Ryan Pierre Van Rensburg IM

Ryan Pierre Van Rensburg

AKA: Firebullet

Meet Ryan Pierre Van Rensburg, the chess virtuoso who has earned the prestigious International Master title from FIDE. Known in the online realm as Firebullet, Ryan’s chess career is a journey full of battles, brilliance, and a fair share of “where did that move come from?” moments.

Career Highlights & Playing Style

Ryan’s main arenas are blitz and bullet chess, where he combines rapid-fire tactics with cool strategic play. A lightning-fast calculator, his peak ratings reached a blazing 2648 in blitz and 2656 in bullet around late 2020, proving he's no stranger to burning the clock down to the last seconds.

When it comes to strategy, Ryan embraces long games, boasting an average of approximately 84 moves per win. Loyal to the endgames, he dives deep with an impressive 82.7% frequency, indicating his love for those nail-biting, tension-filled endgame fights. And if he loses a piece, don't count him out—his comeback rate stands at a fiery 84.1%.

Statistical Snapshot

• Total wins: Over 2,370 games won across bullet, blitz, and rapid
• Longest winning streak: 17 games (that's some serious momentum!)
• White pieces win rate: About 49%, which nicely balances out with his 43% win rate on black
• Favorite playing hours: Early birds beware, Ryan shines brightest around 2 AM (perfect excuse to blame the moon for any blunders)

Notable Opponents & Rivalries

Ryan’s chess journey has seen him face off with many fierce opponents. Among his most frequently played foes are keithonsky (136 games) and gm-ai-agent (88 games), mastering a solid set of strategies against them. He also sports a 100% win rate against some lesser-known challengers, which, if nothing else, shows Firebullet’s flair for handing out digital checkmates with style.

Recent Battles

Ryan still keeps the villagers (or opponents) on their toes with recent victories featuring classic duels in Sicilian and Old Benoni Defense lines. Whether on the attack or the defensive, his chess moves demonstrate a mix of sharp tactics and grit, often ending with his opponents running out of time or getting caught in brilliant traps.

The Personality

Off the board, Ryan might be the kind of person who'd quietly plot a knight’s tour while waiting in line for coffee. His tilt factor is low, meaning he’s more Zen master than hothead—although even Zen masters have those “Oops, did I just blunder the queen?” moments.