szabadaba: The FIDE Master Who Never Leaves the Blitz Lobby
Who Is szabadaba?
szabadaba is a FIDE Master whose online chess life is a love letter to blitz. From a modest 1936 blitz rating in November 2019, they climbed all the way to a career-high 2918 (2026-02-11), crossing the 2900 barrier in February 2026. With more than 27,000 rated blitz games to their name, this player has built one of the most active and enduring profiles in the online blitz scene.
A Blitz Marathon, Not a Sprint
If there was any doubt about szabadaba's preferred time control, the numbers settle it. Nearly 96 percent of their rated games are blitz, making the fast format a true home. The journey has been anything but smooth. There were glorious 12-game winning streaks, a painful 13-game losing streak, and countless late-night battles that kept the rating graph moving.
By early 2021 szabadaba was a regular 2700-level presence. In March 2022 they first touched 2800, and the climb continued into the rarefied air of the 2900s. As of August 2026, they remain a fearsome name in the blitz lobby. The long-term direction is clear.
Opening Repertoire: 1.e4 First, Caro-Kann Second
With the white pieces, szabadaba is a loyal 1.e4 player. No line appears more often than the Sicilian Defense: Closed, a weapon they have wielded in more than 4,300 blitz games. As Black, the Caro-Kann Defense is the anchor of their repertoire, often branching into the Karpov Variation. When they want a more solid fight, the Slav Defense also makes frequent appearances.
This opening mix gives szabadaba a familiar feel in almost every game. They know the structures, the traps, and the typical endgames, which helps explain their ability to keep grinding at high speed.
Familiar Rivals and Old Scores
Every great online grinder has a cast of recurring rivals. Zdenko Kozul has faced szabadaba 147 times, the most of any opponent. Evandro Amorim Barbosa is close behind with 134 meetings. And honestgirl has turned their series into a personal rivalry, holding the upper hand across 106 games. These repeat matchups give the blitz board a soap-opera feel, with the same openings and the same tense finishes reappearing again and again.
The Comeback Artist
szabadaba's stats suggest a player who never reads the obituary before the checkmate. Their comeback rate sits at 86.93 percent, and their win rate after losing a piece is 43.69, a nightmare for opponents who celebrate too early. With an average winning game lasting more than 80 moves, they clearly enjoy long, grindy endgames. This is a fighter who trusts the board until the very last pawn falls.
Beyond the Numbers
- Favorite opening as White: Sicilian Defense: Closed
- Favorite opening as Black: Caro-Kann Defense
- Longest winning streak: 12 games
- Longest losing streak: 13 games, survived without abandoning the board
- Best time of day: the data points to a fondness for very late night blitz, around 1 a.m.
- Record against lower rated players: 62.65 percent wins
- Tilt factor: 13, which somehow never stops them from clicking Play again