The Blitz Natural
Semen Novozhilov, known online as NovozhilovSemen, is an International Master with a clear priority: blitz. His game history is a love letter to fast clocks, quick decisions, and long battles. He is the type of player who treats a missed mate in one as a personal failure and then starts another game before the result screen finishes loading.
Style and Favorite Openings
Under the surface of a huge game count, Semen has clear taste. He is comfortable in the Pirc Defense, where his classical setup has produced an excellent win rate, and he also enjoys the activity offered by the Benko Gambit. He regularly grabs space with 1.d4 and tends to keep the tension in the center instead of simplifying early.
His style is patient for a blitz player. A large percentage of his games reach the endgame, and his average decisive games go deep into the clock. He does not resign early, does not shy away from complications, and has a habit of turning lost-looking positions back into something real. This opening summary captures some of his favorite battlegrounds:
Rivalries and a Busy Schedule
Semen has played an absurd number of games against certain names. His most frequent foe is Sergey Domogaev, with more than 460 meetings, and he has also lined up against titled and famous handles such as Hikaru Nakamura and Daniel Naroditsky. These marathon rivalries have sharpened his instincts and also made him remarkably willing to queue up for another game after a tough loss.
Numbers Behind the Name
The data tells a story of an all-in competitor. He has a 12-game winning streak in the bank, a comeback rate that surprises his opponents, and a tendency to improve when the match is rated. He is best around 10:00 in the morning and is particularly dangerous on Wednesdays.
- Longest winning streak: 12 games
- Comeback rate: 88.8 percent
- Strongest playing hour: 10:00
- Favorite clock: Blitz, without debate
At his peak, Semen climbed to a level that would make many titled players sweat. 3043 (2026-08-19) says just how high this blitz path goes. Between the comebacks, the floods, and the endless rivalries, he has become one of those players you often see in the live blitz lobby and never want to meet with a low clock.