About Martyn Kravtsiv
Martyn Kravtsiv is a formidable Ukrainian Grandmaster known for his sharp tactical awareness and strategic depth. With a sustained presence in the competitive chess scene, Martyn has demonstrated remarkable prowess, especially in blitz and bullet formats, where his quick thinking often leaves opponents scrambling. His journey reflects dedication, resilience, and a passion for the game that continues to inspire.
Playing Style
Martyn Kravtsiv's games are characterized by a high frequency of endgames, showing his strength in converting advantages with precision. He prefers to fight to the end, with an average decisive game length of about 78 moves when winning, showing his stamina and deep understanding of complex positions.
He maintains a solid psychological edge, with an impressive comeback rate of 87.74% after losing material and a tactical win rate above 57% after losing a piece. His early resignation rate is low, indicating he rarely gives up prematurely.
Preferred Time Controls
- Blitz: Martyn has excelled in this fast-paced format, peaking at an astonishing 3034 rating in December 2024. He is known for his aggressive and relentless style here, racking up over 1600 wins!
- Bullet: Another favorite of Martyn's, he reached a peak bullet rating of 2851 in May 2025, showcasing his lightning-fast calculation and intuition.
- Rapid: With a peak rating of 2650, Martyn also holds his own in this slightly slower format, demonstrating well-rounded skills across all time controls.
Opening Repertoire Highlights
Martyn's opening choices reveal a strong preference for classical and strategically rich setups that favor his combative style:
- Four Knights Game — boasts a winning rate over 64% in blitz games, reinforcing this solid but flexible choice.
- Sicilian Defense, especially the Closed and Moscow variations — where he has an outstanding win rate over 65%, showing his detailed preparation.
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo and Scotch: Mieses — favored for their balanced strategic and tactical opportunities.
- Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Offer — a surprising choice that reveals his confidence in endgame technique, yielding a strong 65% win rate.
Competitive Record & Memorable Opponents
Martyn Kravtsiv has battled many top-tier players, including multiple encounters with notable grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura, scoring several wins in high-paced games.
He has shown versatility and resilience, with significant winning streaks including a longest winning streak of 41 games — enough to make anyone else reconsider challenging him!
Fun Facts
- Martyn enjoys playing blitz at all hours but has his best win rate at 7:00 AM. Morning coffee and chess? A perfect combo!
- He has a penchant for the Scandinavian Defense in bullet, achieving an impressive 85.71% win rate in this opening — because who doesn’t like surprising their opponent right out of the gate?
- Despite his high tactical awareness, Martyn is also remarkably patient, often extending games well into the endgame phase, proving that slow and steady (with a killer tactic) wins the race.