Meet Saba Alalidze: The Human Bullet Train
If chess were a sprint, Saba Alalidze (better known online as HEATHBATH) would be the one leaving everyone in the dust. With a peak 2750 (2026-09-01) rating of 2750 and nearly 8,000 bullet games logged, this is a player who lives on the 1+0 clock. Saba doesn't just play bullet; Saba breathes bullet. But beneath the lightning-fast clicks lies a surprisingly deep and quirky opening repertoire that would make even a grandmaster raise an eyebrow.
From a humble blitz start around 927 in late 2024, Saba rocketed upward, smashing through 2500 in both bullet and blitz within months. The
shows a volcanic climb with occasional dips, but the overall trajectory is unmistakable: this player is a force of nature.The Bullet Machine
Saba's true home is the bullet board, where speed and intuition reign supreme. The stats tell a story of pure volume: over 4,000 wins and 3,700 losses in bullet alone, with a win rate hovering around 50% at the highest levels. But don't let the raw numbers fool you. Saba is at their best when the pressure is on, boasting a comeback rate of 84.88% and a remarkable 47.27% win rate even after losing a piece. That's not just resilience; that's chaos magic.
One of the most striking numbers is the longest winning streak of 22 games and a current streak of 3. But every streak has its flip side, and Saba has also endured an 11-game losing skid, which probably felt like a week of Mondays. The tilt factor of 11 suggests that when things go wrong, they go really wrong, but the recoveries are equally dramatic.
And when does the magic happen? According to the data, Saba's best time of day is 2:00 AM, which explains a lot about late-night tactics and questionable opening choices.
An Unconventional Repertoire
While most players stick to the main lines, Saba's opening choices are delightfully offbeat. The Amazon Attack appears in over 400 bullet games with a solid 57.67% win rate, proving that sometimes the best defense is a bizarre offense. The Colle Rhamphorhynchus Variation (yes, that's a real name) also makes frequent appearances, showing a love for rare, unorthodox setups that opponents simply aren't prepared for.
On the black side, the Döry Defense and the Sicilian Defense variations are staples, while the English Opening shows up as a favorite white weapon. Saba's
reveals a mixed bag: crushing wins in the Amazon Attack but a more balanced score in the Colle variation. The English Opening: Agincourt Defense is a reliable scorer at 54.34% in bullet, making it a quiet assassin in the repertoire.The opening prep depth has grown over the years, from a median of 1 in 2024 to 4 in 2026, but the spirit of improvisation remains. Saba is just as likely to play 1.b3 as 1.e4, and the Amar Gambit (1.Nh3) has appeared hundreds of times. It's this unpredictability that keeps opponents guessing.
Rivalries for the Ages
No online chess career is complete without familiar faces across the board, and Saba has plenty. The most frequent sparring partner is Borodianka, with 79 games played. The record is tight: 27 wins for Saba, 45 for borodianka, and 7 draws, making borodianka a genuine nemesis. Another recurring foe is Vesna Bogdanovic, with 41 battles and a near-even split (18 wins, 20 losses, 3 draws). These long-running rivalries add a personal layer to the numbers, where every game feels like a rematch of a grudge match.
Interestingly, Saba struggles against physiotherapist, losing 21 of 29 encounters, but dominates meshter with a 19-10 record. Such are the quirks of online pairings: some opponents just have your number, no matter the rating.
The Numbers Behind the Madness
Let's talk about the sheer scale. Saba has played over 10,000 rated games across all time controls, with a combined win-loss record that approaches a near-perfect 50-50 split. The average decisive game lasts about 88 moves, indicating that Saba fights to the bitter end, even in bullet. Early resignations are rare (22%), and games often go deep into endgames, with an endgame frequency of 90.9%. That's a player who enjoys the full journey, not just the quick kill.
When facing lower-rated opponents, Saba's win rate jumps to 63.48%, but against higher-rated players, it drops to 29.63%. The psychological trend of a -50.09% difference between rated and casual games suggests Saba saves the best for the ranked battles. The best days to catch Saba in form? Sunday (52.17% win rate) and the early hours (2 AM is peak).
In rapid and daily, Saba is nearly invincible with a combined record of 7 wins and 2 losses, though those games are few and far between. Clearly, the slower time controls are just warm-ups for the real action.
A True Online Chess Warrior
Saba Alalidze may not be a household name in classical chess, but in the wild world of online bullet, HEATHBATH is a legend in the making. With a fearless approach to openings, an iron will in the face of adversity, and an unmatched appetite for lightning-fast games, Saba embodies the spirit of online chess: chaotic, relentless, and endlessly entertaining. Whether you're facing the Amazon Attack at 2 AM or grinding through a 90-move endgame, you know you're in for a ride when Saba is across the board.
So the next time you see HEATHBATH in the lobby, bring your best tricks and a pot of coffee. You'll need both.