Meet Henry Soto Hernandez
Henry Soto Hernandez, known on the board as HSH1987, is a FIDE International Master who treats online chess like a full time sport. With a blitz peak of 2998 (2026-06-28), he has spent years living dangerously in the 2700 to 2900 zone, and even brushed against 3000 on a glorious June morning in 2026. He is a volume player in the truest sense, racking up more games in a month than most club players manage in a decade.
The Bullet Heart
While Henry is dangerous in any time control, his true habitat is bullet. His bullet rating has climbed as high as 2857, and he plays with a mix of sharp opening instincts and sheer survival reflexes. Watching his bullet games is like watching a jazz drummer on caffeine, fast, loud, and somehow always landing on the right beat.
He is especially at home in the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, a setup he has used hundreds of times to drag opponents into uncomfortable positions. When playing Black, he frequently turns to the Caro-Kann Defense, grinding out solid structures before striking in the middlegame.
A Grinder With a Comeback Gene
Numbers tell a fascinating story. Henry has a remarkable comeback rate of nearly 89 percent, meaning he rarely stays down for long. Even after losing a piece, he still manages to win almost half of those games. His endgame frequency is extremely high, and games often stretch past 80 moves, which suggests he enjoys making opponents prove every last point.
His longest winning streak and longest losing streak are both exactly 13 games. That is the mark of a player who takes risks, celebrates hard, and never stops pressing.
Rivalries and the Marathon Mentality
Henry has built genuine online rivalries. His most frequent dance partner is FarewellToKings2112, against whom he has played 69 battles, winning 36 and losing 25. Other frequent foes include alexrustemov, miyoloko, and practicemakesok, all of whom have faced the HSH1987 machine dozens upon dozens of times.
He is also a night owl who plays his best chess around 7 in the morning, which may mean he never sleeps or simply that the coffee kicks in early.
Ratings Journey
Henry's blitz trajectory has been a slow and steady climb with plenty of earthquakes along the way. From modest beginnings in late 2022, he surged past 2800 and kept climbing, with occasional dips that only made the next peak more dramatic.
Legacy
Henry Soto Hernandez is not just an International Master, he is an online chess phenomenon. He plays with joy, fights until the last pawn, and makes even a casual bullet game feel like a title match. Whether you meet him across the board in the Nimzo-Larsen Attack or face him in a marathon endgame, one thing is certain: he will make you earn the full point.