The Rise of Turboplombir
Sergey Sklokin, better known online as Turboplombir, is an International Master whose rating graph looks like a rocket launch. He entered the blitz pool in 2021 with a modest 962, and by September 2026 he had reached 3218 (2026-09-14). His bullet peak of 3169 (2026-08-29) is barely less terrifying, and his rapid peak of 2384 (2026-03-22) would be impressive if he ever actually played rapid.
His profile lists Rapid as his preferred time control, but the evidence points elsewhere. Turboplombir has played only a few dozen rapid games, while his blitz and bullet accounts have absorbed more than 10,000 games. The man simply cannot stop pressing "play again."
The Grind Behind the Numbers
Sklokin's climb was not a straight line. He has endured a 24 game losing streak and a tilt factor that would break most players. But he has also produced a 62 game winning streak, and his comeback rate of 90.21 percent means he is never truly out of a game. Lose a piece to him and he still wins more than half the time.
- Longest winning streak: 62 games
- Longest losing streak: 24 games
- Comeback rate: 90.21 percent
- Win rate after losing a piece: 51.82 percent
- Games reaching an endgame: 89.04 percent
- Best time of day: 5 a.m., when everyone else is asleep
His average win is shorter than his average loss. He finishes you off efficiently, but when he loses, he makes you work for every point.
Opening Repertoire: Respectability and Chaos
As White, Sklokin mixes classical setups with the occasional burst of madness. He is at home in the Catalan Opening, plays the Sämisch system against the King's Indian Defense, and has a documented soft spot for the Diemer-Duhm Gambit, which is a rare sight from a titled player.
As Black, he is a loyal soldier of the Sicilian Defense. The Taimanov Variation is his main weapon, and he handles the Alapin Variation with the patience of someone who has seen it a thousand times. His rapid record with the Sicilian is a perfect 6 for 6.
Here is his favorite Taimanov setup:
Nemeses and Rivalries
No profile of Turboplombir is complete without mentioning his complicated relationship with Hikaru Nakamura. They have faced each other 102 times in blitz. Sklokin has 17 wins and 79 losses, which sounds rough until you remember that most people never beat Hikaru even once.
He also has a long history with Oleksandr Bortnyk, another elite grandmaster who has taken plenty of points from the Turboplombir rating pool. Against higher rated players Sklokin still wins 30 percent of the time, and against lower rated players he wins nearly 70 percent. That is a formula for a very angry rating graph.
Final Thoughts
If you ever see Turboplombir online at 5 a.m., consider logging off. He is out there converting endgames while the rest of the world sleeps. Sergey Sklokin is proof that online chess rewards obsession, stubbornness, and a deep love of the Sicilian Defense. He is also proof that a 24 game losing streak is not the end of the story.