About Alex Stripunsky
Alex Stripunsky is a formidable Grandmaster known for his aggressive and tactical playstyle, especially shining in blitz chess. Whether it's lightning-fast bullet games or sharp rapid matches, Alex has left a mark on every time control he enters. His approach combines deep preparation with a flair for the dramatic—expect fireworks on the board and some memorable comebacks!
Playing Style & Strengths
Alex thrives in dynamic positions and isn't shy about early confrontations. His games often feature:
- High endgame frequency, showing skillful technique after the dust settles.
- Strong tactical awareness—with nearly 90% comeback rate, few manage to keep him down once he's behind!
- A balanced record as White and Black, with a slight edge playing with White pieces.
- Rapid adaptation to pressure situations, but a playful tilt factor of 8 means he’s human too.
Favorite Openings
Alex demonstrates particular prowess with these openings:
- Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System — Winning nearly 77% in blitz, a fortress of success.
- Sicilian Defense: Closed — A balanced weapon with a 50-67% win rate in blitz and bullet.
- Owen Defense — A bullet favorite, boasting an impeccable 100% win rate across 4 games.
- Rapid specialists: The Kan Variation of the Sicilian and Neo-Indian lines, both with flawless records.
Career Highlights
- Peak Blitz rating of 2775 (achieved in May 2020) — almost cheating level!
- Peak Bullet rating of 2750 (early 2020), proving he is as fierce in 1-minute battles as in 3+ seconds.
- Rapid peak rating reached 2550, rounding out an all-around strong repertoire.
- Accrued over 230 wins in blitz games with a solid 52.7% strength-adjusted win rate.
Notable Opponents & Rivalries
Alex has squared off with many opponents multiple times; highlights include:
- samf64 — a long-standing rivalry with 41 encounters, Alex holds a positive score.
- gmalsayed — 31 games, a challenging dance with a tough opponent.
- speedskater and nguyenxi — frequent battles with mixed results.
Fun Facts
- His best time to play? A mysterious 11 PM slot, where his wins peak at nearly 78%—clearly a night owl on the hunt.
- The "early resignation rate" is just 2%, proving Alex fights to the bitter end (or until the coffee runs out).
- Average decisive game length in his victories clocks around 84 moves, so don't expect quick draws when facing him!