Meet Boris Plotnikov
Boris Plotnikov, better known online as Boris_Plotnikov, is a FIDE Master with a passion for openings that have no business being played in rated games. He is a loyal fan of the Czech Defense, a late night warrior, and one of the few players who can lose a piece and still win half the time.
His online journey started humbly in 2017 with a Blitz rating around 1300. Then came the grind, the gambits, and a whole lot of endgames. Today, Boris is a force to be reckoned with, especially if your name happens to be theguydownstairs.
Rise Through the Ranks
Every legend starts somewhere. For Boris, 2017 was a year of learning, mostly the hard way. By the end of 2019 he had crossed 1900 in Blitz, and the online chess boom of 2020 gave him the perfect excuse to play hundreds of games in a single month.
The real fireworks came between 2024 and 2026. Boris transformed into a 2800+ Blitz juggernaut, peaking at 2893 (2026-04-13). It was a climb that would make even the most ambitious engines blush.
He also has a soft spot for Rapid chess, where he has reached a peak of 2481. It seems that giving him more time only makes him more dangerous.
A Repertoire of Beautiful Chaos
If a main line exists somewhere, Boris has probably avoided it. His most trusted weapon is the Czech Defense, which he has played hundreds of times in Blitz alone. As White, he has a soft spot for the Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit and a variation of the Colle that sounds like a dinosaur from a bad sci-fi movie. He also enjoys the occasional Amar Gambit, because why develop pieces when you can play a knight to the rim?
This unorthodox approach works. Boris wins about 82% of games in which he falls behind, and his endgame frequency is over 75%. He rarely resigns early, averages nearly 75 moves per game, and somehow keeps winning after losing material half the time.
Rivalries and Revenge
Every hero needs a nemesis. For Boris, that nemesis is theguydownstairs, who leads their head to head series 25 wins to 1. That one victory must have felt like winning the lottery. Another score to settle is with ilovelosers, who somehow has 20 wins against Boris despite the username suggesting otherwise.
There is also prostoboris, a name so similar that we suspect a friendly sparring partner or a clone. Boris has the upper hand there with 16 wins to 6, which suggests he knows exactly how to beat someone who plays like him.
The Numbers That Define Him
Boris once won 23 games in a row. He also once lost 24 games in a row. He is a player of extremes, but you have to admire the commitment.
- Most common checking piece: the Queen, with over 5,000 checks logged.
- Best time to play: 1 AM, because normal people are asleep and cannot stop him.
- Favorite battleground: long endgames, where he spends about 75% of his time.
- Title: FIDE Master, earned through years of playing moves that confuse everyone, including himself.
In short, Boris Plotnikov is a beautifully chaotic chess player who turned the Czech Defense into a lifestyle. If you face him, bring coffee, patience, and maybe a friend to help you spot the trap. Especially if it is 1 AM.