Anthony Wirig is a formidable Grandmaster in the chess world, renowned for his expert skills particularly in blitz chess. With a rapid playing style and a deep understanding of various openings and tactical motifs, he has earned respect and admiration from peers and enthusiasts alike.
Playing Style & Strengths
Known for his fast-paced blitz performance, Anthony thrives under pressure and shows remarkable tactical awareness:
Average moves per win: around 91, showcasing his precise and efficient playstyle.
Exceptional comeback rate near 89% — a true fighter who doesn’t give up easily.
Top-notch proficiency in various openings, especially the Sicilian Defense variants and Queen’s Pawn Games.
Prefers Blitz time controls but also excels in Bullet, Rapid, and Daily games.
Psychologically, he manages tilt well, with a low 'tilt factor' of 12.
Notable Achievements
Attained a peak blitz rating of 3049 in June 2025, which is absolutely phenomenal.
Reached a bullet peak rating of 2913 in December 2021 — lightning-fast skills!
His rapid chess peak rating soared to 2452 in July 2025, showcasing his well-rounded abilities.
Recorded an impressive longest winning streak of 54 games in competitive play.
Favorite Openings
Anthony's opening repertoire shows both depth and strategic finesse, especially in blitz settings:
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation - A reliable weapon with a 44% win rate over 300+ games.
Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation - A versatile choice with nearly 47% win rate.
Trompowsky - Notably effective, boasting a win rate over 56% in blitz games.
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin with e6 - A sharp and tactical favorite with solid results.
Fun Facts & Trivia
Anthony's best time of day to conquer opponents is around 5 a.m. — either a morning genius or a nocturnal warrior!
His average first capture occurs around move 7, suggesting he likes to get the tactical fireworks started early.
Despite his incredible skill, his preferred time control is blitz, proving that speed doesn't slow down deep strategy.
His psychological resilience is top class, with a remarkable win rate after losing material.
Anthony, your recent blitz games show a strong competitive level with an overall strength adjusted win rate slightly above 50%, reflecting solid performance against strong opponents. Your rating has notably improved by 21 points in the last month and an impressive 1012 points over the last three months, indicating rapid progress. This upward trend is supported by positive rating slopes in all the timeframes, especially the three-month trend, which shows substantial improvement.
Key Strengths
Excellent endgame technique demonstrated in your recent win versus Rsnr, where a decisive checkmate sequence was smoothly executed.
Good midgame awareness, notably your quick development while using the Caro-Kann Defense and Sicilian variations, helping to maintain equilibrium or gain an advantage early on.
Effective handling of complex positions, as seen in your Trompowsky Attack and Neo-Grunfeld games, where you maintained pressure and found tactical opportunities.
Your aggressive play in openings like the Sicilian Defense reflects a proactive style that suits blitz well.
Areas for Improvement
Defensive play under pressure: In some losses (for example vs. Rsnr and Thundareon), you allowed your opponents to build strong attacking chances, especially around king safety. Reviewing those game phases could help improve your defensive resilience.
Transition from middle to endgame: Some losses appeared influenced by small inaccuracies in piece coordination going into the endgame. Drilling fundamental endgame patterns can help consolidate advantages or salvage difficult positions.
Positional patience: Occasionally, aggressive plans were met with precise counterplay by your opponents. Making sure to balance attack with solid positional foundations will increase your consistency.
Time management: Given blitz play’s fast pace, continual practice to optimize decision speed without sacrificing quality will enhance overall results.
Opening Insights
You frequently employ the Caro-Kann Defense and Sicilian Defense, along with variations like the Trompowsky Attack and Neo-Grunfeld Defense. Your opening play is sound with good piece development and flexible pawn structures. A focus on deepening your understanding of these lines, especially plans and typical tactical motifs beyond the early moves, will be valuable.
Recommendations for Continued Growth
Analyze critical moments in your losses, particularly where your king position became vulnerable, to develop targeted defensive strategies.
Expand your endgame knowledge by studying classic king and pawn endgames, minor piece endings, and fundamental rook endings.
Practice critical opening repertoires to boost speed and confidence in the first 10-15 moves, allowing more time for complex calculations in later stages.
Consider using slower time controls occasionally to deepen your strategic understanding and reduce impulse errors.
Continue leveraging your aggressive style but integrate measured positional play to avoid overextension.
Keep it up!
Your consistent improvement and positive rating trend reflect a dedicated approach. By focusing on the areas suggested, you can build on your strengths and achieve even greater success in your blitz games. Keep reviewing your games and challenging yourself!
