Nicodim-Cosmin Stepanencu: FIDE Master & Chess Dynamo
Also known in the online chess world as DontMessWithTheFish, Nicodim-Cosmin Stepanencu is a formidable FIDE Master who blitzes through ranks with the speed and cunning of a true chess predator. With a peak blitz rating soaring to an impressive 2789 in early 2025, he's not just playing chess; he's redefining it in rapid-fire fashion.
Starting his 2024 journey at a modest 1745 blitz rating, Nicodim-Cosmin quickly turned the tables, surpassing 2700 elo by 2025, crushing over a thousand wins against nearly as many losses—a testament to his relentless spirit and refusal to back down. With a bullet peak rating of 2772, he’s as comfortable making lightning-fast moves as he is strategizing long-term game plans.
Known for his eclectic opening repertoire – affectionately dubbed "Top Secret" by his opponents – Nicodim-Cosmin is equally adept with subtle maneuvers like the Reti Opening's Nimzo Larsen Variation or the Modern Defense, leaving adversaries wondering, “Wait, what just happened?” His average game length hovers around 75 moves for wins, suggesting a liking for deep, tactical battles rather than quick knockouts.
One might suspect a calm fish in the deep waters of chess, but don’t be fooled! With a comeback rate approaching 80% after losing material, he battles like a champion who never throws in the towel. His “tilt factor” is a modest 9—which means he’s human enough to get rattled, but chess shark enough to snap right back.
Nicodim-Cosmin’s best time to strike is, quite surprisingly, at 1 AM, when the world sleeps but the chessboard lights up with his brilliance. Whether blitzing on weekends or outmaneuvering opponents on Wednesday afternoons, his consistent performance proves that the fish is always swimming upstream.
To witness his artistry in action, check out a recent victory where DontMessWithTheFish delivered checkmate after a tense battle with Jackchess146. With moves crafted like a master storyteller, Nicodim-Cosmin embodies the perfect mix of grace under pressure and tactical genius.
In short, Nicodim-Cosmin Stepanencu is that rare chess player who can simultaneously be a brainy strategist, a fast-paced tactician, and an entertaining figure—proving once and for all that you should never, ever mess with the fish.
What you’re doing well
- You show good initiative in bullet games, keeping pieces active and creating chances for concrete targets, especially in the recent win where you coordinated queen activity and piece play to mount pressure.
- Your openings show promising ideas. In particular, your performance with Amar Opening looks very strong, indicating a good sense for quick development and dynamic play in fast time controls.
- You stay calm under pressure and aren’t afraid to enter complex middlegames. When you do get a tactical opportunity, you seize it and push for a decisive sequence, as seen in your winning game where you converted the initiative into a clean finish.
- You’re capable of converting advantages into practical results, and you’ve shown persistence in challenging positions, including long exchanges and endgames.
Strategic themes to build on
- Keep leveraging your active pieceplay in the opening and middlegame. Your ability to develop quickly and pressure the opponent’s position is a strong asset in bullet chess.
- Use your strong opening choices as a springboard for sharper middlegames, but also aim to simplify when you’re clearly better to reduce the risk of time trouble and calculation errors.
- In long or semi-long games, aim to convert small advantages into clear endgame plans rather than allowing the position to become increasingly tactical and time-consuming.
Practical improvements to focus on
- Time management in bullet games: You’ve had moments where the clock became a factor. Practice a simple time-budget rule, such as allocating 1/3 of your thinking time to the first phase of the game and ensuring you have at least a few seconds on your clock for the final moves. If you’re behind on time, switch to safer, forcing lines rather than deep, multi-branch calculations.
- Pattern recognition and tactical vigilance: Regular, short tactic drills (5–10 minutes per session) can help you spot common motifs (forks, pins, skewers, back-rank ideas) quickly, which is crucial in fast games.
- Endgame technique in bullet format: Practice rook-and-pawn endings, simple bishop vs. knight endings, and king activity rules of thumb. Being able to convert a small material or positional edge into a clean win in the final phase is valuable in bullet chess.
- Opening repertoire for speed: Continue to build a compact, reliable set of lines for 1.e4 and 1.d4 (or your preferred first moves) that lead to comfortable middlegames. This reduces decision fatigue and leaves more mental space for tactics and plan execution.
