Elena Verbova - Woman FIDE Master and Chess Dynamo
Meet Elena Verbova, proudly wearing the title of Woman FIDE Master like a badge of honor — and occasionally, a very stylish hat. Known online as chesspingvin1995 in some circles (though rarely when she’s crushing the opposition), Elena’s journey through the complex battlefield of the 64 squares has been nothing short of epic.
Elena’s playing style is a delightful cocktail of resilience and strategic depth. With the highest emphasis on endgames, clocking in at an impressive 74% frequency, she’s the kind of player who stays calm while others sweat over their pawns. Just don’t expect her to surrender early — her early resignation rate is a mere 1.83%. Like a true gladiator, Elena fights until the final move, averaging nearly 67 moves per win and even more moves per loss, demonstrating stamina worthy of a marathon.
When it comes to rankings, Elena’s blitz rating skyrocketed from a humble 1374 in 2017 to a fiery peak of 2389 by 2025 — talk about a chess phoenix rising! Bullet and rapid formats are also part of her arsenal, with rapid play boasting an impressive 82% win rate over 39 games using her not-so-secret openings. And speaking of secrets, her “Top Secret” opening repertoire has served her well with consistent win rates ranging between 52% and 82% across all time controls.
Psychological pressure? Tilt? Elena’s tilt factor is just 9, translating to steel nerves even when a few pawns go missing. In fact, her comeback rate of over 80% and a perfect 100% win rate after losing a piece suggest she could teach Houdini a thing or two about escape artistry.
Online, Elena’s opponents come from all walks of chess life — some falling to her rapid-fire tactics, others barely escaping her blitz storm. Amongst her fiercest rivals are “nicki2013” and “superdennis6,” but Elena’s rate against these challengers shows that persistence and preparation pay off.
Outside of the chessboard, one can only imagine her plotting the next brilliant combination while boarding a penguin on a chilly ice-floe, considering her playful username. But beware! Underneath that frosty moniker lies a warm heart and an unforgiving queen.
Elena Verbova: where calculated strategy meets relentless passion. If chess were an Olympic sport, she’d be chasing gold — or at least a really great trophy to put next to her penguin figurine.