Player Profile: Cyril (nihilmind)
Meet Cyril, known in the online chess world as nihilmind, a player whose journey through the 64 squares is nothing short of an epic saga filled with resilience, tactical twists, and a sprinkle of humor. Starting with humble beginnings hovering around 570 in blitz back in late 2020, Cyril's rating rollercoaster rides have been impressive, climbing steadily to peak ratings touching near 860 in rapid and over 800 in blitz during 2023 and 2024.
Playing Style
Ever the strategist, Cyril exhibits a classic balance between patience and aggression. With an average of about 55 moves per win, and a cheeky comeback rate of nearly 68%, he’s not one to throw in the towel easily—unless it’s to save the queen! His endgame frequency is just under 50%, showing that half the time, he's really in the trenches, battling it out till the final moments.
Strengths & Quirks
- Best Hours to Play: Early riser or morning coffee enthusiast? Cyril’s peak performance is around 6 AM, proving the adage that the early bird gets the checkmate.
- Comeback King: Losing a piece doesn’t mean losing hope. With nearly 44% win rate after losing a piece, Cyril knows how to turn the tables and leave opponents puzzled.
- Tilt Factor: A respectable 13% tilt factor keeps him human—sometimes the board looks like a battlefield, but Cyril bounces back like a chess ninja.
Game Highlights
One of his recent live chess triumphs involved a fiery encounter where, playing White against the Sicilian Defense French Variation, Cyril’s calculated pawn pushes and queen maneuvers led to a smooth resignation from the opponent. Check out the moves where his b7 pawn promotion was only a matter of time!
Stats Snapshot
| Time Format |
Peak Rating |
Win Rate |
Games Played |
| Blitz |
1045 |
~48% |
~2,500+ games |
| Rapid |
1078 |
~49% |
~1,300+ games |
| Bullet |
1038 |
~49% |
~1,800+ games |
| Daily |
1200 |
40% |
5 games |
While the numbers show a fierce competitor, Cyril’s true strength lies in his dogged determination and willingness to learn from every blunder (and there have been a few!). So if you find yourself matched against nihilmind, beware: there’s a persistent mind behind every move — and a good chance the game will be full of surprises.
Fun fact: Cyril’s most played opponents include chrissgl and fulviocuba, and he holds a near-comical 100% win rate against a handful of usernames — some probably just lucky charm accounts!
