Artiom Stribuk (aka TrahtarBelarus)
International Master – A Chess Virtuoso with a Tactical Edge
Meet Artiom Stribuk, an International Master (IM) who has dazzled the chess world not only with his keen intellect but with a flair for blitz games that would make even the fastest grandmasters blink twice. Known online as TrahtarBelarus, Artiom is a force to be reckoned with on the digital 64 squares.
Since 2020, Artiom has climbed steadily through the ranks, peaking at an astonishing 3010 blitz rating in March 2025 — yes, breaking the 3000 barrier, a rarefied air reserved for only the fastest and sharpest tacticians. His bullet rating tells a similarly electrifying story, soaring up to 2929, proving he's as comfortable with lightning-quick decisions as he is with deep, strategic play.
Playing Style and Stats
Artiom’s chess style is a beautiful blend of patience and aggression. With an average of over 82 moves per win in blitz, he patiently maneuvers into dominant endgames — an area he frequents, playing the endgame 84% of the time. True to the IM spirit, his comeback rate is an impressive 84%, signaling a knack for turning games around even from tricky positions. And if he ever loses a piece? Don't count him out — he has a win rate after losing material of just over 51%.
He tends to play best early in the morning hours, boasting a tilt factor of only 10, suggesting that even after a tough loss or two, his mental game remains as steady as his pawns on the board.
Opening Choices
Ever the innovator, Artiom favors a variety of openings, masking his strategies behind "Top Secret" lines in blitz matched by keen use of the English Opening - Neo-Catalan Defense, boasting 100% win rates in specific openings where he’s sampled twice or more. Sometimes, it feels like he’s playing chess in disguise, and it’s working brilliantly.
Recent Memorable Games
His recent wins and losses tell stories of intense battles on Chess.com’s Live Chess platform, where he has outwitted players rated well above 3100 in thrilling endgames and nerve-wracking checkmates. A recent masterpiece demonstrated was his English Opening Neo-Catalan Defense game where he ended with a beautiful checkmate after 71 moves — a true marathon of mental stamina!
Personality & Fun Facts
Some say Artiom has a secret formula hidden deep within his blitz repertoire, a mysterious chess potion known only to a few. Known for his resilience and poker face, he’s the player who can lose a queen but still come back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Online opponents beware: you might feel the pressure, but if your mouse slips, Artiom will gladly serve you a swift bullet knockout.
In the end, Artiom Stribuk reminds us that chess is not just a game of kings and queens, but a thrilling chase of wits and nerves — accelerated by milliseconds and punctuated by checkmate.