Summary
Henrik Cernov — also known online as NightOfzero_on_fire — is a FIDE Master and one of the internet's most feared bullet specialists. Quick on the clock and fond of tactical fireworks, Henrik built a reputation turning chaotic positions into wins while smiling through blunders. Preferred time control: Bullet.
Career highlights
Henrik climbed the online ladders with blistering speed and impressive streaks. Highlights include a long winning run and multiple peak months in both Bullet and Blitz play.
- Title: FIDE Master.
- Peak Bullet rating: 2911 (2025-05-09) (a testament to relentless speed and tactics).
- Peak Blitz rating: 2872 (2025-02-22).
- Longest winning streak: 20 games; strongest comeback instincts (ComebackRate ~78%).
- Notable rating momentum over 2024–2025:
Playing style & strengths
Henrik plays like someone who thinks the clock is an opponent with personal grudges. Fast, sharp and unafraid of chaos, his practical traits shine especially in short time controls.
- Style: Tactical, opportunistic, thrives in complications.
- Strengths: Strong comeback ability, good clutch play after material loss (WinRateAfterLosingPiece ~51.7%).
- Endgames & endurance: High endgame frequency (75.8%) and long average decisive games — he grinds opponents down.
- Psychology: TiltFactor ~9 — he feels emotions, then usually channels them into a spectacular finish.
Openings & repertoire
Henrik is eclectic: comfortable with obscure lines as well as mainstream defenses. He often surprises opponents by steering the game into messy positions he understands better than they do.
- Bullet favorites: Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation, Caro-Kann Defense, Scandinavian Defense.
- Blitz favorites: Amazon Attack, Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, American Attack, Caro-Kann Defense.
- Fun stat: excellent results with the Caro-Kann Defense in Bullet play (strong win rate vs common responses).
Memorable game (quick sample)
Here’s a short, watchable blitz/bullet fragment that captures Henrik’s practical style — sharp, direct, and a bit theatrical:
Replay this mini-sequence for a taste of early pressure, quick development, and the kind of endgame Henrik likes to steer toward.
Rivals & records
Henrik has faced a small circle of very frequent opponents; these matchups have shaped parts of his style and preparation.
- Most-played opponents: Havard Haug (76 games), Caseoh99 (51), blutigespferd (49).
- Representative head-to-head: vs bubeliang — 44 wins, 29 losses, 3 draws; vs caseoh99 — 34 wins, 16 losses, 1 draw.
- Plays better on Thursday and Monday (higher win rates), and is surprisingly lethal around 06:00 — Henrik’s “morning blitz” is real.
Fun facts & quirks
- Online handle: NightOfzero_on_fire — appropriate for someone who both blazes and survives zeros on the clock.
- Best time of day to face Henrik: avoid 06:00 — his win rate then is extremely high.
- Avg moves per win: ~73; Henrik loves long decisive scraps even in fast games.
- Early resignations are rare; he prefers to test opponents until the last second.
- If you want to study him: focus on practical endgames, tactical missed-mate patterns, and sharp responses to the Caro-Kann and Amazon Attack.