Dmitry Kononenko: The Blitz Marathon Man
Dmitry Kononenko, known on the leaderboard simply as KononenkoD, is a FIDE Master who has made one thing very clear over the years: when in doubt, play another blitz game. Since first appearing in September 2018, Dmitry has racked up more than 8,400 blitz games, which is less a hobby and more a cardiovascular commitment. He climbed from humble beginnings to a peak blitz rating of 2773 (2026-09-07), a journey measured in coffee, tempos, and a truly heroic number of rematches.
The Perfectly Balanced Grinder
Dmitry's career blitz record reads 3,797 wins, 3,820 losses, and 801 draws. That is a .499 winning percentage, the statistical portrait of a man who never learned to quit but also refuses to win too easily. Even his streaks are symmetrical: his longest winning run is nine games, and his longest losing run is, you guessed it, nine games. Somewhere, a zen master is taking notes.
For variety, he occasionally wanders into other time controls. His bullet record is a sparkling 5-1, his daily chess record is a flawless 2-0, and his rapid record is a humble 1-7-2, suggesting that giving Dmitry extra time to think is actually a strategic mistake by everyone involved, including Dmitry.
Opening Report Card
With the white pieces, Dmitry's most successful weapon is the Scotch Game, a mighty 62% win rate over 146 games. Less successful is his on-again, off-again relationship with the Catalan Opening, which he plays at a fearless 29.6% clip, presumably out of loyalty, revenge, or a beautiful refusal to read the data. He also keeps returning to the Diemer-Duhm Gambit, an opening responsible for roughly two-thirds of his suffering and 157 games of his life.
As Black, the Caro-Kann Defense is his longest love affair: over 600 blitz games at a stubborn 35.8% win rate and absolutely no intention of breaking up. When Dmitry actually wants results instead of character development, he reaches for the Scandinavian Defense or the Benko Gambit, both hovering around a much healthier 52%.
Rivals and Nemeses
Every marathon runner needs training partners, and Dmitry's most frequent sparring partner is Nebojsa Djordjevic, with a staggering 44 head-to-head games ending in a razor-thin 19-21-4 scoreline. This rivalry is less a chess matchup and more a long-running sitcom with an ending that keeps getting delayed.
Then there is honestgirl, who owns a commanding 11-3-4 edge, which must sting given how honest the losses apparently are. Eric Lobron also leads the series 11-5, leaving Dmitry to observe that the cat is, in fact, both winning and losing at the same time.
Style, Habits, and the 2 A.M. Gear
- Endgames appear in nearly 88% of his games, so bring a lunch if you sit down against him.
- His average win lasts about 80 moves; his average loss about 92. He makes you work for it either way.
- He wins almost 44% of games even after dropping a piece, and his comeback rate sits above 91%. Never celebrate early against KononenkoD.
- His early resignation rate is a microscopic 0.47%, meaning he would rather lose on the board than in his heart.
- Saturday is his best day of the week, Wednesday his worst. Schedule accordingly.
- He is statistically at his most dangerous late at night, with his best play surfacing around 2 A.M. and a win rate near 60% in the 10 P.M. hour. His 8 P.M. games, at 37%, are best watched from a safe distance.
- His favorite checking piece is the rook, delivered more than 10,600 times. The rook checks, the rook protects, the rook never rests.
Summary
Dmitry Kononenko is proof that titles are earned on the board, but reputations are earned in the blitz pool. A fearless gambiteer, an incorrigible Caro-Kann loyalist, and a player who will fight you for 92 moves and then queue up for another game, KononenkoD remains one of the most persistent presences on the leaderboard. If you challenge him, respect the Scotch, fear the comeback, and whatever you do, do not let it drag past move 90.