Valery Popov GM

Valery Popov: The Grandmaster of Intrigue and Insanity

Also known by the enigmatic username NewZorro, Valery Popov is a chess Grandmaster whose gameplay is as unpredictable as a squirrel on espresso. Garnering the prestigious Grandmaster title from FIDE, Valery has proven time and again that the chessboard is their personal playground—and opponents are often left wondering if they just played against a mastermind or a chess wizard disguised as a caffeine-fueled tornado.

Ratings and Records

From humble beginnings in 2015 with a bullet rating just shy of 1400, Valery rocketed to a peak bullet rating of 2770 by 2019. The Blitz and Rapid ratings follow suit, showcasing a versatile and dynamic player who thrives under time pressure and colorful chaos. Not only has Valery won more games than a squirrel hoards nuts (453 wins in Blitz alone!), but they've also mastered the rare art of winning after losing a piece 100% of the time. How’s that for resilience?

Playing Style

With an early resignation rate less than 1%.37, Valery is anything but a quitter—unless the opponent's brilliance is undeniable, or the coffee runs out. A connoisseur of endgames (appearing in over 80% of their matches!), they engage in battles averaging around 79 moves, proving they enjoy a good, hearty chess duel more than the casual "check, mate, next" speed run.

Playing White yields a respectable 57.12% win rate, while Black isn't much of an underdog either at 53.17%. Opponents beware: switching colors doesn't seem to faze Valery much.

Streaks, Comebacks, and Opponents

Valery's longest winning streak is a staggering 58 games. Yes, you read that right. Fifty-eight! In a row! When combined with a heavenly comeback rate over 90%, NewZorro is a relentless force, never letting up—even when the chess gods deal a losing hand.

Favorite prey includes lordillidan—though with just an 11% win rate against them, even Valery has his Kryptonite. Other opponents fare less well, with win rates often soaring above 60%, and some rare perfect 100% win records against numerous challengers. No mercy in these digital duels.

Chess Hours and Mood

Peak performance hours are curiously aligned with tea time and late-night caffeine bursts, with a brilliant 90.91% win rate logged at 16:00 and rock-solid showing through the evening hours. Early morning? Not so much.

And while our Grandmaster’s tilt factor hovers at a modest 19, indicating they occasionally need a deep breath (or maybe a quick reset in the coffee machine), rated games versus casual matches see only a minor difference in win rates. Calm, cool, and calculating—Valery plays to win, whether stakes are high or just for laughs.

The Legend Continues

In the fast, frantic world of Blitz, Rapid, and Bullet chess, Valery Popov is a master tactician, a comeback artist, and quite possibly a chess-savvy caffeine enthusiast in disguise. Tracking their exploits is like following an epic chess novel: unexpected twists, relentless attacks, and moments of pure genius.