Jan Rubeš: The Blitz Warrior Known as HonzaRubes95
Career Arc
Jan Rubeš, a FIDE International Master competing online as HonzaRubes95, has built a devoted following among blitz fans. He arrived on the scene in late 2017 as a 1500-rated player and immediately made an impression by playing more than 300 games in his first month, surging past 2200. His appetite for volume never faded, and neither did his ambition.
By 2019 he had crossed the 2500 mark in blitz, and after a short break he returned with renewed fire in 2023. The following years brought a steady climb, highlighted by a peak blitz rating of 2831 (2026-06-05). His trajectory from promising talent to elite online blitz force is best seen in the rating chart below.
Playing Style and Opening Repertoire
Rubeš is not afraid to make the game messy. In recent years he has favored 1.d4 and 1.Nf3, with frequent trips into the Nimzo-Larsen Attack. When opponents try to play safely, he is just as comfortable steering them into the Caro-Kann Defense or the Sicilian Defense, where his rapid results have been especially impressive.
His statistics reveal a player who loves to create threats. He averages nearly three checks per game and delivers the first check in a majority of his games, winning about 60 percent of those encounters. The rook is his favorite checking piece, but he also happily uses the queen and knight to harass opposing kings. Interestingly, his endgame frequency is extremely high, suggesting that he does not panic when the queens come off and the game goes the distance.
Rivalries and Fighting Spirit
Rubeš has crossed swords with a wide cast of online competitors. His most frequent rival is Gustav Brejnik, who has faced him 38 times in a fiercely balanced series, with Rubeš holding a narrow 20 to 18 lead. A tougher challenge has been thatsallshewrote, who leads their head-to-head series 12 wins to 6, with 3 draws, proving that even a player of Rubeš's caliber has a nemesis.
What stands out most is his resilience. He has won 14 games in a row at his best, and his comeback rate sits near 87 percent. Even after losing a piece, he still manages to win more than half of his games. This stubbornness, combined with his willingness to keep fighting in rook endgames and complex middlegames, makes him a nightmare opponent in blitz. His stats even suggest he plays his best chess at 5 in the morning, a true sign of a blitz lifer.