Alibek Igambergenov IM

Alibek Igambergenov - International Master Extraordinaire

Known in chess circles as aliba25, Alibek Igambergenov is an accomplished International Master with a flair for blitz battles and a humorously resilient spirit. His chess career is a thrilling rollercoaster, punctuated by breathtaking rating spikes that would make even Magnus blink.

Playing Style & Achievements

Alibek’s style combines tactical sharpness and strategic depth, aptly demonstrated by his strong average moves per game — about 38 moves when winning and a bit fewer in defeat. With a sometimes whimsical tendency to resign early (a solid 56% early resignation rate), Alibek proves that knowing when to fold might just be another layer of strategy.

Adept in blitz, his peak rating skyrocketed to an incredible 2836 in March 2023. Rapid and bullet formats aren’t left behind either, with peaks of 2478 and 2717 respectively. This chess dynamo is not afraid to switch gears, having racked up thousands of blitz games with a close to 50% win record overall, edging games with crafty maneuvering and a quick wit.

Memorable Games & Openings

Alibek’s top-secret opening repertoire in blitz (and no, he’s not sharing!) boasts thousands of games played, including some impeccable performances with the Indian Game and Slav Defense. In fact, his recent victories often involve tricky Indian Game lines, illustrating a strategic mind ready to outfox opponents with finesse.

The Human Behind The ID

When not outsmarting opponents on the board, aliba25 is known for a certain playful streak — his current longest winning streak is an astonishing 18 games, proving that once he’s in the zone, there’s little stopping this master of squares. However, like any mortal, he’s had his share of struggles, including grinding through a tough 13-game losing streak, but the man bounces back with style every time.

Chess and Beyond

Whether it’s lunchtime or the mysterious “best time to play” at 11 PM (time to channel those nocturnal brain cells), Alibek’s psychological resilience shines through, tilting only about 13% of the time — a commendable stat for anyone who’s danced with the 64 squares at high speed. Opponents beware: this IM’s combination of sharp tactics, psychological insight, and that little secret opening book might just have your king running for cover.

Recent Highlight

On May 8, 2025, aliba25 sealed a victory against JazzyAtom after a gritty battle full of positional pressure and subtle tactics using the Indian Game (Bf4-b6 Variation). It ended with a graceful resignation from his opponent in a position where Alibek’s knight and queen coordination had orchestrated a symphony of threats. A classic aliba25 win!