Mark Ginsburg: The Blitz Maestro Behind Nezhmet
Mark Ginsburg, known online as Nezhmet, is a FIDE International Master with a serious appetite for fast chess. While his title proves his over-the-board pedigree, his online record tells a different story: a blitz warrior who has played thousands of rapid-fire games, outlasting opponents in nearly every time scramble. With a peak blitz rating of 2592 (2019-05-26), Ginsburg has spent years hovering near elite online territory while making life miserable for anyone sitting across the virtual board.
Style and Opening Repertoire
Nezhmet is a 1.Nf3 loyalist. With White he often slides into English-style structures and Catalan-like setups, using English Opening positions to outmaneuver opponents in the middle game. His numbers with the symmetrical Four Knights English are particularly strong, reflecting a preference for rich, strategical fights rather than early fireworks.
With Black, he is a confirmed devotee of the Sicilian Defense, especially the Scheveningen Variation, where he has piled up hundreds of games. He also loves the King's Indian Defense in its many forms, from the Orthodox to the Larsen and Kazakh variations. That willingness to play both main lines and offbeat systems makes him genuinely tough to prepare against.
A Marathon Man
Ginsburg does not shy away from long battles. His average winning games stretch past 75 moves, and his endgame frequency is off the charts. He is comfortable grinding out small edges, trading pieces into simplified endings, and outplaying opponents in the final stage of the game. His 19-game winning streak shows how dangerous he becomes when he finds a rhythm.
Perhaps more impressive is his comeback rate. Even after losing a piece, Nezhmet keeps fighting and still wins a remarkable share of those games. Opponents who expect an early resignation often discover that he is just getting started.
Known Rivalries
No online career is built alone, and Nezhmet has faced a cast of familiar foes. His most frequent opponent is michael124667, with more than a hundred games between them, a rivalry filled with dramatic swings and hard-fought draws. He has also traded blows with Jay Bonin and Stanoje Jovic in marathon series that helped shape his resilient, never-say-die approach to blitz.
Blitz Dominance
Blitz is clearly the home turf for Nezhmet. His rating trajectory shows a steady climb from the late 2000s into the mid-2500s, with occasional surges past 2592 (2019-05-26). His opening preparation and tactical alertness translate perfectly to fast time controls, where his ability to remain calm in chaotic positions sets him apart.
Bottom Line
Mark Ginsburg is not just an IM with a busy online account. As Nezhmet, he has built a reputation as a relentless, opening-savvy, endgame-hungry blitz specialist who can beat you with White, grind you down with Black, and still find a way to swipe the win after you think you are ahead. That is the kind of player everyone loves to watch and nobody loves to face.