FM Pavel Salman: The Spy Who Plays Bullet
FIDE Master Pavel Salman, known to the online chess world as CDOEspiao, is a speed chess specialist with a mysterious streak. The username hints at espionage, and his opening choices often feel like classified operations. His preferred time control is bullet, which suits a player who likes to strike fast, vanish into complications, and leave opponents wondering what they just faced.
Between 2019 and 2026, Salman has played thousands of online games and reached a blitz peak of 2742 (2026-07-29), with a bullet peak of 2534 (2022-08-09). His blitz climb is not a straight line, but it is a fun one:
.A Repertoire Full of Unorthodox Gifts
If you meet CDOEspiao across the board, expect the unusual. His most played white opening is the Amazon Attack, an early g4 adventure that shows up in hundreds of blitz games. He also has a soft spot for the Benko Gambit as Black, the King's Indian Attack when he wants structure, and the Rhamphorhynchus Variation when the mood strikes.
- The Amazon Attack appears more than 700 times in his blitz games. It is not a quiet opening.
- His bullet results with the Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit have been excellent, including an 80 percent win rate in one stretch.
- He is also a regular customer of the Sicilian Defense and the Benko Gambit Accepted.
You can replay the start of his beloved Amazon Attack here:
.Night Owl Habits and Old Rivalries
Pavel is at his best when the clock is near midnight. His strongest hour is 1 a.m., where his win rate jumps to around 63 percent. He has a 14-game winning streak on his resume, but also a seven-game losing streak, because every spy has some bad missions.
His stats show an 89.19 percent comeback rate and a 48.4 percent win rate even after losing a piece. He does not give up easily, and his average win lasts nearly 79 moves. Long games, late nights, and stubborn defense are the CDOEspiao brand.
Online rivalries help define any player. Salman has faced El_ultimo_Pablo 18 times, with a hard fought 5-9-4 score. Against jlindner he has a narrow edge, winning seven of 15 meetings. These matches are the kind of speed chess chaos that keeps him coming back.
Whether he is playing the Amazon Attack at 1 a.m. or outlasting a familiar opponent in a long endgame, Pavel Salman remains one of the most entertaining FIDE Masters on the internet.