Aram Hakobyan: The Blitz-Happy Grandmaster of Njal28
Who Is Aram Hakobyan?
Aram Hakobyan, known online as Njal28, is a FIDE Grandmaster who treats the clock like a speed limit sign: something to ignore. His preferred time control is Blitz, and he has spent most of his online life proving that thinking can be done at 180 moves per hour or faster.
Since late 2020 he has piled up nearly 14,000 rated games across bullet, blitz, rapid, and even a few daily games. His peak Blitz rating hit 3255 (2026-02-26), while his bullet rating climbed to 3226 (2026-02-02). He is a high-volume, high-speed, high-entertainment player.
Need for Speed
Hakobyan's Blitz graph looks like a joyful mountain range.
The trend is unmistakably upward, from the high 2800s in late 2020 toa peak around 3255 in early ̈ 2026. Bullet suits him just as well, with his rating occasionally flirting near 3230.He once won 29 games in a row, then later lost 13 straight, because even super Grandmasters need a little emotional balance. His best results arrive around17:00, when his win rate jumps past 57%, so consider that before challenging him. His favorite day for winning is Tuesday, and his least favorite happens to be Friday, which probably confirms everyone's feelings about Fridays.
Signature Repertoire
What does a Grandmaster with a busy schedule play? Quite a lot, actually. As White, he is comfortable with 1.e4, 1.d4, and even 1.b3, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack. He is a repeat customer of the Caro-Kann Defense from both sides,and he regularly reaches deeply into the Sicilian Defense when he wants sharper play.
His opening tastes also run toward the unusual. He has played the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack often enough to make it a signature,,and he has dabbled in the Amar Gambit, which is a bit like showing up to a duel with a water pistol. Still, his results with offbeat lines are often solid, especially as White, where his London System poison pawn lines win well over half the time.
tells the story of a player who is hard to prepare against, because he refuses to pick a lane.Rivalries and Tested Souls
To play this much online chess, you need opponents,,and Hakobyan has found plenty. He has faced Nihal Sarin 853 times, Daniel Naroditsky 569 times,and Amin Tabatabaei 506 times. Those are not accidents;that is a full-time rivalry schedule.
He has even tangled with Magnus Carlsen 220 times,. Against the very best, he has taken some lumps, but he has also collected dozens of wins off them, which is more than most can claim. Against Giorgi Margvelashvili he actually owns a winning record, so if you need a confidence boost, play that matchup.
Streaks, Habits, and Quirks
Despite the fast time controls, Hakobyan does not rush to resign. His endgame frequency is around 88%,and his average decisive game lasts close to 95 moves, meaning his "blitz" games are basically miniature marathons. He delivers the first check in nearly 57% of games, usually with a rook, because why be subtle? His comeback rate sits at 88.25%, so falling behind does not frighten him. It is just setup for the highlight reel.
His tilt factor is 13, which sounds unlucky, but his ability to claw back games suggests he channels that frustration productively. And if you are wondering about his Daily chess career, he peaked at 961, then apparently decided that waiting one day per move is too slow even for a man who plays bullet.
Bottom Line
Aram Hakobyan, alias Njal28, is a Grandmaster who plays online chess the way other people binge series: constantly,enthusiastically,and with occasional questionable decisions. His combination of elite speed, eclectic openings,and marathon endgames makes him one of the most entertaining high-rated players on the platform. Just do not challenge him on a Tuesday afternoon.