Jernej Spalir - International Master
Jernej Spalir, or simply Spalir to fellow chess enthusiasts, is a formidable International Master (IM) recognized by FIDE. With a brain wired for chess brilliance and a playful spirit, Spalir has danced through the ranks with a combination of sharp tactics and tenacity.
Career Highlights & Style
Spalir's peak classical rating peaked at a respectable 2213 in late 2010, but where this master truly shines is on the lightning-fast battleground of blitz chess. With a blistering blitz peak rating soaring to a staggering 2861 in 2019, Spalir’s speed and precision often leave opponents staring in disbelief. And just when you think bullet chess would be this IM's kryptonite, Spalir calmly clocks a top bullet rating of 2566, proving that breaking speed limits is just a hobby.
Playing Style & Psychological Edge
Known for their fierce endgame prowess (79.23% endgame frequency), Spalir enjoys grueling battles that last deep into the match with an average of 78 moves per win. Their resilience is legendary, boasting a comeback rate of 82.58% and a solid 55.84% chance to win even after losing a piece—because surrender is for mere mortals.
Yet, don't be fooled by the stern stats; with a tilt factor of just 11, Spalir can handle defeat with grace—though their opponents might wish otherwise. Interestingly, the prime time for this IM to wreak havoc on the board is between 1 and 3 in the morning, when most players are asleep and dreaming of resigned losses.
Notable Records & Rivalries
With over 3,800 wins in blitz alone and a bullet win rate north of 66%, Spalir’s track record is nothing short of spectacular. The longest winning streak? A jaw-dropping 46 consecutive victories. Opponents beware, because Spalir doesn’t hand out freebies.
Among the frequent foes, “mario05” and “ferk” top the list — rivals who have met almost 300 times combined! Yet, Spalir’s tenacity ensures over 80% win rates against many top opponents, including a perfect 100% against several.
Recent Triumphs
In a thrilling blitz encounter on November 14, 2023, Spalir demonstrated masterful technique and strategic vision with flawless checkmate victories against strong opponents like MANOJ_MISHRA123 and GMJustin5. Their games reveal a player who can happily sacrifice something here and launch a lethal counterattack there—chess artistry in action.
Off the Board
When not wielding knights and pawns, Spalir likely enjoys a good challenge or two over a well-timed snack—or plotting the next surprising gambit to shock an unsuspecting opponent. If you meet Spalir online or at a tournament, expect a blend of serious chess and a dash of humor, because this International Master knows that laughter is also a winning move.
In summary: Jernej Spalir is a chess battler and tactician par excellence, whose dedication to the game and knack for turning tides make the chessboard both a battlefield and a playground. Whether at dawn or dusk, Spalir is a name that promiscuously decorates the winners' list and occasionally intimidates the nervous blasters and bullet aficionados alike.
Hi Jernej, here is some targeted feedback based on your recent Blitz games.
1. What you already do very well
- Dynamic pawn storms: The h-g pawn rush you used against Derek Wu and GMJustin5 shows great intuition for creating practical problems.
- Tactical conversion: When the initiative is yours, you regularly finish with forcing sequences (e.g. 26…Nxe3!! in your last win). Keep sharpening this weapon.
- Opening range: A healthy mix of Benko, King’s Indian, Chigorin setups and White sidelines keeps opponents guessing—an asset in 3 + 1 Blitz.
- Peak performance: 2861 (2019-10-07) reflects solid GM-level potential in short time controls.
2. Recurrent pain points
- Time pressure collapses: Four of the five sampled losses were decided by the clock or in bullet-like scrambles. You often enter move 25 with <20 s.
- Over-extension when the attack fizzles: In the loss to KVAIDAN (Bird’s Opening) 11…f6?! & 15…f5? left dark-square holes and no king safety.
- Technical endgames: The marathon loss to babbilator featured missed drawing chances in a R+P ending and passive king placement.
- Piece coordination vs. offbeat lines: Early Rh3/h3 ideas or Qa4+ in English positions sometimes catch you without a clear plan, costing tempi.
3. Opening micro-fixes
- Against Bird’s 1 f4:
After 8.Ne5 Qc7 9.Rf3 Nb4 10.Be2 Nd7?! consider the thematic 10…d4! (central break while the rook is misplaced) or a direct …c4 clamp. - Benko Accepted:
Your 18…Nxb2!? line is sharp but leaves the queen offside. Scan the model game Topalov-Kasparov 1999 for smoother piece activation. - White vs. KID:
Great feel for the Samisch with h4–g4, but add a slower plan against …c5 structures: reroute Nb1-d2-c4 first, then expand.
4. Time-management drill (3 + 1)
| Phase | Target time bank | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Moves 1-10 | >2 : 10 | Play booked lines instantly. |
| Moves 11-20 | >1 : 10 | Spend time on first critical decision; avoid deep think on obvious recaptures. |
| Moves 21-30 | >0 : 25 | Simplify if winning; otherwise activate king/rooks early to pre-empt scrambles. |
5. Endgame tune-up
Weekly menu (30 min each):
- 3 x theoretical rook endgames (focus on side pawn + wrong rook corner, Lucena & bridge-building).
