About Alexander Areshchenko
Alexander Areshchenko is a formidable Grandmaster who dances through the chessboard with impressive tactical awareness and a fierce competitive spirit. With a strong predilection for blitz chess, Alexander excels in rapid decision-making and showcases exceptional comeback skills, boasting a comeback rate of over 86%!
Career Highlights & Playing Style
Renowned for his deep endgame knowledge (appearing in nearly 87% of his games) and psychological resilience, Alexander's blitz games are a spectacle of strategic depth and speed. His peak blitz rating of 2866 reflects his elite status among the chess elite.
- Preferred time control: Blitz
- Peak Blitz Rating: 2866 (Aug 2022)
- Longest Winning Streak: 23 games
- Average Decisive Game Length: ~80 moves
- Strong preference for openings such as the Sicilian Defense (Najdorf & Moscow variations) and the English Opening.
Opening Repertoire & Performance
Alexander favors dynamic and complex openings that allow rich positional and tactical play:
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack — Win rate of 58.54%
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation — Win rate of 58.06%
- English Opening – Symmetrical Variation — Win rate of 53.23%
- Reti: 1...c5 — Win rate of 53.12%
- Neo-King's Indian Defense — Win rate of 53.33%
His games reflect a balance of aggression and strategic patience, often culminating in long, carefully fought battles averaging over 80 moves per game.
Competitive Record
Alexander boasts an impressive blitz record:
- Total Blitz Wins: 1403
- Total Blitz Losses: 918
- Total Blitz Draws: 191
- Rapid and Bullet participation is limited but includes an undefeated rapid streak in his few games.
His consistency shines brightest during afternoons around 1 PM, his best time of day for competition.
Notable Attributes & Quirky Facts
- Alexander favors resilience, evident from a low early resignation rate (under 0.5%).
- He enjoys long games, with an average of 76 moves to win and 91 moves when he loses — apparently, he’s quite stubborn!
- Despite a tough tilt factor of 9, he manages psychological ups and downs with grace.
- His preference for complicated Italian Game variations and Sicilian lines means his opponents better be ready for a tactical roller coaster.
Peek Into His Chess Journey
From a blitz rating of 1319 in early 2016 to a blistering 2733 in mid-2025, Alexander's steady climb is a testament to his dedication and love for the game. Whether it's outsmarting fellow grandmasters or relishing intense battles against long-time rivals, he plays chess with passion and precision.