Raja Rithvik R
Under the handle starworld123, FIDE Grandmaster Raja Rithvik R has built one of the most relentless online chess careers around. His favorite battlefield is bullet, where he has crossed the mythical 3000 mark and continues to churn out thousands of games with the enthusiasm of someone who just discovered the clock.
A Bullet Marathon
Raja's online life is defined by sheer volume. He has played more than 9,700 rated bullet games alone, plus thousands more in blitz, rapid, and daily chess. The climb from a promising 2500 player in early 2018 to a 3003 bullet peak in August 2025 shows a player who simply never stops improving. His blitz rating has also touched 3011, making him a rare dual-format speed demon.
Fighting Style and Openings
Raja does not chase the most theoretical lines. As White, he frequently reaches for practical setups like the King's Indian Attack and the Catalan Opening, often steering the game into rich middlegame structures. As Black, he is comfortable in the sharpest Sicilian Defense variations, especially the Najdorf, where he has played over 150 blitz games.
His games are long, averaging around 84 moves in decisive battles, and he reaches an endgame in over 80% of his contests. He delivers checks mostly with rooks, takes his first capture around move eight, and rarely resigns early. When he falls behind, his comeback rate of 84.28% means opponents can never fully relax.
Rivalries and Regular Opponents
No online rivalry has been more productive than his endless series against Indian GM Nihal Sarin. The two have faced each other 205 times, turning bullet queues into a personal training ground. Raja also shares a marathon rivalry with Petros Trimitzios, meeting 239 times in a feud that has become one of the site's great anonymous traditions.
The Quirks of a Grinder
The stats paint a picture of a fearless, slightly chaotic competitor. He wins 62.38% of games against lower rated opposition but only 30.35% against higher rated players, which means he loves a favorable fight and is not afraid of an uphill one. His longest winning streak is 16 games, while his longest losing streak is 17, proof that he will happily ride a rollercoaster. His best time to play is 02:00, and his favorite checking piece is the rook.
Raja Rithvik R is not a cautious grandmaster. He is a volume-shooting, endgame-chasing, come-from-behind bullet warrior whose online legacy is measured in the thousands of games he has turned into art, chaos, and occasionally brilliant defense.