Yuri Korsunsky: The Blitz-Fueled International Master
From the Tournament Hall to the Digital Arena
Yuri Korsunsky, known online as Kors67, is an International Master who has built a second career on the online blitz circuit. With a FIDE title earned away from the screen, Korsunsky brings the discipline of over the board chess to high speed internet battles. As of September 2026, he has played more than 21,000 rated online games, with blitz clearly his favorite time control.
The Blitz Machine
Blitz is where Kors67 feels most at home. His rating graph shows a player who keeps coming back for more, grind through long sessions and sparkling hot streaks. His peak blitz rating reached 2589 (2026-08-09) in August 2026, and he has also pushed his bullet rating to an impressive 2487 (2026-07-24). Few players can maintain that level of accuracy when the clock is moving fast.
Opening Repertoire
Korsunsky is a creature of habit in the opening, and his database reflects a deeply practical repertoire. With the white pieces he constantly returns to the Sicilian Defense, especially the Alapin Variation. As Black, he is equally comfortable in the Czech Defense and the hypermodern Benko Gambit, with the Pirc Defense also making frequent appearances.
Old Rivals and New Battles
Volume creates familiarity, and no one knows Kors67 better than Nita Lucian. Their 65 game series is nearly dead even, with Korsunsky holding a slim 31-29 edge. A tougher test arrives against Toomas Valgmae, who has won 44 of their 57 meetings. Still, Korsunsky's resilience is remarkable; he has posted an 18 game winning streak, a 14 game losing streak that never kept him away, and a comeback rate above 86 percent.
Night Owl Tendencies
If you want to catch Kors67 at his best, set the clock for 21:00 UTC. He also tends to win more often when he fires the first check, which he does in over 53 percent of his games. Add in a healthy appetite for long endgames and a willingness to grind out wins in 70 or more moves, and you get an IM who treats every blitz game like a miniature match.