Vassilissa ORLOVA

Vassilissa Orlova: The Chess Adventurer

Meet Vassilissa Orlova – a chess enthusiast whose journey through the black and white squares has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. With a flair for the game and a knack for resilience, Vassilissa has battled opponents from all corners of Chess.com with a mix of passion and persistence.

Rating and Style

While Vassilissa’s peak blitz rating peaked impressively at 787 in July 2021, she prefers the rapid and daily formats for deeper strategic battles, where her rating lingers around the mid-600s and 300s respectively. Her playing style is a charming balance: a moderately high early resignation rate of about 13% keeps her honest, but with nearly 46% endgame frequency, she loves grinding out those final moves. Expect an average game length hovering around 50 moves — a marathon rather than a sprint.

Favorite Openings: Kings, Queens, and Bishops – Oh My!

Vassilissa’s opening repertoire reveals an adventurous spirit. She shines brightest with the King's Pawn Opening, boasting a solid win rate of nearly 64%, and the Bishop's Opening Berlin Defense where she’s converted 80% of her games into victories. The Queen's Pawn Opening Chigorin Variation is another favorite, with an impressive 75% success rate.

Of course, not every opening is a guaranteed party. She’s faced some adversity with defenses like the Philidor Defense Nimzowitsch Variation and Scandinavian Defense, where the win rates drop to the 25-33% range. But hey, everyone has their off days!

Battle Scars and Triumphs

With over 65 wins and 78 losses in rapid alone, plus a sprinkling of draws, Vassilissa knows how to keep the drama alive. Her longest winning streak? A solid 7 games — nothing like riding a hot streak to feel like a grandmaster in training. But beware her longest losing streak of 5 games; opponents sometimes see her tilt factor of 5, meaning frustration can occasionally sneak in. Yet, her 75% comeback rate fiercely proves she’s not one to lie down easily.

Timing is Everything

Interestingly, Vassilissa performs best in the early morning — 6 AM is her chess sweet spot, winning 100% of games played at this hour! Fridays and Sundays appear lucky too, with win rates soaring above 54% and 60% respectively. Afternoons can be mixed, but 10-11 AM and 3 PM see a respectable 55-57% success.

Memorable Recent Games

In a recent rapid match on May 30, 2025, playing White against tchack77, she brilliantly checkmated her foe after a tense 72-move duel, showcasing her endurance and tactical insight. In another swift victory, she made Black resign in a Philidor Defense Nimzowitsch Variation against Tigerhotspot.

Of course, even greats have tough outings. A recent loss at the hands of tahsin0123 ended in checkmate, reminding us all that chess loves to humble its players — but Vassilissa bounces back every time!

Opponent Rivalries and Win Rates

Among her most frequent foes, Vassilissa holds a 50% win rate against elisaor and a perfect 100% against the likes of tchack77, steph3344, and noway_31. Some opponents remain her kryptonite though — tahsin0123 has bested her every time, keeping her on her toes.

The Takeaway

Vassilissa Orlova isn’t just chasing ELO points; she’s chasing the thrill of the game. With a cunning blend of solid opening knowledge, resilient endgame battle, and a penchant for early mornings, she’s carving out her niche in the chess world — one game, one move, and one occasional tilt at a time.

Ready to take her on? Just make sure to bring your A-game… and maybe a cup of coffee if it’s before noon!