Natalia Zhukova — The Grandmaster with a Tactical Twist
Known in the chess cosmos by the username Tashik, Natalia Zhukova is no ordinary player. As a Grandmaster endorsed by FIDE, she’s reached the level where pieces tremble at her command and kings often find themselves in awkward positions.
A Blitz Bruiser and Bullet Ballistic
Natalia’s blitz rating has danced impressively around the 2500+ mark for years — peaking at a razor-sharp 2616 in early 2020, a signal that she’s lightning-fast but thinks thrice before each strike. With over 3600 known blitz games and a nearly 50% win rate, she’s proven that speed paired with sharp tactics is a recipe for chaos on the board.
In bullet games, Tashik’s win rate climbs to an impressive 61.4%, topped by a peak rating nearing 2595. Proving, as if you needed evidence, that she’s as at ease making split-second decisions as she is in deep, slow battles.
Rapid? Also Rapidly Dominant
Though rapid play isn’t her primary domain, Natalia’s peak 2397 rating and semi-decent win rate showcase a player with range — from bullet storms to methodical positional grinding.
The Psychological Edge (and a Bit of Fun)
Her tactical awareness stats reveal something hilarious and inspiring: with a comeback rate close to 87%, Tashik doesn’t just bounce back from adversity — she uses every lost piece as a motivation to create fireworks. Sure, she has a tilt factor like any human chess warrior, but the “early resignation rate” is under 1%, meaning she fights for every last pawn and expects her opponents to do the same. Simply put, giving up early isn’t in her vocabulary — though resigning others is.
Her best time to play? According to the data, 6 AM. Morning warriors, take note: if you want to challenge Tashik and survive, get up early or prepare for a crushing defeat before breakfast.
Playing Style: Endgames and Endurance
Boasting an endgame frequency north of 83%, Natalia clearly enjoys the subtle art of squeezing wins from very tight spots. Her average game length hovers around 71 moves in wins, which means patience is not just a virtue but a standard operating procedure. Playing with White gives her a slight edge with a ~52.5% win rate, while as Black she remains a formidable presence with 44% wins.
Notable Recent Battles
In her most recent games, Natalia has displayed the trademark resilience and tactical sophistication of a Grandmaster. For instance, in a recent Live Chess encounter featuring the French Defense (Classical Steinitz Variation), she snatched victory by resignation after a complex midgame assault — proving she’s a master of turning positional pressures into psychological triumphs.
Opponent Chronicles
Though she has tangled with numerous opponents, some foes have proven particularly memorable. With a win rate ranging dramatically (from total domination over a few to some challenging adversaries), Tashik’s record is a rich tapestry of epic clashes and hard-fought battles. You can almost hear the sound of clashing knights and queens as these rivalries unfold.
In Conclusion
Whether you call her Natalia or go by her handle, Tashik, one thing is clear: she’s a Grandmaster in the truest sense—part tactician, part strategist, and a little bit magister of mayhem on the 64 squares. If chess had a Hall of Fame for making opponents sweat bullets, she’d be the honorary president by now.