endgames. Improving your conversion skills here could add significant points.
Handling Counterattacks: Some defeats came after your opponent effectively countered your attacks. Enhancing your defensive awareness and calculation can help reduce losses from counterplay.
Opening Preparation: Although your opening choices are solid, deeper preparation might help you avoid early positional disadvantages or awkward middlegame positions against well-prepared opponents.
Time Management: Time pressure affected a few outcomes. Improving speed and intuition in familiar positions can reduce blunders under time constraints.
Recommended Focus Areas
Spend dedicated study time on common endgame patterns, especially on rook endings and simple minor piece endings.
Review your recent losses to identify specific moments where counterattacks gained the initiative and develop strategies to prevent or mitigate those risks.
Deepen your knowledge of your preferred openings, including typical plans and how to handle opponents' surprises.
Practice faster decision-making in blitz to build confidence under time pressure.
Final Thoughts
Your progress is commendable, especially with your recent positive monthly trend. With focused training on defensive resources and endgame proficiency, you can expect to see a steady climb in your blitz rating. Keep analyzing your games critically and continue practicing tactical awareness and time management.
Good luck with your continued improvement, Nikita!
