Peter Ferguson - aka "chernobylguy"
Meet Peter Ferguson, a blitz chess maestro whose fingers move faster than a caffeinated squirrel! Known online as chernobylguy, Peter has been shaking up the chessboards since 2011 with a rating climb that could rival a rocket launch. From humble beginnings at 1362, he’s soared to a stunning peak blitz rating of 2282 in early 2025—leaving opponents wondering if he's secretly powered by nuclear energy.
Chess Career Highlights
- Over 11,000 blitz games played with a respectable 57.99% win rate using his secret weapon: the "Unknown Opening."
- Master of the Dutch Defense with an impressive 87.5% win rate—because sneaking around the back rank never goes out of style.
- Once managed a jaw-dropping 20-game winning streak, proving that even cats are jealous of his nine lives on the chessboard.
- Average game length? A marathon-like 61 moves to victory, showing he’s not one to rush a good thing… or a good checkmate!
Playing Style & Psychology
Peter’s style is a delightful cocktail of patience and tactical fireworks. He loves endgames (about 74% of his games involve them), playing long but precise battles that often end with his opponents quietly resigning while contemplating their life choices. He has a remarkable 81.79% comeback rate, so if you nab one of his pieces early, don’t get too comfortable. He thrives under pressure, often turning losing positions into wins like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat.
But beware! Peter has a "TiltFactor" of 9, which means losing a game might provoke enough grumbling to wake the neighbors. Luckily, his best time to play is 5 AM, probably because that’s when the rest of the world is still asleep and he can silently plot their downfall.
Memorable Moment
Just recently, at a 2025 live blitz tournament, Peter (with White pieces) executed a stunning finish in the French Defense Advance Steinitz Variation, forcing his opponent to resign after a calculated assault.
His classic aggressive buildup and clinical queen maneuver left spectators buzzing: watch the final moves here.
Fun Facts
- When playing as White, Peter wins about 59% of his games; as Black, he isn't far behind at 56%—a chess color ambidextrous.
- His favorite day to dominate? Wednesday, with a winning rate of over 61%—midweek blues? Not for him!
- He’s played more than 40 games against "ilya421" and holds a modest edge with 55% wins. Rivals beware!
Off the board, Peter is probably still figuring out how to checkmate life's problems with the same flair as he crushes his opponents. Until then, we’ll enjoy watching “chernobylguy” wreak chess havoc and turn every game into a nuclear-level blast of strategy and fun.
