Aleksei Garanin - FIDE Master and Blitz Aficionado
Aleksei Garanin, known in the chessworld as garanin, proudly carries the title of FIDE Master. With a flair for lightning-fast decision making, Aleksei has dazzled opponents primarily in blitz chess, achieving a peak blitz rating of 2288 in July 2018. While bullet might not be his favorite battlefield (peaking at a modest 919), his rapid rating soars to an impressive 2408, showing he's no stranger to strategic depth.
Whether it’s early mornings or late evenings, Aleksei plays all hours, boasting some of his best winning streaks around 4 pm. His games are longer than your typical speed chess battles, averaging nearly 76 moves per win—meaning he enjoys a good fight and a fascinating endgame. In fact, he engages in endgames over 76% of the time, proving his stamina and love of the long haul on the 64 squares.
A tactical comeback king, Aleksei has an impressive 91.4% comeback rate after facing setbacks, and he wins more than half his games even after losing a piece—talk about resilience!
His record shows a curious quirk: Aleksei tends to resign about 7% of the time early in games—perhaps a nod to his discerning self-awareness (or maybe he just hates lost causes). Despite that, his winning record remains decent, especially when he’s the underdog, winning over 82% of matches against lower-rated foes.
Opponents beware: garanin’s favored opening remains enigmatic, humorously dubbed "Top Secret", where he’s played over 200 blitz games with just over 53% win rate. Opponents might as well call it the “Garanin Gambit” given its mysterious nature.
Memorable Recent Victory
On August 16, 2020, Aleksei showcased his tactical prowess with black pieces in a Sicilian Defense Najdorf variation, securing a win by resignation against a formidable 1981-rated player after a 64-move battle. The match was a rollercoaster of seesaw attacks, culminating in a dominating endgame that left his opponent no choice but to concede.
In a Nutshell
- Title: FIDE Master
- Peak Blitz Rating: 2288
- Peak Rapid Rating: 2408
- Blitz Win Rate: 53.11%
- Longest Winning Streak: 9 games
- Known for: Tactical resilience, love of endgames, and his mysterious "Top Secret" opening
Simply put, Aleksei Garanin is a player who thrives on challenge, enjoys the drama of the board, and continues to keep his rivals guessing with every secret move. Bold, resilient, and sometimes whimsical, Aleksei proves chess is as much about psychology as it is about pawns and queens.