Ravindran Shanmugam (aka "fiend1")
International Master, The Bullet & Blitz Virtuoso
Ravindran Shanmugam, proud bearer of the FIDE title International Master, is a force to be reckoned with in the world of online chess. Known to his digital opponents as fiend1, he has built a reputation for blazing speed and tactical wizardry, especially in the lightning-fast arenas of bullet and blitz chess.
Starting humbly in 2014 with a bullet rating around 1346, Ravindran’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of spectacular. By 2025, he hit jaw-dropping peak ratings of 2805 in bullet and 2807 in blitz — numbers so high, they might just break the internet if ever displayed on a scoreboard! His playstyle? Let’s just say it combines calculated patience (with an average of 90+ moves per win — endurance, anyone?) and explosions of tactical brilliance, especially in endgames, where he shines 90% of the time.
Perseverance is Ravindran’s middle name. Despite racking up over 3,700 bullet games and nearly 400 blitz matches, he maintains a winning record with a gritty comeback rate over 80%. In his world, losing a piece is not the end of the world — it’s just another plot twist, as his 43% win rate after losing material proves.
What truly sets him apart is his quirky addiction to the Top Secret opening (which, ironically, is well-known but hey, everyone loves a little mystery!). Here, he boasts a win rate of almost 47% in bullet and over 50% in blitz, showing that even "secrets" can be effective when wielded by a master.
If you ever want to challenge him, be warned: Ravindran’s longest winning streak is 17 games — long enough to make you question if you accidentally queued into a chess bot. His psychological resilience is also commendable, sporting a tilt factor of just 9 (yes, he keeps his cool better than most of us during rush hour traffic). His best time to strike? A perfect 10/10 hour - 10 PM, so perhaps avoid those late-night duels unless prepared for a blitzkrieg.
Memorable Victory Highlight
In his recent online victory against “Blindov,” Ravindran executed a dazzling Scandinavian Defense. With precise moves under pressure and a nerve-wracking time scramble ending in a win on time, he demonstrated why he’s the king of bullet chess. If rapid-fire chess had a Nobel Prize, he’d have at least three.
Friendly Rivalries & Fun Facts
- Has tangled swords with heavy hitters like frankpavlon (99 games) and benek77 (72 games).
- Maintains a perfect win record against a baffling number of opponents — it’s almost like he’s collecting exclusive “chess trophies.”
- Prefers to play with White slightly more successfully (49.45% win rate) — because, well, who doesn’t like to start first?
Whether it’s dazzling under the spotlight of bullet or calmly outmaneuvering foes in blitz, Ravindran Shanmugam is a chess maestro whose games are as entertaining as they are instructive. His opponent’s worst nightmare and fans’ best friend — and with a username like "fiend1," you’d expect nothing less.