Maksim Chigaev GM

Profile

Maksim Chigaev is a FIDE Grandmaster and a popular chess streamer who blends competition with entertainment. He earned the Grandmaster title from FIDE and has since become a fixture in online chess circles, known for his razor-sharp tactics and fast-fire blitz sessions. While he can outthink you in a long game, his real magic often happens in the blink of an eye during Bullet, which appears to be his preferred time control.

Off the board, Maksim is a storyteller of chess ideas, sharing his experiments, errors, and epiphanies with a growing audience. He treats each game like a new chapter in a long, entertaining人生 of moves.

Playing style and career quick take

• Grandmaster title earned from FIDE; renowned for aggressive, tactical play and deep endgames.
• Endgame frequency around 84.36%, reflecting a willingness to grind for every inch of the board.
• Longest winning streak recorded: 14 games; longest losing streak: 12 games. Resilience is his middle name.
• White and Black score lines show solid results across many events, with a knack for turning pressure into wins.
• Primary stream presence, bringing live analysis, humor, and high-energy bullet battles to viewers.

Opening repertoire and performance

Maksim’s opening choices reveal a flexible and modern approach, with strong performance across several main lines in blitz and bullet:

• Blitz openings:
  • Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation — 130 games, 85W-38L-7D, win rate 65.38%
  • Caro-Kann Defense — 196 games, 127W-53L-16D, win rate 64.8%
  • East Indian Defense — 161 games, 94W-46L-21D, win rate 58.39%
  • English Opening: Agincourt Defense — 116 games, 71W-29L-16D, win rate 61.21%
  • English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense — 112 games, 59W-35L-18D, win rate 52.68%
• Bullet openings:
  • Sicilian Defense — 49 games, 32W-14L-3D, win rate 65.31%
  • Caro-Kann Defense — 32 games, 21W-8L-3D, win rate 65.62%
  • Amar Gambit — 29 games, 15W-13L-1D, win rate 51.72%
  • East Indian Defense — 11 games, 3W-3L-5D, win rate 27.27%
• Rapid openings (selected highlights):
  • East Indian Defense — 11 games, 3W-3L-5D, 27.27%
  • Sicilian Defense — 10 games, 7W-2L-1D, 70%
  • Amar Gambit — 8 games, 7W-0L-1D, 87.5%

For a quick glance at long-term opening choices, a quick chart can be consulted via [[Chart|OpeningPerformance|Blitz|2015-2025]].

Online presence and persona

Maksim is a recognized chess streamer who brings a blend of instructional commentary and entertaining banter to his audience. He treats streaming as a powerful way to share ideas, spar with fans, and showcase his creative, sometimes audacious, approach to the game. maksimchigaev

His content often features bullet sessions, annotated games, and occasional challenges with viewers. It’s not just about winning; it’s about sharing the chess journey with a friendly, curious community.