Andrejs Sokolovs IM

Andrejs Sokolovs - International Master Extraordinaire

Andrejs Sokolovs — or as opponents nervously whisper mid-game, Andrejs_Sokolov — is an International Master officially recognized by FIDE. With a blitz rating soaring up to a blistering 2805 at his peak, Andrejs is practically a lightning bolt on the chessboard. Sometimes, it feels like he’s playing blitz against the very concept of time itself — and often winning.

Andrejs’ chess journey could be described as a roller coaster that mostly zooms uphill. Starting from a humble blitz rating of 952 in late 2017, he rocketed to the 2600+ territory with remarkable speed and consistency, turning once-casual opponents into quivering pawns. His win-loss record proudly boasts an impressive 487 wins against only 130 losses in blitz, with a knack for comebacks that would make even the toughest grandmaster raise an eyebrow.

Not just a speed demon, Andrejs plays with grace and guile in rapid games too, blasting through opposition with a stunning 92.3% win rate in his favorite secret openings (which, by the way, remain classified for national security reasons). His preferred opening repertoire? Let's just say if he ever publishes it, it will break the internet and chess engines alike.

His style is a mix of tenacity and patience: average winning games last about 69 moves, which few blitz players dare to endure. This IM thrives in the endgame, appearing in over 77% of his matches, proving he’s not just a flashy starter but a relentless finisher. And for those who think losing a piece signals doom, think again — Andrejs converts over 67% of games even after losing material. Now that’s what we call tactical resilience.

Beyond the stats, Andrejs is known for an almost zen-like disposition, with a low tilt factor of 5 out of 100. He’s a 6 AM player who’s probably brewed three cups of coffee and prepared his mind to crush pawns before the rest of us hit snooze. His longest winning streak, a formidable 29 games, hints that when Andrejs locks on, victory is inevitable.

Fun fact: Andrejs appears to perform best under gentle pressure — winning about 76% of games against higher-rated opponents, proving he feeds off challenge rather than cowers from it. Also quirky is his “Top Secret” opening — this mysterious line has netted him almost 500 wins in blitz play alone, leaving opponents puzzled and spectators amused.

Recent Highlights

In one recent noteworthy game, Andrejs adopted the classic Closed Sicilian Defense (Fianchetto Variation) and forced his opponent "gazmensky" into resignation with a brilliant tactical finish after 36 moves. Even when things occasionally go against him — as in a recent loss against "xcgmzs7" — it’s clear Andrejs fights to the end, rarely letting a game slip away silently.

When he’s not dazzling on online fastboards, Andrejs’ name is found climbing steadily on the rating charts into 2025, a testament that his chess evolution is far from over. Keep an eye on this IM — he’s guaranteed to turn the next blitz tournament into a thrill ride!