Roman Pyrih: International Master and Online Blitz Legend
A Six Year Ascent
Roman Pyrih, who competes online as PyrihRoman, is a FIDE International Master with a serious passion for fast chess. In September 2020 his blitz rating sat near 1437. By July 2026 he had pushed it to a spectacular 3072 (2026-07-29), proving that online volume plus real talent is a dangerous combination. His preferred time control is blitz, and the leaderboard knows it.
The Blitz Engine
Blitz is where Roman does his best work. He has played more than 8,000 rated blitz games, collected over 3,600 wins, and once ripped off 24 consecutive victories. Even when things go wrong, he finds a way back: his longest losing streak was 17 games, yet his comeback rate still hovers near 90 percent. His games tend to be long, averaging around 89 moves, so bring snacks.
Openings: Sharp, Solid, and Sometimes Silly
Roman has deep experience in the Sicilian Defense, especially the razor sharp Najdorf Variation, where he has played hundreds of battles. He also relies on the Caro-Kann Defense to build sturdy positions. When the mood strikes, he will happily play the Amar Gambit or the Amazon Attack, reminding everyone that an International Master can still enjoy the weird side of opening theory.
A Rivalry for the Ages
No online career is complete without a nemesis. Roman has faced the player known as Maksym Dubnevych 140 times, making it one of the most played rivalries in his record. The scoreboard reads 67 wins, 55 losses, and 18 draws in Roman's favor, but every game is a fresh fight. You can check out their battles through his game history, where the blitz never stops.
Fun Facts From the Data
- He is a morning monster: his best time to play is 7:00 AM, when his win rate climbs above 54 percent.
- He is slightly stronger with the white pieces, with a 49 percent win rate as White and 44 percent as Black.
- His tilt factor is 17, but his comeback rate of 89.6 percent means he never stays down for long.
- Against lower rated opponents he wins about 64 percent of the time, and against higher rated players he still fights hard.