Overview — Владимир Захаров (Chigunochnik)
Владимир Захаров, known online as Chigunochnik, is a brisk, trap-loving chess player who prefers fast-paced games — especially Blitz. A veteran of thousands of rated games, he mixes cheeky opening traps with stubborn endgame grit and a fondness for surprising comebacks.
Highlights: peak Rapid and Blitz form have turned heads — Rapid peak: 2092 (2025-11-18); Blitz peak: 1929 (2020-01-15). Active, decisive, and always hunting for the next tactical skewer.
Playing style & habits
Short version: tactical, resilient, and occasionally dramatic.
- Preferred time control: Blitz — lightning instincts and rapid calculation are his comfort zone.
- Psychology: strong comeback ability (ComebackRate ~75%) but a modest TiltFactor — games can swing quickly.
- Endgames appear often in his play (EndgameFrequency high) — expect long, technical battles: Avg moves per win ≈ 76 moves.
- Fun quirk: high EarlyResignationRate (0.85) — when the jokes stop, resignations come quickly.
- Best time of day to face him: early mornings (06:00 is noted as his best time).
Openings — favorite weapons & stats
Vladimir delights in offbeat traps and classical lines alike. He frequently deploys the Blackburne Shilling Gambit when the moment calls for mischief, but also plays solid Sicilian and Italian structures.
- Signature trap: Blackburne_Shilling_Gambit — one of his most-played and highest win-rate lines in Blitz.
- Reliable mainstream choices: Sicilian_Defense, Italian_Game:_Two_Knights_Defense, and the Scandinavian_Defense.
- Likes to surprise: Barnes Opening, Elephant Gambit, and unusual QGA setups appear frequently in his database.
Top Blitz opening performance includes a standout win-rate with the Blackburne Shilling Gambit and a strong showing in Giuoco Piano Tarrasch lines.
Streaks, rivals & notable opponents
Vladimir's career has seen hot runs and rough patches — both are part of the fun.
- Longest winning streak: 11 games; longest losing streak: 12 games. Current losing streak: 1.
- Most-played opponent: alwinteron (10 games) — a tight overall record against familiar faces.
- Other frequent foes include maasai22, orgilito and coachtimaac.
Yearly highlights & trends
From steady growth in Rapid through 2024–2026 to peaks and recovery periods, Vladimir's year-by-year results show an active competitor who thrives on volume and variety.
- Notable recent Rapid peak: 2092 (late 2025) — a demonstration of high-level consistency in longer fast games.
- Blitz remains his playground: sustained high activity and many decisive encounters make his Blitz record particularly telling.
- Strength-adjusted win rates show balance across time controls (Rapid ≈ 50.03%, Blitz ≈ 49.86%).
Playroom — sample material & quick references
Want a quick visual of Vladimir's trajectory or to study a typical trap he enjoys? Use the widgets below.
- Rating trend (Blitz):
- Typical trap/illustration (short PGN):
- Look up a frequent rival: alwinteron
Personality & parting notes
Vladimir plays like someone who enjoys the theater of chess — traps, sharp lines, and dramatic finishes. He can grind in an endgame, out-tact an overambitious opponent, or spring a cheeky surprise in ten minutes on the clock.
If you face Chigunochnik online, expect a fast, decisive game and maybe a pun or two in the chat. Prepare for the Blackburne Shilling — and for a fight that may last well past your opening prep.