Player Profile
Giorgio Belli, better known online as el_sporco, is a FIDE Master whose handle might translate to "the dirty one" but whose play is built on clean, grinding endgame technique. His online career is a monument to volume and versatility. While his preferred time control is Rapid, his true battleground has been the faster formats, where he has played thousands of Blitz and Bullet games.
In January 2025 he reached a peak Blitz rating of 2660, and by August 2026 his Bullet rating climbed to an impressive 2676, proving he can keep up with the very best speed chess players online.
Playing Style
Belli is a tenacious endgame fighter. Over 77% of his games reach the endgame, and he regularly outlasts opponents in long, balanced positions. His comeback rate sits at an extraordinary 88.16%, and he keeps a 45.47% win rate even after losing a piece. In short, he rarely panics and never goes quietly.
- Longest winning streak: 13 games
- Longest losing streak: 9 games
- Average first capture: around move 6
- Comeback rate: 88.16%
Opening Repertoire
As White, Belli is a devoted 1.e4 player with deep experience in the Sicilian Defense, the Scandinavian Defense, and the Caro-Kann Defense. His results with the Czech Defense as White are especially strong, with a 58.88% win rate in Blitz.
As Black he is comfortable in the Najdorf Variation and enjoys offbeat lines such as the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack and the Döry Defense. The Scandinavian Defense remains one of his most reliable Bullet weapons, where he scores 53.52%.
Key Rivalries
No long online career is complete without rivals. Belli has faced Carlus Mansen 19 times and dominated with 15 wins. Against Daniel Rangel the battle is much tighter, with 6 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws. His toughest test, however, is Alberto Barp, who holds a commanding 12 wins in 14 meetings.
Career Highlights
- Peak Blitz rating: 2660 (2025-01-14)
- Peak Bullet rating: 2744 (2026-09-17)
- Over 4,300 Blitz wins and more than 900 Bullet wins
- A perfect Rapid record in several opening lines, including the Najdorf Variation