Anton Smirnov GM

About Anton Smirnov

Anton Smirnov is a distinguished Grandmaster in the world of chess, revered for his electrifying blitz skills and strategic prowess. He has dazzled opponents with an aggressive and tactical style that makes his games thrilling to watch. Known for his resilience, Anton boasts an impressive comeback rate and a knack for turning games around after losing material.

Playing Style & Strengths

Anton shines brightest in blitz chess, where his reflexes, creativity, and psychological stamina rival the best. With an average game length near 90 moves and a penchant for deep endgames, his games are balanced - not too fast nor too slow. White pieces favor him slightly more than Black, but he’s a formidable foe regardless of color.

• Known for early resignation avoidance and fighting spirit
• Impressively high comeback rate of over 90%
• Expert endgame player with nearly 90% endgame frequency
• Strong tactical awareness, with a 48% win rate after losing a piece
• Preferred blitz time control, exhibiting excellent performance from midday hour (13:00)

Opening Repertoire Highlights

Anton’s opening choices combine classical structure with dynamic play. His favorite openings reflect versatility and surprise element:

• Blitz:
  • Caro-Kann Defense (53% win rate)
  • Sicilian Najdorf, 6.Be3 e5 variation (57% win rate)
  • Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall (58% win rate)
  • Zukertort & Queen's Pawn games, showcasing solid control and attack balance
• Rapid:
  • Reti King's Indian Attack (71% win rate)
  • Ruy Lopez Exchange, Alapin Gambit (Perfect 100% win rate!)
  • Scandinavian 2.exd5 and Van Geet Opening with flawless victory records
• Bullet:
  • Nimzo-Larsen Attack Symmetrical Variation (61% win rate)
  • Queen's Pawn Game and Zukertort Opening variations
  • Reti King's Indian Attack Neo-Gruenfeld (72% win rate)

Clearly, Anton knows how to mix classical and hypermodern openings to keep opponents guessing and off-balance.

Career Highlights & Notables

Anton Smirnov’s journey to becoming a Grandmaster is decorated with some jaw-dropping statistics:

• Achieved a peak blitz rating of 3127 in May 2024, a truly elite level
• Outstanding bullet peak rating of 2962 in late 2020
• Has faced top talents such as Daniel Naroditsky (631 games), Jospem (326 games), and Nihal Sarin (179 games)
• Displays a remarkable resilience with a tilt factor of just 11, reflecting a calm and focused demeanor under pressure
• Longest winning streak of 39 games – talk about a hot streak!

Fun Facts

• Anton’s favorite hour to play is 13:00—his opponents beware after lunch!
• Embraces some of the oldest chess openings with a modern twist — Berlin Wall has nothing to hide from him.
• Often turns seeming losses into victories; his comeback rate near 90% might make his opponents sweat!
• Statistically, Anton wins more games against the London System than he loses—perhaps a secret weapon against this popular opening.

Summary

Anton Smirnov is a seasoned grandmaster with a dynamic and tactical playstyle that truly shines in fast time controls. His vast experience, combined with his psychological resilience and deep opening knowledge, makes him a formidable competitor on any chessboard. Fans of exciting, sharp, and resourceful chess will find much to admire in Anton’s games.