Sándor Vidéki: The International Master with a Blitz Flair
Known in the chess world as FifthBox, Sándor Vidéki has proudly earned the prestigious title of International Master from FIDE, marking himself as a formidable force on the 64 squares. What sets Sándor apart isn't just his title, but his electrifying speed and tactical cunning, especially in Blitz chess.
From Humble Beginnings to Blitz Brilliance
Sándor’s blitz journey began modestly back in 2014 with a rating of 1382, which might sound like a beginner’s tale – but don’t be fooled! By 2019, he had already blasted his way past the 2100 mark, and by 2023, he cracked into the dizzying heights of a 2591 Blitz rating, making rival grandmasters sweat under time pressure.
The Master of Fast & Furious chess
With an impressive blitz record featuring 31 wins, 24 losses, and 4 draws, Sándor isn’t just quick—he’s effective. His longest winning streak of 6 games shows he can keep the momentum rolling, though even the best have their tough days (with a longest losing streak of 7 reminding us that chess is never predictable).
Rapid chess? Not so rapid… yet
When it comes to Rapid chess, Sándor’s games tend to be more like a seesaw, with 14 draws out of 15 games and a modest max rating of 1857. Perhaps he’s keeping his cards close to the vest or saving his fireworks for the Blitz arena.
Strategic & Psychological Insights
Sándor’s style is a curious mix of patience and attack:
- An eager participant in endgames, appearing in nearly 60% of his games.
- Average wins come after a marathon battle of nearly 64 moves, showing true endurance on the board.
- White and Black win rates are quite close (43% vs 40%), proving versatility.
- Remarkably resilient with a 83.87% comeback rate after facing setbacks – proving he’s a tenacious fighter, never one to throw in the towel early.
When does Sándor strike?
Chess.com’s analytics reveal his optimum battle time is around 9 PM, where he apparently turns into “Chess Vampire” mode, achieving 100% win rates in certain hours of the evening. Maybe nocturnal tactics are the secret to his success, or just the quiet focus after dinner!
Memorable Game Highlight
In a recent game on April 17, 2025, against challenger GiantOCR, Sándor executed a breathtaking checkmate in a heated blitz battle after a Queens Pawn Opening, demonstrating sharp calculation and nerves of steel. You can marvel at this in his winning game here.
Opponent and Opening quirks
Keeping opponents on their toes, Sándor’s “Top Secret” openings in Blitz have brought him a solid 52.54% win rate over nearly 60 games—a mysterious strategy that opponents dread facing. When facing old foes like jump01, he keeps a competitive edge (even if that opponent gets the better outcome sometimes).
Summary
Sándor Vidéki is a master of speed chess, a tactical wizard with the heart of a gladiator, and an all-around chess personality who can switch gears from rapid-fire blitz to thoughtful endgame scrambles. Whether he’s charming fans with unexpected comebacks or dazzling with checkmates, you can be sure that FifthBox leaves a lasting impression, one fast move at a time.