Paul Velten - Grandmaster and Blitz Bullet Beast
Meet Paul Velten, better known in the chess world (and chat rooms) as EldaX64, a formidable Grandmaster certified by FIDE. Paul doesn’t just play chess; he practically rewrites the rules of blitz and bullet chess with a style that’s as dynamic as it is precise.
Rating Wizardry
Paul's peak ratings are nothing short of spectacular: a smashing 2716 in Blitz (achieved in August 2017) and an equally impressive 2705 in Bullet (December 2017). These numbers tell a story of a player who can think lightning-fast and strike with precision, often leaving opponents wondering if they just blinked at the wrong moment.
Playing Style: A Rollercoaster of Brilliance
- Endgame Specialist: With an endgame frequency of 84.1%, Paul clearly prefers to tease out the complexities of the late game, converting small advantages with surgical skill.
- Stamina and Moves: His average winning game extends over 80 moves, proving he doesn’t shy from long mental marathons, while losses average an even longer battle of 90 moves. Clearly, giving up early is not in his playbook.
- Psychological Fortitude: A tilt factor of just 8 shows Paul keeps his cool under pressure, and his jaw-dropping 87.71% comeback rate is a testament to fighting spirit – when life gives him pawns, he makes queens.
Blitz and Bullet Mastery
Over many rapid-fire games, Paul boasts a win rate above 62% in Blitz and an impressive nearly 73% in Bullet with his favorite opening "Top Secret" (no spoilers here!). His longest winning streak clocks in at a staggering 20 games. Losing streak? A mere 8 games at worst, showing he bounces right back.
Fierce Rivalries and Friends
Paul has played frequently against opponents like benecyrill (27 games) and maitreia (24 games), holding respectable win rates, showing both his consistency and competitive hunger. He’s also undefeated against numerous mysterious challengers, with 100% win rates against a crowd of competitors (that’s a lot of one-sided dinner invitations).
Highlights and Memorable Games
Among his recent notable triumphs, Paul’s tactical prowess shone bright in a classic Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense where he outmaneuvered his opponent with calm aggression, culminating in a victory on time. Another highlight includes a checkmate delivered with precision and panache against HoldenHc — a game that reminds everyone that patience and power go hand in hand.
Fun Fact
His best hour to dismantle opponents is surprisingly at 1 AM — a true late-night warrior battling pawns and kings while many are still dreaming. When it comes to days, Sundays are his personal chess festival with a fantastic 75% win rate!
In Summary
Paul Velten, aka EldaX64, is not just a Grandmaster – he’s a relentless strategist, a lightning tactician, and a resilient gladiator of the 64 squares. Whether it's Bullet or Blitz, this player’s blend of precision, endurance, and mental strength makes him a force to be reckoned with. Next time you face him online, better bring your A-game... and maybe a coffee.
Hi Paul, here are some personalized pointers to keep your rating climbing!
1. Opening Priorities
- French structures as Black – In several recent French-Defense losses (e.g. vs INLOVEWITHF), you fell behind after ...b6 and ...Nc4 ideas that loosened the queenside too early. Try the classical plan …c5/…Nc6/…f6 only after completing development. A quick review of the French Advance main line will help; see French Defense Advance.
- Old-Indian successes – Your win vs Sueetin shows good feel for locked pawn chains. Keep that in your repertoire and deepen the strategic themes (breaks with …f5 and …e5, piece reroutes to g5/h4).
- Track which openings score best at what hours with . Shift your practice sessions to the time blocks where you score highest.
2. Middlegame Technique
- King safety first. In the loss against INLOVEWITHF your king walked into cross-fire after 29 …Qc6. Before launching pawn storms, ask “What is my opponent’s only active plan?” If it is an attack on your king, reinforce first.
- Piece coordination. You often relocate minor pieces creatively (e.g. Nh4–f5 in your Ruy Lopez win), but sometimes leave rooks undeveloped. A good rule: by move 15 both rooks should see at least one open or half-open file.
- Pick one critical moment per game and feed it to an engine after you annotate it yourself. Compare ideas; this tightens calculation discipline.
3. Endgame Awareness
- Your conversion in the Berlin-endgame vs Sueetin was smooth until the clock scramble. Study a few model rook-and-pawn endgames (Lucena, Philidor) to finish such games more confidently.
- In rapid time controls, simplify into favorable endings rather than chasing complications when ahead on material.
4. Time Management
- Most of your blunders occur with <25 seconds left. Adopt a “30-second rule”: if your clock dips below 30 s you must choose the safest reasonable move instead of the “best” move.
- Monitor your trend with ; many players tilt on specific weekdays or after long sessions.
5. Snapshot of a Teaching Moment
Missed resource from your last loss (Black to move):
Here, instead of 27 …a5, the immediate 27 …Qxc5! activates the queen, regains the pawn, and keeps the passed b-pawn under control.
6. Goals for the Next 30 Games
- Enter every French Advance game with a clear plan: challenge the center with …c5 and decide early whether to play …f6 or …Nh6–f5.
- Reach +2 pawn rook endings and convert at ≥80 % (track with your own spreadsheet).
- Keep average time remaining >45 s by move 20; flag any game that breaks the rule and review why.
Quick Stats
Your current peak ratings: Blitz 2716 (2017-08-04), Rapid . Aim to improve each by 50 pts over the next quarter.
Good luck, Paul—keep the pieces coordinated and the clock under control!
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Anselm Wagner | 17W / 9L / 1D | |
| Tamaz Mgeladze | 16W / 8L / 0D | |
| blindcrocodile | 12W / 7L / 2D | |
| Haik Martirosyan | 6W / 11L / 1D | |
| Semen Grebeniuk | 15W / 2L / 0D | |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2638 | |||
| 2020 | 2626 | |||
| 2018 | 2626 | |||
| 2017 | 2705 | 2705 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1W / 1L / 1D | 3W / 0L / 0D | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 1W / 0L / 0D | 1W / 0L / 0D | 57.5 |
| 2018 | 3W / 10L / 3D | 7W / 6L / 1D | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 301W / 102L / 21D | 273W / 127L / 31D | 86.0 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Döry Defense | 53 | 36 | 10 | 7 | 67.9% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 31 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 67.7% |
| Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack | 26 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 57.7% |
| QGA: 4.e3 a6 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 61.5% |
| Amazon Attack | 26 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 69.2% |
| East Indian Defense | 25 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 76.0% |
| Queen's Pawn Game: Torre Attack | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 69.6% |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Svenonius Variation | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 54.5% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 58.8% |
| QGA: 3.e3 c5 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 70.6% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caro-Kann Defense | 23 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 78.3% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 69.6% |
| Döry Defense | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 76.2% |
| Australian Defense | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 79.0% |
| Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 84.2% |
| Amar Gambit | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 68.4% |
| Amazon Attack | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 68.8% |
| East Indian Defense | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 66.7% |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Bronstein-Larsen Variation | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 54.5% |
| French Defense: Burn Variation | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 81.8% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 20 | 1 |
| Losing | 8 | 0 |