Overview
Maksim Tsaruk (username: tsaruk_maks) is a FIDE Grandmaster known for a fierce, creative approach to fast time controls — especially Rapid. Born to harass opponents on the clock and occasionally the laws of physics, Maksim blends deep endgame technique with a taste for tactical fireworks.
- Title: Grandmaster (FIDE)
- Preferred time control: Rapid — a proven specialty and where he often shines
- Style keywords: tactical, endgame-savvy, long games (avg decisive length ≈ 88 moves in recent years)
Playing Style & Strengths
Maksim is an endgame craftsman who also enjoys the occasional wild tactical melee. His games often go long (AvgMovesPerWin ~79; AvgMovesPerLoss ~84), and he reaches first captures relatively early (around move 7), setting up complex middlegames.
- Endgame frequency: high (≈ 81.8% of games reach endgame phases)
- Average first capture move: 6.93
- White win rate historically stronger than Black (WhiteWinRate ≈ 55.3%)
- Tactical resilience: wins >54% of games even after losing material in the game
Career Highlights
From gritty Blitz marathons to clutch Rapid events, Maksim has racked up impressive peaks and streaks.
- Peak Rapid performance (recent period): 2502 (2025-05-18)
- Peak Blitz high-water mark: 3022 (2025-10-05) — a reminder he’s comfortable with instant-fire decisions
- Longest winning streak: 13 games; Longest losing streak: 10 games — evidence of both streaky brilliance and the occasional tilt (he’s human).
- Preferred time window: statistically best results late night / early morning (best time of day to play: 02:00).
Trend visualization (Rapid 2020–2025):
Openings & Repertoire
Maksim deploys an eclectic repertoire that adapts by time control. In Rapid he has extraordinary results with sharp, theoretical lines — and isn’t afraid of the heavy theory of the Sicilian Najdorf.
- Rapid weapon of choice: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Zagreb Variation — perfect score in the sample set (6/6).
- Also effective: Sicilian Alapin, London System (Poisoned Pawn), Amar Gambit in faster games.
- In Blitz he mixes mainstream and offbeat choices; “Unknown” lines show his willingness to surprise opponents.
Notable Opponents & Rivalries
Maksim has met many regular opponents online and maintains interesting head-to-heads against several top rivals.
- Most-played opponents (Blitz): blitzstream (51 games), blackboarder (42), vmalaniuk (34).
- Strong record vs vmalaniuk: 21–11–2 — see opponent profile: vmalaniuk.
- Famous matches often feature long fights and mutual mutual endgame navigation.
Stats Snapshot
A quick glance at career totals across time controls (wins–losses–draws):
- Bullet: 240–199–31
- Blitz: 1901–1414–310
- Rapid: 58–14–14
- Daily: 16–2–1
Strength-adjusted win rates: Bullet ≈ 52.5%, Blitz ≈ 51.1%, Rapid ≈ 57.9% — confirming Rapid as the preferred time control.
Sample Game
A short, instructive sample from Maksim’s play — an illustrative opening into a long middlegame and tidy rook-and-pawn endgame.
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Fun Facts & Habits
- Average decisive game length has grown over the years — Maksim loves to outplay opponents in long technical battles.
- Early resignation rate is low-ish (≈7%); he prefers to fight to the last pawn.
- When playing at 02:00, he’s statistically at his sharpest. Coffee or cosmic alignment? The jury’s still out.
Placeholders & Resources
Interactive items embedded for richer pages: chart, peak stat and an annotated game viewer (placeholders for the site engine to render).
- Rapid trend chart:
- Peak Rapid rating: 2502 (2025-05-18)
- Top Rapid opening (link term): Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Zagreb Variation
- Sample opponent profile link: Kevin Bordi