An International Master With a Need for Speed
Alina Bivol, known online as zabivol_mc, is a FIDE International Master who feels most at home when the clock is ticking. Her preferred time control is Blitz, and her record explains why: a 2677 (2023-11-08) of 2677, hundreds of wins, and a relentlessly attacking style.
From her early online games in 2017 to her more recent battles, Alina has turned Blitz into her personal laboratory.
The Comeback Queen of Blitz
Alina does not simply play fast; she plays with resilience. Her longest winning streak stretched to nine games, and her current run of four wins shows she has not lost that spark. Her comeback rate sits at an absurd 90.59 percent, which means the opponent who thinks they have won is often in serious danger.
Even after losing a piece, she still finds a way to win more than half the time. In short, the game is never over until Alina says it is.
Opening Repertoire
Alina's opening shelf is a mix of classical and creative choices. She loves the long strategic battles of the French Defense, especially the Winawer and Advance variations, and she is punishing with the Caro-Kann Defense. Her data also shows a fondness for the Hungarian Opening, the Amar Gambit, and the Blackburne Shilling Gambit, where she has a perfect score in recorded rapid games.
This variety keeps opponents guessing.
Rivalries and Head to Heads
No story about Alina Bivol is complete without mentioning Marat Denishev. They have crossed paths 81 times, making denishevm her most frequent opponent and her toughest test. The score is tight and dramatic: 29 wins for Alina, 47 for denishevm, and 5 draws.
Against Konstantin Semianiuk she has the edge, with 29 wins against 16 losses. And against baral2013 she somehow produced 10 draws in just 12 games, a run that would test any chess player's patience.
Fast Facts
- Alina is an early bird at the board: her best win rates come around 06:00.
- Her white pieces are especially dangerous, with a 55.22 percent white win rate.
- She reaches deep endgames often, with more than 84 percent of her games lasting into endgame territory.
- In Bullet she peaked at 2698, proving that speed chess is not just a hobby but a superpower.