Kevin Bordi – The Bullet‑First Brain Behind Blitzstream
Kevin Bordi, better known online as Blitzstream, is a National Master and one of the most influential French chess streamers of the modern era. Combining high‑level speed chess with dry humor and fearless opening choices, Kevin has turned bullet and blitz into both his laboratory and his stage.
A National Master by title and an entertainer by vocation, Blitzstream has spent more than a decade grinding online games, educating viewers, and proving that it is in fact possible to tilt on stream, recover, and still play brilliant chess five minutes later.
From Online Grinder to National Master and Streamer
Kevin’s serious online journey dates back to around 2011, when he began climbing the blitz ladder with stubborn consistency. Over the years he added bullet, rapid, and even the occasional daily game, but the heart of his career remains fast time controls and constant competition.
Alongside over‑the‑board progress that led to the National Master title, Blitzstream built a streaming brand around accessible high‑level chess. His broadcasts blend instructive breakdowns with self‑deprecating humor, making even the sharpest lines feel approachable.
Today, Kevin is recognized not just as a titled player, but as a cornerstone of the French‑speaking online chess community, regularly facing strong masters and titled opponents in front of a live audience.
Speed Chess Specialist – Bullet Above All
While Kevin is dangerous in any format, his profile screams one thing: speed chess specialist, with a clear love for bullet. His bullet career has seen him battle thousands of games, reaching elite online levels and routinely facing some of the strongest regulars on the server.
If there is a time control where his intuition, pattern recognition, and nerves really shine, it is bullet. He’s the archetype of the modern fast‑play grinder: comfortable with chaos, happy to flag you, and perfectly willing to sacrifice material if it makes the position harder to handle in 20 seconds.
For those tracking long‑term form, his progress across formats can be seen in this summary chart:
Favorite Openings and Signature Style
Kevin’s opening choices are as energetic as his time management. Across blitz and bullet, a few weapons have become part of the Blitzstream “brand.”
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Scandinavian Defense – His most iconic reply to 1.e4, played in thousands of games across all time controls.
Expect early queen activity, practical positions, and lots of chances for both sides.
Learn more: Scandinavian Defense -
Amazon Attack & Siberian setups – Unorthodox, aggressive systems that fit perfectly with faster time controls, often leading to quick kingside pressure and traps.
See also: Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack -
London System: Poisoned Pawn ideas – In blitz and bullet, Kevin doesn’t shy away from sharp twists on “solid” openings, inviting his opponents to grab poisoned material and then punishing them for it.
Related: London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation -
Scotch Game – As White he’s happy to go directly for central tension and tactical skirmishes, especially in faster games where precise calculation can decide matters quickly.
Explore: Scotch Game -
Caro‑Kann Defense – When he wants a tougher, more resilient structure, the Caro‑Kann appears, especially in rapid, where it has brought him excellent practical results.
Opening page: Caro-Kann Defense
Stylistically, Blitzstream is:
- Resilient – His comeback rate is impressive; losing a piece does not mean the game is over.
- Endgame‑friendly – He’s comfortable grinding long games, often steering into endgames where his technique and experience shine.
- Pragmatic – He is not afraid to resign early in hopeless positions to conserve energy for the next fight.
A small example of a Blitzstream‑style tactical skirmish might start with:
Streaming, Education, and Community
As a streamer, Kevin has a clear mission: make strong chess understandable and entertaining. His channel mixes live speed runs, viewer games, opening clinics, and candid commentary on his own form.
Typical Blitzstream content includes:
- Explaining practical decisions in real time during bullet and blitz games.
- Breaking down the logic of aggressive setups like the Scandinavian or the Amazon systems.
- Demonstrating how to survive tilt and bad streaks without abandoning sound chess.
Kevin often faces familiar rivals on stream, creating mini‑rivalries that fans love to follow. You might spot him matching up against usernames like Tomi Nyback or Murad İbrahimli in long speed‑chess marathons.
Mental Game, Tilt, and Best Playing Conditions
One of the most relatable aspects of Blitzstream is his openness about the psychology of online chess. He plays a huge volume of games, and that means dealing with tilt, cold streaks, and the occasional catastrophic blunder live on air.
Over time, Kevin has learned to respect his own limits:
- His performance indicators suggest that early afternoon — around 13:00 — is one of his best periods to play.
- He is candid about the dangers of endless rated grinding when tired, and often encourages viewers to take breaks or switch modes instead of spiraling.
- Despite a naturally combative style, his endgame frequency shows he is perfectly willing to out‑calculate and out‑endure opponents when the position calls for it.
In other words, Blitzstream doesn’t just stream chess; he streams the full emotional experience of being a serious online player.
Legacy and Ongoing Career
With well over ten years of nonstop online competition and coaching‑oriented streaming, Kevin Bordi has become a reference point for French‑speaking chess fans who want both improvement and entertainment.
His legacy so far includes:
- Popularizing offbeat but sound openings like the Scandinavian at a serious level.
- Bridging the gap between professional‑strength play and accessible explanation.
- Showing that a National Master can build a full‑time career by sharing the reality of online chess — the brilliance, the blunders, and the tilt.
And as his bullet and blitz games continue to pile up, the Blitzstream story is still being written — usually at one minute per side.