Savas Marin Stoica NM

Biography

Savas Marin Stoica is a National Master crowned by National, and a growing voice in the chess world. Known for a sharp Rapid style, Stoica blends tenacious defense with fiery late-game resilience and a touch of humor that lightens the mood between rounds. This player’s journey from study rooms to fast-paced tournaments has been marked by steady improvement, surprising tactical shots, and a reputation for keeping opponents on their toes.

Chess Career and Style

Rapid is the preferred time control for Stoica, and the statistics tell a story of consistent growth across the fast formats. The Blitz peak reached 2461 on 2025-07-01, signaling a capacity for heavy calculation under pressure. In Rapid, a peak of 2142 was achieved in 2023, with Bullet peaking at 1789 in 2024. These numbers reflect a player who enjoys dynamic, tactical battles but also knows how to grind out advantages in wearier endgames.

Opening Repertoire and Style

Stoica’s Blitz openings showcase a versatile repertoire with particular strength in several classical systems. Notable results include:

• Nimzo-Indian Defense: 39 wins in 70 Blitz games (55.71% win rate).
• Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation: 30 wins in 54 games (55.56% win rate).
• Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack: 22 wins in 39 games (56.41% win rate).
• Australian Defense: 23 wins in 37 games (62.16% win rate).
• Endgame orientation and patience: endgames feature prominently, contributing to a long, steady fight across many events.

Across time, Stoica has shown adaptability, balancing aggressive lines with solid, position-focused play.

Notable Moments

Some highlights from the recent years include:

• Longest Winning Streak: 19 games.
• Yearly highlights show strong White and Black results, with robust performance in Blitz and a steady pace in Rapid.
• Endgame proficiency and long-form battles are a hallmark, with high endurance in decisive and draw-heavy games alike.

Additional Context

Stoica maintains an active presence across fast formats, with a strategic focus on endgames and a willingness to explore diverse openings. For a quick snapshot of progress, see the chart below and explore sample games that illustrate the style described above.

Sample progression:

Sample Game Snippet

To glimpse the strategic flavor, a tiny PGN snippet can be explored:

Preferred Time Control

Rapid is the preferred time control for Savas Marin Stoica, reflecting a balanced approach to speed and precision that characterizes much of their recent competitive play.