Bogdi Cerbu - The Unyielding Grolkin of the Chessboard
Known in the chess world by the enigmatic moniker Grolkin, Bogdi Cerbu is a player whose journey is as colorful as his opening repertoire. With a rapid rating peaking at 624 in May 2025, and a blitz peak touching a near-perfect 999 back in 2019, Bogdi’s chess story is one of relentless pursuit despite occasional tumble-downs the rating ladder.
Playing Style & Strengths
Bogdi's style is a curious blend of tactical awareness and spirited comebacks — his comeback rate sits impressively at over 80%, meaning he’s the kind of player who just refuses to throw in the towel early. While his average games last around 39 moves, both wins and losses show about the same length, hinting a battle-hardened mindset that drags foes into lengthy, exhausting duels.
His White pieces are notably more successful with a 42% win rate compared to 26% with Black; apparently, Bogdi enjoys taking the initiative and setting the pace. Loyal to several openings, he exhibits a particular fondness for the Bishop’s Opening, winning a solid 75% of his rapid games played with it. The Center Game is also a weapon of choice, as shown by a recent victory where Grolkin's tactical precision forced a resignation within nine moves.
Career Highlights & Quirks
- Longest Winning Streak: 3 games — a modest streak but earned with grit.
- Longest Losing Streak: 13 games — an epic saga of trial and error, likely involving more coffee than most.
- Most Recent Victory: A swift resignation win in the Center Game against throughthelookingglass81, proving his knack for catching opponents off-guard.
- Opponent Nemeses: Surprisingly, Bogdi has a 0% win rate against some frequent rivals, perhaps giving them slightly more sleepless nights than he.
The Human Side
Behind the numbers lies a player with a tilt factor of 13 — yes, Bogdi gets frustrated sometimes, but nothing a quick break can’t remedy. His all-time best time to play? 8 PM — the hour when his brain switches on its chess superpowers and he’s known to rack up wins (a 66.67% win rate at this hour!).
Whether facing opponents above or below his rating, Bogdi plays with heart, thriving on the challenge and never shying away from the unpredictable winds of the chess battlefield.
In Summary
Bogdi Cerbu aka Grolkin is a player who embodies the true spirit of chess — perseverance, adaptation, and a sprinkle of strategic charm. He might not dominate grandmaster tournaments yet, but his passion and unexpected victories make every game a story worth watching.
Keep your eyes on Grolkin — the underdog with a bishop’s flair and a king’s will!
