Jakob Pfreundt (aka IakovUlivar)
International Master, Blitz Virtuoso, and Time Wizard
Jakob Pfreundt, known in the chess world and online by the formidable handle IakovUlivar, is an International Master recognized by FIDE. A player who doesn’t just play the game but practically bends time with his lightning-fast reflexes and uncanny intuition, Jakob is a maestro especially in blitz chess where he has carved a reputation as both fierce and fearless.
With a blistering peak blitz rating soaring above 2800 in 2025, Jakob’s games are a rollercoaster of tactical fireworks and strategic masterpieces. His playing style is characterized by a remarkable 81.5% comeback rate, proving that no material loss is enough to keep him down for long. Opponents beware: losing a piece doesn’t guarantee victory here, as Jakob’s resilience and psychological fortitude often turn the tide back in his favor.
Jakob thrives in the endgame, engaging deeply with complex positions – his average winning game lasts around 79 moves, exemplifying his patience and positional expertise. He’s equally comfortable wearing the white or black pieces, with a nearly balanced win rate on both sides of the board, but his preferred battlefield is the chaotic, blitz arena where his nerves of steel and rapid calculation shine brightest.
His extensive blitz record features over 2,600 games with almost a 50% win rate. Not just a one-trick pony, Jakob’s bullet performance also sparkles, with a peak rating above 2300. Despite such serious credentials, Jakob’s love for the game is spiced up with a humorous side – one could say he’s the kind of player who might resign early if his coffee’s not ready but will battle relentlessly otherwise.
In the battle against time, Jakob's best hours are somewhat surprising – the wee hours around 4 AM are when his brain seems to spark, bristling with tactical awareness and bold moves. Perhaps a night owl or a chess vampire, he crafts wins when most players are losing their focus.
A notable recent victory saw Jakob defeat his opponent with a mixture of sharp positional play and impeccable time management, winning on time after a gritty and well-fought match lasting over 40 moves. His losses are rare but instructive, and with a tilt factor kept admirably low, Jakob always bounces back quickly.
Trivia
- Longest winning streak: 17 games
- Preferred opening details: Classified as "Top Secret" (aka he keeps you guessing)
- Known for an extremely low early resignation rate, proving his fighting spirit
- His opponents’ worst nightmare: Always dangerous when down a piece
- A modern-day gladiator who has played over 3,000 blitz games with a smile and a fierce clock hand
Whether it’s a casual online romp or a serious tournament hustle, Jakob Pfreundt remains a player whose name spells challenge, skill, and a touch of enigma. Keep your eyes on IakovUlivar, because when he’s on the board, the game is never dull and victory is just a clever tactic away.
What You're Doing Well
Jakob, your recent games show a solid grasp of positional play and effective endgame technique, especially in complex positions requiring precise calculation. Your ability to convert advantages to victories, like the successful execution of mating nets and passed pawns, stands out.
- You effectively used piece coordination to pressure your opponent's weaknesses, particularly on the kingside and central files.
- Your opening repertoire is diverse, and you achieve respectable win rates in strategic openings like the London System and the Catalan Opening.
- The recent 6-month trend suggests consistent improvement in your overall play and rating, indicating strong ongoing learning.
Areas for Improvement
While you are performing well, there are areas where you could sharpen your play to climb even higher:
- Opening Precision: Some losses have come from mid-game positions emerging from openings like the French Defense Exchange Variation and Amazon Attack where your win rate is below 40%. Consider deeper study or refining your choice in these lines.
- Time Management in Blitz: While you handle complex positions well, maintaining consistent clock management could prevent some late-game inaccuracies. For example, pacing your moves to keep enough time during critical tactical sequences is vital.
- Handling Opponent's Pressure: In recent losses, opponents exploited small inaccuracies in the middlegame, especially in pawn structure and piece activity. Working on recognizing and neutralizing opponent counterplay faster will help.
- Drawing Tendencies: Although wins outnumber draws and losses, some drawn positions may be converted into wins with more aggressive plans or better endgame knowledge.
Recommended Focus
To continue your advancement, you might want to:
- Review the French Defense Exchange Variation and Amazon Attack in greater detail to avoid repeated pitfalls. French Defense: Exchange Variation, Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack
- Practice time management drills in blitz to improve decision speed without compromising accuracy.
- Analyze recent losses deeply for common themes and tactical motifs missed, focusing on positional imbalances and defense.
- Train endgame techniques that occur frequently, such as rook endgames and pawn breakthroughs, to improve conversion rates from advantage to win.
Encouragement
Your progress and strong record in rapid games show determination and skill. Keep leveraging your strengths, and stay mindful of your weaknesses. With focused practice, you're well positioned to push your rating even higher.
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rogelio Jr Antonio | 16W / 27L / 3D | View Games |
| solbeo | 17W / 6L / 2D | View Games |
| Farzad Bolourchifard | 6W / 7L / 8D | View Games |
| Glen De Schampheleire | 9W / 10L / 2D | View Games |
| Tiago Pereira Rodrigues | 9W / 10L / 2D | View Games |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2770 | |||
| 2024 | 2715 | |||
| 2023 | 2592 | |||
| 2022 | 2653 | |||
| 2021 | 2482 | |||
| 2020 | 2477 | |||
| 2019 | 2302 | 2425 | ||
| 2018 | 2501 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92W / 61L / 29D | 90W / 70L / 23D | 97.6 |
| 2024 | 85W / 51L / 30D | 81W / 65L / 19D | 95.1 |
| 2023 | 4W / 4L / 1D | 5W / 2L / 1D | 104.5 |
| 2022 | 28W / 8L / 7D | 16W / 15L / 10D | 89.4 |
| 2021 | 4W / 1L / 2D | 5W / 3L / 1D | 81.9 |
| 2020 | 98W / 79L / 22D | 101W / 73L / 21D | 79.6 |
| 2019 | 342W / 265L / 98D | 335W / 279L / 111D | 82.2 |
| 2018 | 33W / 21L / 2D | 25W / 18L / 5D | 71.5 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 195 | 115 | 79 | 1 | 59.0% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 150 | 74 | 58 | 18 | 49.3% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 75 | 43 | 19 | 13 | 57.3% |
| Indian Defense: Przepiorka Variation | 74 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 47.3% |
| French Defense: Exchange Variation | 67 | 23 | 28 | 16 | 34.3% |
| Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack | 61 | 23 | 30 | 8 | 37.7% |
| Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | 55.0% |
| Döry Defense | 54 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 42.6% |
| Modern | 49 | 20 | 22 | 7 | 40.8% |
| Catalan Opening | 46 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 54.4% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Closed | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Czech Defense | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Amar Gambit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Catalan Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| French Defense: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Scandinavian Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 17 | 1 |
| Losing | 10 | 0 |