About Maxim Matlakov
Maxim Matlakov is a Russian chess Grandmaster known for his sharp tactics and solid opening preparation. He has dazzled opponents with his skillful use of the King's Indian Attack and the Reti Opening: King's Indian Attack, boasting an impressive win rate above 85% in blitz games with this opening. His passion leans toward faster time controls, especially Rapid and Blitz, where his creativity truly shines.
Playing Style & Strengths
Matlakov is a well-rounded player with a mix of strategic depth and tactical sharpness. He's known for his patience in the endgame, with nearly 90% endgame frequency, and shows remarkable resilience with a comeback rate of over 90%. When he loses a piece, he still manages to win more than half the time, reflecting his fighting spirit.
- High percentage of victories playing White: 61%
- Strong in endgame technique
- Uses openings like King's Indian Attack and Reti quite effectively
- Loves dynamic and tactical gameplay, resulting in many thrilling games
Career Highlights & Stats
Maxim has reached peak blitz rating over 3060, bullet rating over 3040, and rapid rating nearing 2790 — clearly a force in all fast formats! He's well-known in the online chess scene and has a large number of games under different time controls, consistently demonstrating both speed and precision.
- Longest winning streak: 11 games
- Most frequent opponent: Daniel Naroditsky (winning around 23.5% against him)
- Prefers to play chess in the afternoon and evening, with best win rates recorded between 12:00 and 15:00 hours
- Frequent openings include King's Indian Attack, Reti: King's Indian Attack, and Indian Defence variations
- Current playing preference favors Rapid chess
Fun Facts
If chess were a marathon, Maxim would be the sprinter who never stops! With blazing wins and tactical surprises popping up every game, his opponents never know what hit them.
- His bullet rating once hit over 3040 – that's chess lightning fast!
- Despite being a grandmaster, Maxim channels his competitive spirit into humorous and resilient gameplay, rarely resigning early (only 0.72% early resignation rate)
- He tends to enjoy the thrill of the game late night and early morning, with surprising win rates at 1 AM and 2 AM