Overview
Simonas Zickus (username Unlaw69) is a FIDE Master known for his fast instincts and love of sharp, tactical scrambles. A blitz specialist by preference, Simonas has built a reputation for turning chaotic positions into practical advantages and for finishing long time-pressured endgames with surprising calm. He peaked in blitz play at 2502 (2025-04-07) in early April 2025 and maintains strong showings in rapid and bullet events as well.
- Title: FIDE Master
- Preferred time control: Blitz
- Noted strengths: tactical awareness, comeback ability, endgame persistence
Playing Style and Openings
Simonas favors dynamic, piece‑rich positions and is happiest when the clock is ticking. He often steers games into lines where creativity and nerves matter more than memorized theory. His openings show a mix of offbeat aggression and reliable setups.
- Signature weapon as White: Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit with an impressive win rate in blitz.
- Common defenses as Black: aggressive sidelines of the Sicilian, including the Four Knights Cobra and Closed setups.
- Versatility: comfortable switching between Colle and London systems and surprise gambits such as the Amar Gambit when the moment calls for fireworks.
Top blitz openings (high level summary):
- Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit — major success and a go-to for quick decisive play
- Sicilian Defense variations — both Four Knights Cobra and Closed lines see frequent use
- Colle and London systems — used for stable, strategic wins when time allows
Career Highlights
Simonas rose from solid club results into titled territory through consistent online and over-the-board performance. His blitz peak came in April 2025, and he has compiled many streaks of impressive form across years of rapid online competition.
- Built long winning runs in blitz with a knack for turning lost-looking games around; notable Comeback Rate is very high.
- Strong multi-year performance in fast time controls, with consistent top finishes in online leagues and arena events.
- Average decisive game lengths tend to be lengthy for blitz, reflecting a preference for complex, drawn-out battles rather than instant tactics.
Notable Opponents and Records
Simonas has faced some opponents many times and found particular success against a handful of frequent rivals. His head-to-head against one opponent stands out as a long-running rivalry.
- Most played opponent: h3rkusltu — a lengthy rivalry with many decisive games.
- Good records against several recurring opponents including gerulis4200 and geirovems.
- Overall blitz record shows experience and resilience across hundreds of games.
Streaks, Psychology and Habits
Simonas is a player who reads the clock as well as the position. He has a surprisingly low tilt factor for someone who regularly seeks chaos, and his comeback metrics show he often recovers from material setbacks. Morning hours appear to be especially fruitful.
- Longest winning streak recorded: 14 games
- Strong comeback statistics and high win rate after losing material
- Best time of day to play: around 09:00, though he has hot hours late at night too
Fun Facts and Quirks
Expect the unexpected when playing Simonas. He enjoys unusual introductions and once labeled an opening choice "the diet version of a sacrificial attack" before winning the game. His games often provide entertainment value as much as instructional points.
- Has a fondness for named oddities such as the Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit and the Amar Gambit.
- Often uses Nf3 first moves as White in recent years, favoring flexible setups.
- Average decisive game lengths indicate he is happy to play long, messy fights rather than short tactical fireworks.
Sample Game and Resources
Watch a short blitz sketch of Simonas in action. This illustrative mini-game shows the sort of open, tactical positions he relishes.
- Replay a sample mini-PGN:
- Example match link: View sample blitz clash
- Performance chart idea:
Where to Learn More
If you want to study Simonas's approach, start with his successful blitz openings and long-decisive games. Look up games where he employed the Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit or tested the Sicilian Four Knights Cobra. For head-to-head study consider his many encounters with h3rkusltu.
- Study focus: transitions from middlegame chaos to practical endgames
- Try replaying his longer decisive games to learn time management and endgame technique