Mstislav Efimov

Mstislav Efimov (aka M_Efimov)

Mstislav Efimov is a formidable chess player who dances across the 64 squares with a repertoire as rich and varied as a grandmaster's cookbook. His journey in the blitz and bullet arenas started gaining serious steam around 2020, where his bullet rating flirted with the mid-2300s and later peaked impressively at 2460 in September 2021. Not to be outshined, his blitz prowess reached a stunning 2473 by May 2025. If that sounds like chess chess wizardry, well, it is.

Known for a strategic affection towards the Pirc Defense Main Line and a nifty command of the Sicilian French Variation, Mstislav's games are a mixture of dogged defense and subtle tactical plays. Despite grappling with the occasional losing streak (he’s experienced a humbling stretch of 10 losses in a row, but hey, who hasn’t?), his ability to bounce back is proven—his comeback rate hitting a remarkable 86.03%. Quite the resilient warrior!

His playing style can be described as patient and endgame-focused, with an average of about 77 moves per win, signalling deep strategic battles rather than quick-fire thrills. Early resignation is rare in his games (a mere 7%), suggesting he doesn’t give up even when the situation looks grim. Opponents beware: he’s got an eye for comebacks and a knack for capitalizing on their mistakes, winning over 43% of games where he’s down a piece.

Off the board, Mstislav's opening choices are eclectic, favoring variations like the Owens Defense (where he enjoys over a 54% success rate) and masterfully maneuvering through the complex Pirc Defense lines with an arsenal others might envy. He’s not just a brute-force attacker but a versatile strategist who sometimes throws in playful gambits when the mood strikes.

When asked about his best time of day to play, M_Efimov jokingly claims it’s “02:00”—perhaps when the rest of the world sleeps, and his brain runs on pure chess juice. With a tilt factor of 10, he keeps his cool better than most; though most of us might nod in sympathies over fluctuating moods during intense matches.

His most recent games show a colorful tapestry of results: a last victory by checkmating his opponent with a striking attack, and most recently, a nail-biting loss on time after a hard-fought battle in the French Defense Advance. The fact that he continues to push the boundaries in live chess games at different times and rates highlights his dedication to the game.

Whether you face him in bullet, blitz, or daily games, you can be sure you’re up against someone who masterfully blends strategy, endurance, and a pinch of unpredictability. Keep an eye on M_Efimov—or as his fans lovingly call him, the "Pirc Punisher"—because on the chessboard, this fighter never truly sleeps.

Notable Stats & Highlights

• Peak Bullet Rating: 2460 (Sep 2021) - no slouch
• Peak Blitz Rating: 2473 (May 2025) - blinding speed and precision
• Longest Winning Streak: 12 games (imagine the coffee consumption)
• Endgame Focus: 84.62% endgame frequency - patience is a virtue
• Opening Palette: Master of Pirc Defense and Sicilian French variations
• General Resilience: 86% comeback rate after adversity - the phoenix of chess

Sample of a Recent Triumph:

1. g3 d6 2. Bg2 Nf6 3. e3 g6 4. Ne2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c6 7. Nbc3 d5 8. Bb2 Bg4 9. h3 Bf5 10. g4 Be6 11. Nf4 Bd7 12. Nce2 Re8 13. Rc1 e5 14. Nd3 Qc7 15. f4 exf4 16. Ndxf4 Na6 17. c4 dxc4 18. Rxc4 Qb6 19. Bd4 c5 20. Bb2 Bb5 21. Rc2 Nb4 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Nc3 Bxf1 24. Qxf1 Nxc2 25. Ncd5 Qd6 26. Qc4 Nb4 27. Nxb4 cxb4 28. Bxb7 Rab8 29. Bd5 Re7 30. e4 Rc7 31. Qe2 Qxf4 32. Qf2 Be5 33. Qxf4 Bxf4 34. Kf2 Bxd2 35. Ke2 Rc2 36. Kd3 Rxa2 37. e5 Bc3 38. Bc4 Rd2+ 39. Ke4 Rbd8 0-1
  

And a Humbling Defeat:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Bd7 7. Be2 Nge7 8. O-O Ng6 9. b4 cxb4 10. axb4 a6 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Qd2 O-O 13. h4 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 h6 15. Qg4 a5 16. b5 Nce7 17. h5 Nh8 18. Nbd2 Bxb5 19. Rab1 Bxe2 20. Rxb6 Bxf1 21. Kxf1 Rfc8 22. Rxb7 Kf8 23. Nb3 a4 24. Nc5 a3 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Qxe6 Re8 27. Nh4 a2 28. Ng6+ Kg8 29. hxg6 a1=Q+ 30. Ke2 Ra2+ 31. Kf3 Qd1+ 32. Kg3 Qd3+ 33. Kh2 Qxg6 34. Rxe7 Qxe7 35. Rxe7 Rxe7 36. g3 Rc6 37. Kg2 Rxc3 38. Kh3 Rcc2 39. e6 Rxf2 40. Kg4 Ke7 41. Kh5 Kxe6 42. g4 Rh2+ 43. Kg6 Rhg2 44. g5 Rxg5+ 45. Kh7 h5 46. Kg8 h4 47. Kh7 h3 48. Kh8 Rg3 49. Kg8 h2 50. Kf8 h1=Q 0-1
  

So, whether Mstislav is building an impregnable fortress or launching a tactical blitzkrieg, M_Efimov represents the true spirit of chess: relentless, evolving, and endlessly fascinating.