Mikhail Ginzburg FM

Overview

Mikhail Ginzburg, known online as MikhailBLR, is a FIDE Master and a true blitz specialist. He rose through rapid online play to become a feared opponent in sub-5 minute battles. Mikhail mixes tenacity with a playful approach to the board which makes his games entertaining to watch and study.

He favors fast time controls and has logged thousands of blitz games while keeping a healthy balance of long decisive fights. For a quick timeline of his recent rating path see the chart below.

Quick facts

• Handle: MikhailBLR
• Title: FIDE Master
• Preferred time control: Blitz
• Peak blitz rating: 2430 (2025-11-10)
• Most productive hour: early morning - best time reported 01:00

Playing style

Mikhail is an enterprising tactician with a knack for comebacks. He has a very high comeback rate which means he often scrapes wins from positions others would resign. His games tend to be long for blitz - Mikhail is happy to grind an unclear endgame for 60 to 80 moves.

• White win rate advantage: plays energetically and scores well with the initiative
• Tactical resilience: high comeback rate and solid conversion after material losses
• Endgame appetite: frequently presses into long endgames instead of quick simplifications

Openings and preparation

Mikhail blends unorthodox and theoretical systems. He is well known for leaning into the Alekhine Defense as Black and scoring strongly from sharp Sicilian Najdorf positions as White. His most successful weapons include the Panov Attack against the Caro-Kann and surprise traps like the Blackburne Shilling Gambit when the moment is right.

• Favorites as Black: Alekhine Defense, Dory Defense
• Favorites as White: Sicilian Najdorf and Panov Attack lines
• Opening prep depth: moderate - practical and aimed at imbalance and complications

Memorable moments

Mikhail has several streaks and headline wins in blitz ladders. He holds a spotless record against one of his frequent opponents, amktool, with an 8-0 score in recorded games. When he finds the rhythm he can deliver long winning runs and deep technical wins.

• Impressive opponent run - amktool: 8 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws
• Longest winning streak recorded: 12 games
• Longest losing streak recorded: 12 games - proof that even grinders have bad runs

A sample blitz thriller from Mikhail's repertoire:

Head-to-head and trends

Mikhail has faced a set of recurring opponents online. He tends to perform best during late evening and early morning sessions. His win rate varies by hour but peaks in the late evening hours and at 01:00 according to his play history.

• Most played opponents: pacersimo, amktool, gasonlinebr
• Win over lower rated players: strong and consistent
• Against equals and stronger players: resilient with many comebacks

Why follow MikhailBLR

If you enjoy gritty blitz with clever tactics, uncommon defenses and the occasional cheeky gambit, Mikhail is worth a follow. He combines a FIDE Master level of technique with the spontaneity that makes online chess great. Expect long games, surprising turns, and a sense of humor when the position allows it.

Want to study his Alekhine games or Najdorf battlegrounds? Start with his Alekhine collection and work forward. Good luck trying to beat him at 01:00.