Yusnel Bacallao Alonso GM

About Yusnel Bacallao Alonso

Yusnel Bacallao Alonso is a formidable chess Grandmaster, known for his sharp tactical play and impressive speed in fast time controls, especially bullet chess. With a peak bullet rating of 2774, he has proven himself as a true speed demon on the board, dazzling opponents with lightning-fast maneuvers and a cool-headed approach even under intense time pressure.

Playing Style & Strengths

Yusnel demonstrates exceptional endgame skills, reaching the endgame phase in nearly 77% of his games. His average moves per win hover around 72, showing a balance of precision and patience. When losing a piece early, he recovers impressively with a 58% win rate after losing material, reflecting great tactical awareness and resilience. Moreover, his comeback rate stands at a spectacular 82%, indicating he's never one to give up easily, even against the odds!

Favorite Openings

Yusnel shines particularly in the bullet format with some highly successful opening choices:

• Caro-Kann Defense – over 80% win rate, showcasing solid and versatile play
• Caro-Kann: 2.Nf3 – an even stronger weapon in his arsenal with nearly 90% wins
• Nimzo-Larsen Attack – reliable with an 80% success rate
• Saragossa Opening – an uncommon but effective choice yielding almost 89% wins
• English Opening variations – notably the King's English, Four Knights, and Anglo-Indian lines

He also enjoys mixing things up with the Reti and Indian Defense variations, keeping opponents guessing.

Career Highlights & Records

• Peak Blitz Rating: 2870 (January 2022)
• Peak Rapid Rating: 2713 (December 2020)
• Peak Bullet Rating: 2774 (April 2025)
• Longest Winning Streak: 30 games, proving deadly consistency
• Win Rates: Over 53% in bullet, 52% in blitz, and strong performances across rapid and daily games
• Psychological Edge: Better win rates in early mornings and late nights, peak play around 6 AM and 2 AM with win rates soaring above 70%

Fun Facts

• When playing bullet, Yusnel’s opponents sometimes barely have time to blink; his average first capture comes surprisingly early, around move 7.
• He prefers an aggressive but calculated strategy, often leading to games lasting between 60 to 80 moves.
• His resilience is legendary — with a tilt factor of only 7, he keeps his cool better than most after losses or tough games.
• Not afraid to try exotic openings, his Saragossa Opening success rate is impressively high!