Yaroslav Zherebukh GM

About Yaroslav Zherebukh

Yaroslav Zherebukh is a formidable Grandmaster, known in the chess world for his tactical flair and aggressive playing style. Fondly called "Cruel_Yaro" by some, he has demonstrated exceptional skill, especially in faster time controls like Blitz.

Playing Style & Strengths

Zherebukh’s games often showcase sharp tactical awareness and a high comeback rate, winning 63.1% of games where he was at a material disadvantage. His win rate after losing a piece is an impressive 52.6%, illustrating his fighting spirit on the board.

• Average Moves Per Win: ~52
• Typical Endgame Frequency: 44.11%
• Known for making early resignations only 42.93% of the time — sometimes the fight is worth it!
• Preferential time control: Blitz, where his rapid calculation gives him a sharp edge.

Career Highlights & Achievements

Yaroslav has reached a peak Blitz rating of 2943, a testament to his quick decision-making prowess and mastery over the clock. His Bullet rating peaked at an exhilarating 2799, and in Rapid games, he achieved a peak of 2674. His Daily (standard) peak was a respectable 2192, showing solid consistency across all formats.

• Longest winning streak: 77 games — that's some serious momentum!
• Known to be resilient with a current losing streak of 0, proving he bounces back well.
• Has competed extensively, with thousands of games played across all time controls.

Preferred Openings

His opening repertoire is equally versatile and dynamic, with particular success in:

• Scotch Game: Lolli Variation with a 66.67% win rate in Daily games.
• Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation boasting an impressive 92.31% win rate in Daily.
• Sicilian Defense – a classic battleground, with a 75% win rate in Daily.
• Additionally, he enjoys Anderssen’s Opening and Caro-Kann variations in Blitz, winning over 60% of games in those lines.

Chess Personality & Trivia

Known to be a fierce competitor online, Yaroslav thrives especially during the wee hours (his best time to play is around 2 AM!), likely catching his opponents off guard when they’re half-asleep. His psychological resilience is high, with a tilt factor of 93 showing he's no stranger to emotional intensity but keeps the focus.

Despite his aggressive style, he manages an almost equal White and Black win rate around 50% and 47% respectively, proving he can win from any color.

Not Just Another Grandmaster

While many Grandmasters limit themselves to classical formats, Yaroslav shows a love for the faster-paced formats where instinct and speed reign supreme. His blitz and bullet performances are elite-level, often featuring spectacular sacrifices and sharp play.

In short, if you want to watch a Grandmaster embrace the thrill of speed chess with calculated cruelty (in a good way), Yaroslav Zherebukh is your guy!