Overview
Ivan Krylov is a FIDE Master and an energetic online chess competitor known for fast, tactical play. Preferring Blitz time control, Ivan built a reputation for explosive rating climbs and long, breathless endgames. This biography highlights his style, favorite lines, notable opponents, and a few entertaining quirks that make his play easy to remember.
Preferred time control: Blitz. Title: FIDE Master. Career high in Blitz: 2767 (2025-06-18).
Career Highlights
- Rapid rise in online Blitz play with a string of high-volume months and aggressive improvement. See the trend: .
- Exceptional comeback instincts, often turning lost positions into wins. Comeback rate around 88 percent, making Ivan a nightmare for opponents who count him out too early.
- Longest recorded winning streak: 13 games. Persistent and resilient under pressure, with frequent deep endgames.
- Notable peak performances also in Bullet and Rapid. Bullet peak: 2627 (2021-12-28). Rapid peak: 2406 (2021-12-31).
Playing Style
Ivan plays like someone who loves complications. He gravitates to tactical melee, enjoys piece activity, and is comfortable in unbalanced endgames. Key traits include:
- High endgame frequency - many wins and losses are decided deep into the game.
- Strong tactical awareness and willingness to press when short on time.
- Average decisive games are long, so opponents should not expect quick draws.
- Best time of day to face Ivan: strangely late night, listed as 03:00, when he often finds creative resources.
Openings and Preferences
Ivan favors ambitious and flexible systems that lead to imbalanced play. He uses a mix of mainstream and offbeat lines depending on the clock.
- Amazon Attack - Siberian Attack. A frequent choice in Blitz. Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack
- Modern setups and dynamic flank play. Modern
- Against 1.e4 he often faces or chooses Caro-Kann lines and Alapin variations of the Sicilian. Caro-Kann Defense Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
- As White he scores well with the Catalan and some Colle/Modern hybrids. Catalan Opening Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation
Sample mini game to explore the feel of his opening play:
Memorable Opponents
Ivan is no stranger to repeat matchups. He has played many opponents multiple times and maintains lively rivalries online.
- marat_denishev — a frequent sparring partner with many swing games. marat_denishev
- boris1491 — long history of tight encounters. boris1491
- gamayevoleg and chosencheese — opponents against whom Ivan has both classic wins and narrow losses. Oleg Gamayev chosencheese
- kot60 stands out as a particularly successful matchup for Ivan. Mark Kotliar
Fun Facts and Notes
- Nickname on some platforms: Lector118. If you are unsure about pronouns, using the username Lector118 is safe and friendly.
- Ivan prefers Blitz and often plays huge monthly volumes. When in form he can reach astonishing speeds while keeping accuracy high.
- He has an unusually high rate of long decisive games. Opponents should prepare for marathon battles rather than blitzed draws.
- Want to watch a rating run? Try the Blitz chart above or check specific peak moments: 2767 (2025-06-18).
- Placeholders for deeper dives: and sample game viewer above.
Ivan Krylov is a modern online FIDE Master who thrives in rapid time fights, loves messy middlegames, and refuses to let a game die quietly. If you play him, bring endurance, imagination, and a strong internet connection.