Mark Smirnov (Herzog2012): The Bullet Chess Duke
Mark Smirnov, known across the online chess world as Herzog2012, is a FIDE-titled International Master who has turned bullet chess into a personal kingdom. Fittingly, "Herzog" is German for duke, because he has spent years conquering territory one sixty-second game at a time, climbing to a peak bullet rating of 3208 (2026-09-21) with twin peaks above 3100 in blitz as well.
From Humble Beginnings to Bullet Royalty
Every great story needs an embarrassing opening chapter. In February 2019, Mark lost 40 of his first 50 bullet games and sank to a rating of 377, a number he presumably keeps locked in a drawer. Instead of rage-quitting, he simply played more. And then more. Several thousand games later, the scoreboard shows over 2,700 bullet wins, a 23-game winning streak, and a rating curve that looks like a ski jump in reverse.
Openings: Pterosaurs, Gambits and Other Crimes Against Theory
Mark's repertoire reads like a natural history museum gift shop. His signature bullet weapon is the Amar Gambit, played nearly 400 times at a win rate north of 60%, proving opponents keep forgetting that 1.Nh3 is technically legal.
He is also a devoted practitioner of the Czech Defense (a 65% bullet win rate, thank you very much), the Nimzo-Larsen Attack for when he wants to open on the flank and close on your hopes, and a Colle line with the wonderfully prehistoric name Rhamphorhynchus Variation, swooping down on the unprepared like its pterosaur namesake. The Scandinavian Defense and Philidor Defense round out a repertoire built on practical mayhem rather than memorization.
Rivalries: The Ones That Got Away (and the Ones That Did Not)
With more than 13,800 games logged, some faces repeat. His most-played opponent is Ilan Schnaider, who leads their 100-game series, a rivalry Mark insists is still developing. Then there is Weeknddiehardfan, holder of a brutal 30 wins against Mark's 14. On the brighter side, Dmitry MIschuk and watnegs have spent plenty of time on the wrong side of the clock, while Radin Yadegar sits at a perfectly balanced 20-20 split, chess's version of a coin landing on its edge.
Playing Style: The Comeback Machine
- Comeback rate: 85%. Even after dropping a piece, he still wins over half of those games, which is either elite resilience or a very expensive habit.
- Endgame frequency: roughly 81% of his games reach the endgame. The man grinds.
- Early resignation rate: 1.29%. Mark resigns about as often as a cat obeys commands.
- Tilt factor: a glacial 10. The clock melts, Mark does not.
- One-sided losses: under 2%. When he loses, you at least earn it.
Night Owl Tendencies and Other Fun Facts
- Peak performance hour: 1 AM, with a win rate near 80%. His best chess happens while most people are dreaming about chess.
- Best day of the week: Sunday, at over 60%. Consider it his weekly sermon.
- His opening identity keeps evolving: a lifelong 1.e4 loyalist, a mysterious 1.b3 phase in 2025 with over 400 games, and a full 1.Nf3 era in 2026.
- Statistically his weakest hour is 10 PM. Wait two hours and challenge him anyway, and you will regret that too.
The Bottom Line
From a 377-rated bullet beginner to a 3200-plus bullet International Master, Mark Smirnov is living proof that the distance between a rough start and a titled career is mostly stubbornness, a few pterosaurs, and a suspicious fondness for playing at 1 AM. Challenge him at your own risk, ideally at 10 PM, the only hour he is merely human.