Ilya Smirin GM

Ilya Smirin – The Grandmaster's Gambit

Born to make your king sweat and your pawns tremble, Ilya Smirin, who often goes by the enigmatic username Tapuah, is a chess Grandmaster recognized by FIDE. With a strategic mind as sharp as a knight's fork and an endgame technique that would make Capablanca nod in approval, Smirin has been climbing the ladder of blitz chess mastery for years.

Rating Rollercoaster & Records

Smirin’s blitz rating once soared to an astronomical 3048—a number that probably requires a spaceship to reach. His rapid and bullet ratings are no less impressive, with peaks of 2836 and 2751 respectively. Even in the slower daily time controls, he maintains a solid presence.

Playing Style & Chess Personality

With an early resignation rate of just 0.65%, Smirin hates giving up but is not afraid to bow out gracefully—because why prolong the suffering? He loves endgames so much it’s like he lives there, clocking an endgame frequency of 82.37%. His winning moves usually span over 72 moves, proving patience is indeed a virtue.

His comeback rate stands at a staggering 88.11%, a statistic that shows if you think you have him cornered, think again. Smirin thrives after tough battles, winning over half the times even after losing a piece.

The Opening Arsenal

• Unknown Opening: The mysterious path to victory in over 23,000 games with a respectable 55.7% win rate.
• Top Secret: A fitting name for Smirin’s lesser-known but highly effective strategies, maintaining a solid 54.12% win rate.
• Special mentions: The Sicilian Defense and Caro-Kann variations, where he flexes with win rates around 60%—definitely openings to watch for when facing him.

Psychology & Timing

Smirin’s optimal playtime? The dark and mystical hour of 4:00 AM, with a tilt factor of only 8—meaning he’s a Zen master ready to dismantle you regardless of sleep deprivation. He’s most dangerous early morning while others are still hugging their pillows.

Largest Streaks & Opponents

His longest winning streak is an impressive 17 games—which might as well be a record for most consecutive brain explosions inflicted on opponents. The longest losing streak? Only 8, probably caused by an unfortunate run of blunders or maybe just running out of coffee.

Recent Adventures on the Board

Fresh from a live game victory against tactic on June 2nd, 2025, Smirin displayed tactical precision in a Scandinavian Defense, ending with a smooth resignation by his opponent after 40 moves. And when he lost, it’s usually to worthy challengers like LikeWater, reminding everyone he’s human—just a very talented one.

Fun Fact

Despite conquering the blitz scene with thousands of wins, Smirin's bullet stats show he's almost a sniper with a 94.74% win rate, proving that lightning-fast calculation is his playground. Just don’t blink or you might miss his next breathtaking gambit!

So whether you face him online or at the board, beware the quiet storm named Ilya Smirin – a chess warrior who makes every move count and every game a masterpiece.