- 3 x practical exercises: convert an extra pawn vs engine set to 3000 in 60 s.
- Self-annotate any game that reaches move 35—note king activity and pawn lever opportunities.
6. Illustrative moment
Critical slip vs KVAIDAN:
Instead, 11…Rae8! keeps the rook on h8 to guard h7, and Black can later hit the center with …e5.
7. Tracking your progress
Keep an eye on performance trends:
8. Next steps
- Drill the suggested endgames and time-management routine for two weeks.
- Prepare anti-Bird and Benko refinement lines; test in ten training games.
- Review each loss where you were under 15 s before move 25; log what consumed the time.
Stay ambitious and keep enjoying the fight over the board!
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| mario05 | 104W / 82L / 2D | |
| ferk | 86W / 9L / 11D | |
| Leo Bispo | 34W / 35L / 9D | |
| balti01 | 29W / 24L / 1D | |
| Andreas Rupprecht | 32W / 16L / 1D | |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2490 | |||
| 2021 | 2518 | 1816 | 1860 | |
| 2020 | 2557 | 2557 | 1926 | 1812 |
| 2019 | 2382 | 2582 | ||
| 2018 | 2372 | 2483 | ||
| 2017 | 1656 | 2373 | ||
| 2015 | 1533 | |||
| 2014 | 1608 | 2204 | 1788 | |
| 2012 | 1047 | 2095 | 1836 | |
| 2011 | 2126 | 2072 | ||
| 2010 | 2007 | 2171 | ||
| 2009 | 2084 | 2133 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4W / 2L / 0D | 3W / 4L / 0D | 86.8 |
| 2021 | 105W / 65L / 25D | 102W / 88L / 19D | 58.1 |
| 2020 | 606W / 411L / 109D | 565W / 429L / 109D | 76.0 |
| 2019 | 1736W / 694L / 145D | 1595W / 814L / 165D | 80.7 |
| 2018 | 748W / 469L / 138D | 674W / 573L / 126D | 83.5 |
| 2017 | 141W / 95L / 25D | 133W / 101L / 22D | 80.8 |
| 2015 | 1W / 2L / 0D | 0W / 1L / 0D | 31.5 |
| 2014 | 79W / 50L / 12D | 82W / 46L / 10D | 77.2 |
| 2012 | 9W / 4L / 2D | 9W / 7L / 0D | 53.6 |
| 2011 | 47W / 20L / 4D | 39W / 31L / 6D | 69.2 |
| 2010 | 64W / 24L / 11D | 68W / 16L / 16D | 68.3 |
| 2009 | 35W / 7L / 3D | 41W / 4L / 2D | 62.8 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QGD: 4.Nf3 | 234 | 134 | 83 | 17 | 57.3% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 215 | 112 | 76 | 27 | 52.1% |
| Australian Defense | 149 | 81 | 57 | 11 | 54.4% |
| Ruy Lopez: Closed | 145 | 61 | 66 | 18 | 42.1% |
| English Opening: Agincourt Defense | 138 | 64 | 61 | 13 | 46.4% |
| Slav Defense: Alekhine Variation | 122 | 75 | 35 | 12 | 61.5% |
| QGD: Ragozin | 107 | 51 | 44 | 12 | 47.7% |
| Blackburne Shilling Gambit | 106 | 45 | 49 | 12 | 42.5% |
| Benoni Defense: Modern Variation | 99 | 59 | 35 | 5 | 59.6% |
| King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Delayed Fianchetto | 96 | 41 | 46 | 9 | 42.7% |
| Rapid Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 225 | 134 | 89 | 2 | 59.6% |
| Daily Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Closed | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 57.1% |
| King's Indian Defense | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Blackburne Shilling Gambit | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Australian Defense | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Benko Gambit | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Slav Defense: Alekhine Variation | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60.0% |
| Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Exchange Variation | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 40.0% |
| Benko Gambit Accepted: Central Storming Variation | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20.0% |
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.0% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amar Gambit | 300 | 195 | 93 | 12 | 65.0% |
| Australian Defense | 241 | 166 | 62 | 13 | 68.9% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 156 | 104 | 42 | 10 | 66.7% |
| French Defense | 108 | 82 | 23 | 3 | 75.9% |
| Blackburne Shilling Gambit | 108 | 74 | 30 | 4 | 68.5% |
| Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense | 100 | 60 | 33 | 7 | 60.0% |
| Amazon Attack | 89 | 60 | 29 | 0 | 67.4% |
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 86 | 58 | 25 | 3 | 67.4% |
| QGD: 4.Nf3 | 85 | 51 | 26 | 8 | 60.0% |
| Four Knights Game | 83 | 53 | 24 | 6 | 63.9% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 46 | 2 |
| Losing | 11 | 0 |