Vladyslav Larkin: The Online Speed Chess Tormentor
Vladyslav Larkin, who battles under the username Larkin-Vladislav, is an International Master with a FIDE title and an online chess resume that looks like it was built for highlight reels. He exploded onto the digital scene in late 2018 and spent the next years making Blitz, Bullet, and Rapid opponents miserable. If you ask which time control he loves most, the answer is easy: Blitz is clearly his preferred arena.
A Career Built on Speed and Staying Power
Larkin began his online climb in 2018 and quickly turned into a rating rocket. His Blitz rating surged from the mid 2300s to a peak of 2961 (2026-09-23) in 2024, while his Bullet rating touched an eye popping 2943 in 2023. A glance at his Blitz trajectory tells the story of a player who kept improving even as the competition got tougher.
His Rapid record is almost comically dominant. Across hundreds of Rapid games, he piled up 762 wins against only 21 losses, and somewhere along the way he produced a 49 game winning streak. That blend of raw tactical violence and late game patience is what makes him so hard to put away.
Repertoire: From 1.d4 to 1.e4 and Everything in Between
Larkin has never been afraid to experiment. In his early years he happily played 1.d4 and visited the London Poisoned Pawn Variation and the Colle system. Later he fell in love with 1.e4, and his results against the Caro-Kann Defense and the Sicilian Defense became genuinely terrifying.
- In Rapid play, he scored around 95% against the Caro-Kann Defense and nearly 98% against the French Defense Burn Variation.
- With Black, he posted perfect 100% scores in solid samples of the Sicilian Najdorf and Sicilian Kan lines.
- He also used the Czech Defense and Scandinavian Defense as reliable surprise weapons.
- In Bullet, he survived the weirdest opening zoo imaginable, from the Amar Gambit to the Australian Defense, and still came out ahead.
Familiar Foes and One True Nemesis
No chess biography is complete without a few familiar names. Larkin has a wonderfully lopsided history with xyxthe_64_squaresxyx, a regular opponent across 481 games. That series looks less like a rivalry and more like a weekly chess lesson: 462 wins for Larkin, 12 losses, and 7 draws. He also dominated gladevenpoet with 106 wins in 111 games and swept notflowers and qwertydude0-0 with identical 29 win, zero loss records.
Then there is Mykola Bortnyk, his true online nemesis. Across 57 meetings, Larkin managed only 9 wins while losing 45 times. Every great speed chess career needs a foil, and Bortnyk provided one in spectacular fashion.
The Grind Is Real
Larkin is not a fragile player. His games reach deep endgames with remarkable frequency, and he is willing to grind for 80 moves or more to convert a small edge. His comeback rate sits near 86%, and even after losing a piece he still wins about 66% of the time. That resilience is matched by his habit of getting the first check in more than 61% of his games, which pushes his win rate past 76%.
He is also a creature of the night. His best hours tend to be around 23:00, which means late night opponents often meet the most dangerous version of Larkin. Whether he is playing White or Black, with an opening trap or a boring endgame, he finds a way to make the position awkward for everyone else.
The Verdict
Vladyslav Larkin may not be the most famous International Master in the world, but online he is a force of nature. He is a Blitz specialist, a Bullet climber, a Rapid perfectionist, and an opponent who punishes even the smallest mistake. Next time you see Larkin-Vladislav at the virtual board, remember that early resignation is always an option.