Antoni Szustakowski - The FIDE Master of Blitz Brilliance
Known online as antoszu, Antoni Szustakowski is a proud FIDE Master who has turned the art of blitz chess into a near-science. With lightning-fast moves and a psychological edge sharper than a Sicilian Defense, Antoni keeps opponents on the edge of their seats – or simply shaking their heads wondering what just happened.
Antoni's chess journey began with moderate ratings around 1300 in blitz and bullet back in 2012. However, like a well-timed fork, the progress was swift and merciless. By 2017, blitz ratings soared above 2100, and by 2023 Antoni hit a peak blitz rating of an impressive 2740 – a level where few dare to tread outside of grandmasters.
A tactical magician, Antoni boasts an astonishing 86.7% comeback rate, combined with a near-perfect 96% win rate after losing a piece. This might explain the terror in opponents’ eyes when the FIDE Master’s pieces start flying around the board faster than anyone can say checkmate. Despite a modest tilt factor of 19 (because even masters have their off days), Antoni’s resilience and creativity consistently turn the tide in the most dramatic fashion.
When it comes to style, Antoni's games average around 78 moves for a win and tend to push deep into the endgame, where precision is king. Most strikingly, playing white nets a stronger win rate (56%) compared to black (52%), showing that Antoni likes to take the initiative but relishes the fight no matter the color.
With thousands of games logged – including over 1600 blitz victories and nearly 1600 wins in bullet – Antoni knows how to. And the secret sauce? Well, "Top Secret" is the official opening name in Antoni’s repertoire, but many suspect it involves equal parts speed, nerves of steel, and a dash of unpredictability.
Off the virtual board, Antoni might just be your friendly neighborhood chess enthusiast, but once seated at the keyboard or across the board, antoszu commands respect, delivering a swift checkmate or a spectacular comeback that leaves everyone wanting more.
Fun fact: Antoni once boasted a winning streak of 28 games, proving that even the chess gods have their champions.