Виталий Кушнер — aka Bulba_free
Meet Виталий Кушнер, or as the chessboard knows him, Bulba_free. A blitz enthusiast who’s been lighting up the online arenas throughout 2025 with a flair for the Scandinavian Defense and a penchant for dramatic timing—he often finds his best form around 1 AM. Apparently, sleep is overrated when you're plotting tactical masterpieces.
Rating & Style
His peak blitz rating soared to 1548 in May 2025—no small feat when you consider the 760+ wins in over 7,000 blitz battles. Rapid games follow closely, with a high of 1437, and bullet play is more of a casual dance, maxing out at 1129.
Bulba_free's playing style? Early resignations happen over half the time (55.4%—maybe a bit impatient?), but when he wins, it usually takes close to 28 moves on average. He’s got a pretty balanced white-vs-black win ratio, but prefers the King's Pawn Opening and Scandinavian lines—his secret weapons in blitz warfare.
Victories, Losses, and Opponents
With an overall sturdy win/loss record, Виталий handles opponents like a boss. His most repeated sparring partners include formidable foes like croder and ejdrzej, though some opponents see very different results—either a 100% win rate or a brutal 0%. Seems like Виталий knows how to pick his battles or maybe just has some favorites!
Notable Moments & Quirks
His best time to strike is early morning; at 1 AM he boasts a 66.67% win rate—proving he's the nocturnal knight of the board. However, chess at 4 AM is clearly not his scene, with a mere 27.27% success. Also, a tilt factor of 12 indicates he keeps cool under pressure more often than not.
Recent Games Highlights
One of his latest thrills includes a swift victory in a French Defense Tarrasch with a brilliant bishop sacrifice leading to a forced mate. Just last month, he turned the tables with precise endgame technique, proving that he’s as comfortable in slow-burn rapid battles as he is in lightning-quick blitz duels.
In a Nutshell
Виталий is not just a chess player; he's a blitz-loving strategist who blends solid theory with a sprinkle of calculated risk. Whether it’s beating the clock or outmaneuvering opponents in the French Defense, his games are a testament to persistence, skill, and a dash of sleepless passion.
Watch out for Bulba_free—he’s the dark horse of the night, the king of Scandinavian surprises, and maybe your next toughest opponent online!