Alexandr Kostiukov: A Bullet-Hearted National Master
Alexandr Kostiukov, known on the server as Kostukov_Alex, is a National Master whose true passion is unmistakable: bullet chess. Given a choice between deep calculation and lightning-fast mayhem, he chooses the clock every time. His online history is one massive, adrenaline-soaked love letter to fast time controls.
The Long, Wild Climb of a Bullet Marathoner
Kostukov_Alex first appeared in bullet queues in 2020 with a rating near 1,600. From there, he climbed in explosive monthly bursts, endured classic rating resets, and eventually reached his peak bullet mark at 2343 (2025-10-06). His journey is best shown as a chart, because words cannot fully capture that kind of drama:
.What really separates him is volume. In January 2023 alone, he played 2,716 bullet games. That is roughly ninety games a day, which means he may not sleep, or he simply does not care about sleep. Across his recorded career, his bullet scoreboard shows nearly 19,000 wins against just over 10,000 losses, with only 570 draws. Draws are rare creatures in his world, and when Kostukov_Alex sits down, somebody is going home unhappy.
Fianchettoes, Surprises and a Beloved Opening
As White, Alexandr almost never reaches for the traditional central pawns. Instead, he opens with g3 and steers play into systems like the English Opening: Drill Variation and the King's Indian Attack. He is comfortable in quiet-looking positions, but those positions often explode before move twenty.
His opening record also reveals a deep affection for the unorthodox. The Amar Gambit appears more than 10,000 times in his bullet history, and he wins with it at an impressive clip. When he has the Black pieces, he loves the chaos of the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation, where the queen goes early and both players are essentially improvising. A look at
shows a player who is genuinely dangerous no matter which side of the board he starts on.Rivals, Rematches and 165 Meetings
Massive online volume always produces familiar faces. For Kostukov_Alex, no opponent is more familiar than reiguitar. They clashed 165 times in bullet, and Alexandr came out ahead with 94 wins. Yet reiguitar kept returning, which says a lot about the entertainment value of their games.
Another frequent partner in chaos was turons3, who faced him 126 times. Kostukov_Alex enjoyed a strong winning record in that series too. These long rivalries are a reminder that bullet is not just a time control. It is a social circle, complete with familiar nicknames, grudges and endless rematches.
The Mind of a Comeback Artist
Under the rapid clicking, Kostukov_Alex plays with clear tactical intent. He lands the first check in about 60% of his games and produces roughly twice as many checks as his opponents. He is also not afraid of the later stages of the game, with about 81% of his encounters reaching an endgame. That is where many of his wins are forged.
His resilience is remarkable. His comeback rate sits at 75.3%, and he still wins almost 59% of games after losing a piece. Opponents who assume the game is over after winning material often get a painful lesson. His longest winning streak reached 23 games, while his longest losing streak was 21 games. That losing streak probably taught him everything he needed to know about fighting back.
Finally, a warning for anyone who queues up against him in the early morning. His best winning hours start around 07:00, when the coffee must be flowing and the rest of the chess world is barely awake. Catching Kostukov_Alex at that hour is like trying to stop a bullet train with a wooden rook.