Overview
Valery Kazantsev (username Kazancev_Valerij_M) is a FIDE Master and a prolific online competitor who prefers rapid play. Valery mixes patient, long strategic fights with sudden tactical finishes. He is comfortable in classic setups and exotic gambits alike, and is known for turning small advantages into full points.
Peak performances include a blitz high of 2574 (2022-08-09) and a rapid peak of 2081 (2024-03-08).
Playing Style & Strengths
Valery is an endgame aficionado, often turning long games into wins. Key traits:
- Average decisive game length about 72 moves, so bring a coffee.
- Endgame frequency nearly 80 percent, which explains the careful maneuvers and precise technique.
- Great tactical recovery skills, with a strong comeback rate and a high win rate after losing a piece.
- Psychological edge: best time of day to play is late night, around 23:00.
Openings & Favorite Weapons
Valery favors the quiet and flexible English systems as White and a mix of sharp Sicilian and modern setups as Black. Signature choices include:
- English Opening family, especially the Anglo-Indian and Symmetrical lines — see English Opening.
- Sicilian Defense, Najdorf and Closed lines when playing for dynamic counterplay.
- Amar Gambit and aggressive sidelines in bullet — Valery often surprises opponents with offbeat aggression, for example Amar Gambit.
- Strong results with the French and Australian defenses in bullet when fighting on the black side.
Career Highlights
- Long winning run of 33 games, demonstrating the ability to sustain form over long sessions.
- Very strong Rapid performance overall, which aligns with the stated preferred time control.
- Consistent top-tier blitz results across multiple years. See a quick rating trend snapshot: .
- Frequent opponent list includes heavy rivalries such as Игорь Немцев and others from the community.
Notable Stats & Fun Facts
- White win rate is high, reflecting strong opening preparation and conversion skills.
- Average moves per win: ~72 — prepare for marathon battles.
- Valery is a comeback specialist with a comeback rate above 75 percent.
- Favorite hours to play are late night and very early morning, where win rates spike.
Sample Game & Study
Want a quick example game or a short puzzle from Valery? Try this recent highlight versus a top rival:
- Featured game: Great Win
- Replay a short illustrative sequence:
For Fans & Analysts
If you study Valery's play, focus on deep endgame technique, flexible English Opening setups, and surprise tactical shots from seemingly quiet positions. He rewards patience and punishes sloppy moves.
More resources and opponent records are embedded above. Enjoy the games and expect a few laughs from his flash-of-genius moments and cheeky gambit choices.