Bosco Gionini (aka toljaB17)
Bosco Gionini is a blitz enthusiast with a steady climb up the chess rating ladder, reaching a peak blitz rating of 2561 in December 2022. A master of rapid-fire thinking and quick endgames, Bosco thrives in the chaotic tempo that blitz chess offers. His playing style favors deep endgames, often dragging battles beyond 80 moves whether he wins or loses—because patience is a virtue... and sometimes a necessity.
Career Highlights
- Blitz Rating Peak: 2561 (Dec 2022) – A signal that when the bullets fly, Bosco’s game is sharp.
- Rapid and Bullet: Has crossed the 2000 mark in rapid and neared 2470 in bullet, proving he’s not just a one-trick pony.
- Winning Streaks: Longest winning streak of 11 games, showing that when he’s on fire, even Magnus should take notes.
- Tactical Awareness: An impressive 89.83% comeback rate proves Bosco’s refusal to quit, with a solid ability to turn games around after losing material.
On and Off the Board
Bosco’s style involves a healthy avoidance of early resignations (only ~0.36%)—he fights till the bitter end, embracing endgame complexity 86% of the time. Although his tilt factor of 13 suggests the occasional “dramatic gesture” after a tough loss, his psychological resilience shines through his persistent winning spirit. His best moves often come early morning around 7:00 am, when the coffee is fresh and so is his mind.
Record & Opponents
With well over 21,000 blitz games played, Bosco has battled through wins, losses, and draws aplenty. His win rate hovers around 43% against opponents of varying skill. Among his most frequent opponents are "jmatias" and "bcsc," with whom he shares a competitive rivalry and presumably many chess memes exchanged.
Recent Games
In a recent scintillating victory on Chess.com, Bosco, playing as toljaB17, executed a precise checkmate against BegusDrasko in a fierce Alapin Sicilian battle with creative piece play and timely promotion. In time scramble, he also won another game on time with a tricky Ruy Lopez setup, showing his versatility and nerves of steel.
Fun Fact
Despite his fierce competitive edge, Bosco's username toljaB17 gives a nod to his possibly mysterious real identity—chess players love their secrets almost as much as their bishops love diagonals.