Victor Plotkin: The Blitz Ironman
Victor Plotkin, known online as vplotkin, is a FIDE Master who has turned online blitz into a marathon sport. His profile may claim bullet as a preferred time control, but the numbers tell a different story. This is a blitz player through and through, with more than 18,000 rated blitz games and a peak blitz rating of 2638 (2026-02-08).
The e4 Loyalist
Victor is a player of strong convictions. When he holds the white pieces, he plays 1.e4 with near religious consistency, from his first games in 2012 all the way through 2026. His signature weapon is the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, which he has played over 2,500 times. As Black, he is just as faithful to the Petrov's Defense, using it in thousands of games to neutralize 1.e4 opponents.
His repertoire also includes the French Defense: Exchange Variation, the Caro-Kann Defense, and the Scandinavian Defense. He is not a one-trick pony, but he is a player who knows what he likes. His opening prep depth has grown from one move in 2012 to seven moves by 2026, which means the old dog keeps learning new tricks.
Grinder by Nature
Victor's blitz record is a monument to persistence: 7,796 wins, 7,948 losses, and 2,456 draws. His strength adjusted win rate sits at 49.97%, essentially a coin flip, but the games themselves are anything but random. His longest winning streak is 12 games, and his longest losing streak is 11, so he knows both the mountaintop and the valley.
He reaches the endgame in nearly 84% of games and his decisive battles average around 80 moves. He is not interested in quick handshakes. His comeback rate is 89.91%, and he still wins 41.59% of the time after losing a piece. Even when his position is crumbling, Victor keeps looking for a way to make you suffer.
Rivalries and Rituals
Online blitz is built on familiar faces, and Victor has plenty. His most frequent dance partner is Sanjeev Mishra, with 66 meetings and a razor-thin 31-29 edge for Victor. He has also battled Zane Nasir 55 times, where he trails 20-23, and milostb 43 times, where the record is 17-19. These rivalries are the lifeblood of his chess life: no trophies, just pride and rating points.
His best hour to play is 8:00 AM, when his win rate jumps to 47.73%. His tilt factor is 11 on a scale that should probably stop at 10, which may explain why he can lose 11 in a row and still come back for more. Against lower-rated players he wins 59.31% of the time; against higher-rated players he wins 25.52%, but he never stops fighting.
The Verdict
Victor Plotkin is not a perfect chess machine. He is a flawed, fearless, relentless blitz warrior who plays the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation thousands of times, trusts the Petrov's Defense when Black, and turns every time scramble into a test of will. Whether you meet him at 8 AM or midnight, bring coffee, bring patience, and be ready for a long game.