Alexey Reshetnikov: The Midnight Blitz Maestro
From Humble Beginnings to IM Title
Alexey Reshetnikov, known online as resha1988, is a FIDE International Master who has turned online Blitz into his personal laboratory. His recorded journey starts modestly in 2016 with ratings bouncing around 1200, but it did not take long for the real strength to surface. By 2017 he was winning dozens of games per month, and by 2018 he had crossed 2600 in Blitz, proving that his title was backed by serious online firepower.
The Online Rise in Blitz
Reshetnikov is a pure Blitz animal, with more than 8,100 Blitz games played and a record of 4,246 wins, 3,106 losses, and 829 draws. His ascent is best seen in
, where he climbs from unassuming beginnings to a peak Blitz rating of 2974 (2026-05-25). Along the way he has produced a 23-game winning streak and a comeback rate of 87.51%, meaning he rarely goes down without a ferocious fight.Playing Style and Opening Repertoire
Reshetnikov is a practical and resourceful fighter. With the white pieces he often steers play into structures where he can outgrind opponents, while as Black he is comfortable in sharp and solid lines alike. His stats show strong results in the Caro-Kann Defense, a sturdy weapon he scores over 54% with in Blitz. He is also dangerous in the Slav Defense, and his handling of the Sicilian Defense displays both patience and venom.
A glance at
reveals a player who is hard to prepare against because he is willing to explore unusual side lines. Even after losing a piece, Reshetnikov still wins over half of his games, and his best results come late at night, especially around 1:00 AM, when the rest of the chess world is asleep.Rivalries and Marathon Battles
No opponent has faced Reshetnikov more often than Anselm Wagner, with 50 meetings in what has become a genuine online chess rivalry. He also has a long-running series of battles with Kevin Bordi, where the wins have been traded back and forth. These rivalries highlight his competitive endurance, as he has repeatedly rematched tough opponents and kept pushing long after most players would have logged off.