Profile
Mikhail Panin is a titled chess player who has carved out a reputation as a fierce online competitor, especially in fast time controls. A FIDE Candidate Master, Panin combines sharp tactical vision with solid endgame technique, often leaning into dynamic openings to unsettle faster opponents. His online activity spans 2021–2025, with a clear upward arc in Blitz and Bullet performance. His peak Blitz rating reached 2733 in August 2024, and his peak Bullet rating reached 2669 in July 2024.
Panin is known for his relentless tempo and resilience: he shows a strong comeback rate after losses and a high frequency of endgame play, turning small advantages into wins even in blitzing time scrambles. He plays with a practical mindset and a sense of humor that keeps the games entertaining for himself and his opponents.
Openings and Style
His repertoire leans heavily on the Nimzo-Larsen Attack in both Blitz and Bullet, often delivering sharp pressure against conventional defenses. In Blitz, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is every bit as effective as it is in Bullet, with a particularly high win rate in certain lines. Panin also toys with Modern and various English structures, mixing aggression with precise planning to exploit the opponent's haste.
- Blitz openings:
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: 69 games, Win rate 59.42%
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation: 53 games, Win rate 41.51%
- Modern: 82 games, Win rate 41.46%
- Colle System: 37 games, Win rate 43.24%
- English Opening: Agincourt Defense: 19 games, Win rate 73.68%
- Bullet openings:
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: 41 games, Win rate 68.29%
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation: 19 games, Win rate 63.16%
- Scandinavian Defense: 10 games, Win rate 70%
- Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation: 10 games, Win rate 70%
- Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation: 10 games, Win rate 70%
- Australian Defense: 9 games, Win rate 66.67%
- King's Indian Attack: 6 games, Win rate 83.33%
These figures illustrate a player who thrives when the tempo is fast, but also knows how to steer into complex, well-prepared lines when given time to think.
Career Highlights
- FIDE Candidate Master title earned (professionally recognized)
- Peak Blitz rating: 2733 (2024-08-13)
- Peak Bullet rating: 2669 (2024-07-28)
- Longest Winning Streak: 10 games
- Longest Losing Streak: 8 games
Rivals and Reach
Panin has played a wide slate of online opponents, with several consistently faced names. Notably, he has faced frequent rivals such as elchechereche, 7practice, hitmantotez, babitoogood, and foggymorning, building a lively if competitive online chess community around his games. His records against these opponents show a blend of wins, losses, and occasional draws, reflecting a competitive but good-humored approach to online play.
Playing Pace and Psychology
Panin is a Bullet aficionado who keeps a steady head under pressure. His time management and come-from-behind abilities are notable, with a comeback rate well above typical online players. He tends to play with a calm demeanor, using quick but precise decisions that leverage endgame skill when the clock tightens. His style is a mix of practical calculation and patient readiness to seize the initiative when the opponent overextends.
Notes
Preferred time control: Bullet. This biography reflects publicly available data from 2021–2025 and highlights his Candidate Master standing, opening preferences, and notable performance trends.