Alexander Zaitsev - The Maestroza of the Chessboard
Meet Alexander Zaitsev, a Grandmaster officially crowned by FIDE and unofficially knighted by the countless pawns, knights, and rooks he's outwitted across the globe. Known in the digital chess realms as maestroza, Alexander blends classical strategy with lightning-fast blitz tactics that would make even Magnus raise an eyebrow (or two).
Rating and Play Style
Since bursting onto the blitz scene in 2014 with a solid 2200+ rating, Alexander steadily climbed the ladders of speed chess mastery. His peak blitz rating soared to an impressive 2644 in October 2021—clearly, that’s not just luck but a relentless brain workout. In bullet chess, he reached a blistering peak of 2492 in 2016, proving he’s as deadly in a mental sprint as in a marathon.
While his rapid and daily ratings might not steal the spotlight, maestroza keeps his opponents guessing with a secret blend of tactical awareness and psychological fortitude. He's not just about flashy openings—his games often end with patience and precision, reflecting an endgame frequency of nearly 80%. Talk about sticking around for the grand finale!
The Chronicles of Victory and Defeat
With over 1981 blitz wins, 114 bullet victories, and a tactical win rate hovering around 58% in blitz, Alexander’s track record reads like a chess thriller novel. Notorious for his comebacks, his ability to turn games around after losing a piece is a staggering 56.92%, so never count this Grandmaster out until the last clock ticks down.
His longest winning streak? A jaw-dropping 48 games. His current form? Still on a healthy 2-game winning spree. On the flip side, even legends have their off days, and Alexander’s longest losing streak is limited to 8 straight games, showing he balances resilience with humility.
The Opening Repertoire: Top Secret
Alexander’s opponents often sense something mysterious in the air, thanks to his "Top Secret" opening strategy dominating over 3,300 blitz games — a covert weapon that nets him a cool 58.5% win rate. Among curiosities, he sports a perfect 100% record with the Bird’s Opening Dutch Variation, a rare gem for true connoisseurs.
Memorable Match Highlight
In a recent thrilling battle in May 2025 against the formidable RamVP2000, Alexander, playing white, danced through the Bird’s Opening Dutch Variation. After a tense 47 moves filled with heroic pawn pushes and daring rook maneuvers, victory was claimed as the opponent lost on time. You can immerse yourself in the drama of this game here.
Off the Board
When not calculating variations that would make mathematicians weep, Alexander enjoys the thrill of blitz battles mostly around the late afternoon and evening hours—his win rates peak from 8 PM to 9 PM, perfect for those who like brainy night owls. With a tilt factor modest enough to show some emotional poker face, but human enough to make games exciting, he’s the quintessential modern chess mix of grit and grace.
A Little Fun Fact
Despite a slight preference for resigning early when the game slips away (an early resignation rate of 60%), Alexander’s resilience shines big time in endgames, proving he’s always ready to duke it out until the very last move—because who doesn’t love a good comeback story?
Alexander Zaitsev
A grandmaster with a top-secret arsenal, a deadly tactician, and a player whose chess story is still being written, one brilliant move at a time.