Mikhail Panarin (aka "topotun")
Grandmaster Extraordinaire
Mikhail Panarin, better known online as topotun, has ascended the dizzying heights of chess mastery by earning the prestigious title of Grandmaster from FIDE. With a career full of thrilling battles, unexpected twists, and sometimes nail-biting finishes, Mikhail is no stranger to the grind and glory of competitive chess.
Rise of a Chess Warrior
Starting as an underdog bullet player with ratings in the 800s in late 2015, Mikhail swiftly crushed opponents to reach a peak bullet rating of an astonishing 2947 in mid-2021. His blitz prowess is equally impressive, peaking at 2973 in 2019, proving that whether it's lightning-fast bullet or strategic blitz, topotun thrives under pressure.
Playing Style & Masterstrokes
Known for an 84% endgame frequency and an average of 83 moves per win, Mikhail is the marathoner of chess battles — tirelessly outlasting opponents through relentless focus and subtle positional play. Despite early resignations being a rare sight (a humble 1.48%), his comeback rate sits impressively at 88.12%, a testament to his grit and tactical wizardry.
White pieces or Black, it doesn’t matter much—his white win rate clocks in at 52.88%, while black sits near 45%, proving his versatility. And just in case you were wondering about his secret weapon? A mysterious "Top Secret" opening has netted him a nearly 50% win rate over more than 800 bullet games. Intriguing, right?
Recent Battles
Some fun facts from recent skirmishes on the 64 squares: Mikhail's blitz games show he's not just quick but clever. One recent victory against Sanan Sjugirov ended with a resignation after a sharp Sicilian Defense Accelerated Dragon Maroczy Bind attack—the 26th move saw a brilliant check from Bc4+.
Of course, even grandmasters have off days: a recent loss was a marathon Ruy Lopez tussle versus vi_pranav, ending on time pressure but not without fierce tactical struggles. But hey, every defeat is just an opportunity to come back stronger.
A Touch of Humor
With a tilt factor of 11, Mikhail isn't immune to the occasional brain-fry after a losing streak. But he quickly dusts off, reloads the caffeine, and dives back into the fray—because quitting is only for pawns that run out of moves.
When to Catch Him Online
If you're looking to challenge topotun, mornings around 6 AM seem to be his prime time—perhaps fueled by a strong cup of coffee and a secret chess mojo. Beware: his win rate peaks impressively around 16:00 and 17:00 hours with over 60% success, making those hours a tricky time to test your mettle.
In Conclusion
Mikhail Panarin is the kind of chess grandmaster who reminds us that chess is not only about strategy but also about tenacity, resilience, and a little bit of mystery. With a career journey marked by meteoric rating climbs, epic clashes, and nights that end with one player (who is often Mikhail) declaring victory, he's a true titan of the game.