Alexandra Makarenko (Makalexa)
Woman International Master (WIM)
Meet Alexandra Makarenko, a chess virtuoso with the proud title of Woman International Master from FIDE. Alexandra, affectionately known online as Makalexa, has danced with the 64 squares in styles ranging from lightning-fast Bullet games to the thoughtful rhythms of Rapid and Blitz.
Rating and Performance
At the peak of her powers, Alexandra reached stunning ratings: a Blitz high of 2493 in December 2016, Bullet soaring to 2483 at the start of 2017, and a Rapid peak of 2083 in mid-2019. These numbers show a player who’s as comfortable planning a deep attack as she is blitzing out sharp tactical strikes.
Her Blitz games “Top Secret” opening can make opponents sweat, with over 700 games showcasing resilience and cunning, boasting a respectable win rate near 43%. In Bullet chess, she kept her cool across 130+ games showing nearly 44% victories — truly impressive given the bullet pace!
Playing Style and Personality
Alexandra’s style is a curious blend of patience and flair. She likes to see an endgame about 62% of her games — clearly a strategist who loves the battle until the very end. Her average moves per win hover around 55, proving she prefers long-term plans over quick tricks. But don’t mistake her calm for meekness: her comeback rate after losing a piece is a fiery 65.6%, meaning she often turns frowns into checkmates!
Fun fact: Alexandra’s best time to play is surprisingly early at 6:00 AM — watch out opponents, she’s likely sipping coffee and ready to deliver a morning checkmate.
Notable Records and Rivalries
She’s battled memorable rivals many times, with her nemesis "e-shaposhnikov" appearing in over 56 games — tough opponents clearly bring out the best in Makalexa. Yet her win rates against a diverse field include perfect scores against some challengers and hilarious zeroes against others — because even legends have their Kryptonite.
Winning and Losing
Alexandra once enjoyed a sweet 15-game winning streak—sometimes the pieces just obey her perfectly. On the flip side, she’s also endured a tough 15-game losing skid. But if you ever catch her looking glum in a chat, she might just be accepting a 16.33% early resignation rate — after all, why waste time when victory is elusive?
Recent Battles
Among her recent triumphs, a thrilling checkmate victory on February 13, 2022, saw Makalexa play an elegant Sicilian Defense, crushing her opponent after a bold midgame sacrifice. But even champions face setbacks; in a May 2025 match, time slipped away faster than expected leading to a narrow loss — a reminder that chess is as much about the clock as the pawns!
In Summary
Alexandra Makarenko is a fierce competitor with a tactical mind, a love for the endgame, and a streak of perseverance that makes her a formidable force on any chess board. Whether blitzing bullets or maneuvering through a thoughtful rapid game, Makalexa’s passion for chess shines through, making every match an exciting quest for victory (and occasionally, for a coffee break at dawn).