Joro Iliev (aka jeliax)
Joro Iliev is a rapidly improving chess player known under the moniker jeliax. With a peak bullet rating of 1568 achieved way back in 2013, Joro has spent over a decade honing his quick-thinking skills, trading blunders and brilliancies alike in the fast-paced world of blitz and bullet chess.
Though his blitz and rapid ratings have recently climbed steadily—breaking the 1,000 barrier in rapid by early 2025—Joro's style is a fascinating mix of resilience and tactical cunning. His games often feature deep endgames (he enters the endgame phase nearly 63% of the time!) and surprisingly lengthy battles, averaging around 58 moves to victory, yet even longer in defeat.
He has a penchant for dramatic comebacks, boasting an impressive 80.5% comeback rate after falling behind—a true example of never giving up on the board. On the flip side, Joro occasionally succumbs to the tilt monster (with a tilt factor of 14), but who doesn't when facing the travails of online chess?
Playing Style & Stats
- Win rates: 48.85% in rapid, 46.53% in blitz, and 47.18% in bullet games.
- White pieces win rate: 47.8%, black pieces: 46.1%, showing balanced performance regardless of color.
- Average moves per game: Wins ~58 moves; losses ~65 moves.
- Early resignations: Low at about 1.8%, proving Joro battles on even in tough spots.
Time & Psychological Insights
Curiously enough, Joro’s best time to play is bright and early at 3:00 AM—the witching hour for most humans, but prime tactical time for him. He enjoys a slight edge playing on Fridays and evenings around 8-9 PM, proving that either caffeine or sheer stubbornness helps push those pawns forward.
Memorable Games
One of Joro’s most recent victories came against koresilo in a rapid encounter using the Scotch Game opening, where he skillfully converted positions to win by resignation after a tense 41-move fight. Not all battles go his way though, as seen in a recent loss to DinoKiet_2015 in a grueling Scandinavian Defense duel. Despite setbacks, Joro bounces back with the heart of a fighter!
Fun Facts
- Longest winning streak: 14 games. Longest losing streak: also 14. Talk about chess karma!
- Joro’s favorite opening? Well, that's a 'Top Secret' – perhaps even the Queen’s Gambit wishes it knew.
- Played over 3,000 rapid games and nearly 9,000 blitz games. That’s a lot of checkmates, stalemates, and bragging rights.
Whether you catch him at 3 AM plotting a comeback or grinding out moves in a feisty bullet game, Joro Iliev’s chess journey shows dedication, grit, and a touch of humor in facing the 64 squares of destiny.
