Elliot Johnston (aka Cykesz)
Meet Elliot Johnston, a force to be reckoned with in the blitz and bullet chess arenas of 2025. Known online as Cykesz, Elliot strikes the board with a wild mix of tactical genius and unpredictable flair — and sometimes a dash of early resignation when the chips are down (about 23% of games, to be exact).
Rating & Performance
Elliot hit a peak blitz rating of an impressive 350 in June 2025, with a bullet rating topping out at a blazing 390 the previous month. Despite a rather rocky start with occasional losing streaks (up to 4 losses in a row), Elliot’s largest winning streak proudly stands at 7 consecutive victories — enough to make even Magnus blink.
Playing Style & Psychology
When it comes to style, Elliot prefers an aggressive approach, with an average of around 45 moves per win and slightly fewer moves in losses. The player seems equally comfortable donning white or black, with an edge of 63% win rate playing black pieces — a sneakily dark horse strategy. Notably, the best time to challenge Elliot is bright and early at 8 AM, when the win rate hits a perfect 100%. Warning: Elliot’s tilt factor is a mild 4/10, so don’t expect mercy after a lost game.
Favorite Openings
- Scandinavian Defense: Mainstay with a solid 55.56% win rate in blitz.
- Center Game: Elliot really shines here with an impressive 75% win rate and virtually no losses.
- Closed Variations of Scandinavian and Queen’s Pawn Chigorin variations also enjoy healthy success (~66%).
- Less friendly openings? The Sicilian Defense and King's Pawn Opening are suspiciously less effective, hovering around a modest 33% win rate.
Notable Battles
Elliot’s recent games tell a story of thrilling checkmates and desperate escapes. One highlight includes a hard-fought blitz victory by checkmate against HackerHarika, showcasing brilliant endgame prowess visible in a 62-move marathon of tactical fireworks. On the flip side, some opponents like maxiloh and kunal_icious remain tricky rivals yet to be conquered.
Fun Facts
- Elliot’s comeback rate after losing material is a confident 65.7% — proving never to count him out prematurely.
- The player has a knack for checkmating opponents who resign mid-game, having secured numerous wins by resignation and timeout.
- Those who challenge Elliot on a Sunday or Tuesday can expect sweatier battles, with win rates climbing above 60%.
In short: Elliot Johnston plays chess like a caffeinated grandmaster mixed with a tactical ninja — formidable, sometimes unpredictable, and always entertaining. If you get the chance, challenge Cykesz at the board... but beware, it's never just a game.
