Hans Niemann Shatters 3300 Elo Barrier in Online Blitz
On June 24, 2025, American grandmaster Hans Niemann, aka the ‘bad boy of chess’, etched his name into online chess history by crossing the 3300 Elo mark in Chess.com‘s blitz ratings during the Early Titled Tuesday tournament. The 22-year-old phenom achieved this feat after a thrilling victory against none other than the mighty Alireza Firouzja in Round 10, showcasing his confident and ambitious play. Even though Niemann went down to GM Pranav V in the penultimate round, he managed a podium finish alongside Magnus Carlsen.
Hans’ recent blitz laurels can be attributed to the number of self-organized online competitive blitz matches he has been playing. In the last month, Niemann has played 2 matches against GM Anish Giri, and one against Levon Aronian and Indian speed chess phenom Nihal Sarin. Niemann’s triumph places him in an exclusive club, becoming only the fourth player—after Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Firouzja—to surpass this formidable rating threshold in online blitz.
There has been a noticeable rating inflation on the chess playing platform, especially at the top ranks. At the moment, as many as 8 players have a rating of 3200+, which is way more than the usual sight. 3300 has become the new 3200, and Niemann certainly has made a statement by breaching the mark. It further solidifying his reputation as a formidable force in both online and over-the-board play.
Photo courtesy: Hans Niemann’s livestream