- Post-game reflection routine: After each game, write down a quick 3-point recap: your plan at the start, the critical moment you identified, and one concrete improvement for the next game.
Specific, actionable notes from your recent games
- In the winning game, your early development and castling were solid; keep aiming to maintain the initiative and look for opportunities to improve piece harmony (for example, using a timely bishop maneuver like the Ba3 idea when it fits your plan) to maximize pressure on the opponent.
- In the loss, the middlegame transition from the French Defense Advance Variation involved a sharp tactical sequence. Work on recognizing when to simplify and when to push, and be mindful of back-rank or exposed-king risks in sharp lines. Consider identifying a few safe, plan-based continuations you’re comfortable with in that variation.
- In the draw, the game featured extensive exchanges and a long simplification. Focus on identifying when you should keep tension versus when a calm simplification is preferable. Aim to keep your opponent in a position where you control the plan and square activity instead of allowing them to seize the initiative through active piece play.
Practice plan for the next 2 weeks
- Daily tactic practice: 15–20 minutes focusing on common bullet motifs (forks, pins, discovered checks, back-rank ideas).
- Endgame drills: 2 short sessions per week on rook endings and king activity to improve conversion of small advantages.
- Opening refinement: Choose 1–2 bullet-friendly openings you already use (e.g., Amar Opening ideas) and work on 2 solid, straightforward reply sequences for each to reduce decision fatigue.
- Post-game quick review: After each bullet game, note the plan, a key moment, and one improvement. If you’re short on time, do the review in 2 minutes and focus on one takeaway per game.
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Recent Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| saumya402 | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| springking0 | 1W / 1L / 0D | View |
| ypografos | 1W / 0L / 0D | View |
| Ramtin Kakavand | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| josephchess97 | 2W / 1L / 0D | View |
| PracticeMakesOK | 5W / 6L / 0D | View |
| kloyn52 | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| TheUnderDog001 | 4W / 1L / 0D | View |
| Lasse Østebø Løvik | 1W / 0L / 0D | View |
| lucuix21 | 1W / 0L / 0D | View |
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matei-Valeriu Mogirzan | 12W / 11L / 0D | View Games |
| Armin Mušović | 10W / 8L / 0D | View Games |
| Aman Hambleton | 2W / 14L / 1D | View Games |
| javicio | 8W / 9L / 0D | View Games |
| volvo333 | 11W / 4L / 1D | View Games |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2797 | 2733 | 2296 | |
| 2024 | 2579 | 2636 | 1600 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 500W / 396L / 67D | 458W / 451L / 60D | 81.4 |
| 2024 | 633W / 481L / 56D | 563W / 547L / 74D | 78.9 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 234 | 135 | 93 | 6 | 57.7% |
| Barnes Defense | 141 | 74 | 59 | 8 | 52.5% |
| Sicilian Defense | 117 | 50 | 58 | 9 | 42.7% |
| Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation | 116 | 63 | 43 | 10 | 54.3% |
| Modern | 113 | 62 | 47 | 4 | 54.9% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 90 | 47 | 42 | 1 | 52.2% |
| Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack | 89 | 36 | 41 | 12 | 40.5% |
| Australian Defense | 78 | 35 | 39 | 4 | 44.9% |
| Amar Gambit | 69 | 39 | 28 | 2 | 56.5% |
| English Opening: Agincourt Defense | 67 | 29 | 37 | 1 | 43.3% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 115 | 58 | 51 | 6 | 50.4% |
| Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation | 76 | 33 | 39 | 4 | 43.4% |
| Amar Gambit | 66 | 30 | 30 | 6 | 45.5% |
| Unknown Opening* | 66 | 54 | 11 | 1 | 81.8% |
| Modern | 66 | 40 | 21 | 5 | 60.6% |
| Amar Opening | 60 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 95.0% |
| Australian Defense | 54 | 24 | 29 | 1 | 44.4% |
| Barnes Defense | 52 | 20 | 31 | 1 | 38.5% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 43 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 65.1% |
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation | 29 | 12 | 13 | 4 | 41.4% |
| Daily Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Rapid Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| King's Indian Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 34 | 0 |
| Losing | 9 | 2 |