Jeffery Xiong Dominates August’s Bullet Brawl with a Perfect Start and $400 Prize!
Jeffery Xiong Dominates August’s Bullet Brawl with Explosive Performance
In a thrilling display of speed and strategy, Grandmaster Jeffery Xiong kicked off the 2026 chess season with a bang, clinching victory in August’s second Bullet Brawl. The 25-year-old chess prodigy showcased his tactical prowess, achieving a perfect 10/10 start in the two-hour arena, ultimately scoring 159 points and securing the $400 first prize.
Xiong’s remarkable performance left a field of competitors, including International Master Yoseph Taher, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, and IM Sergey Sklokin, to battle it out for the remaining cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100. The competition was fierce, but Xiong’s early dominance set the tone for the event.
For the fourth consecutive week, Greek FM Anastasia Avramidou claimed the best women’s prize, finishing with a commanding nine-point lead over Iranian WIM Melika Mohammadi.
The next Bullet Brawl is set to commence on Saturday, August 15, at 12 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CET, promising another round of exhilarating chess action.
Standings Snapshot
| Rank | Fed | Title | Username | Name | Rating | Score | Longest Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM | jefferyx | Jeffery Xiong | 3262 | 159 | 10 | |
| 2 | IM | yosephtaher | Yoseph Theolifus Taher | 3226 | 146 | 9 | |
| 3 | GM | nihalsarin | Nihal Sarin | 3300 | 137 | 6 | |
| 4 | IM | Turboplombir | Sergey Sklokin | 3159 | 134 | 10 | |
| 5 | IM | MITerryble | Renato Terry | 3219 | 134 | 6 | |
| 6 | FM | bubeliang | Havard Haug | 3270 | 129 | 6 | |
| 7 | GM | mishanick | Aleksei Sarana | 3167 | 126 | 7 | |
| 8 | GM | Oleksandr_Bortnyk | Oleksandr Bortnyk | 3193 | 125 | 9 | |
| 9 | GM | Zhigalko_Sergei | Sergei Zhigalko | 3167 | 120 | 15 | |
| 10 | GM | dropstoneDP | David Paravyan | 3133 | 115 | 9 |
Xiong’s journey to victory was marked by his unconventional opening strategies, often opting for the rarely played 1.b4 or 1…b5. This bold approach caught many of his opponents off guard, including GM Martyn Kravtsiv, who succumbed to Xiong’s tactical ingenuity by move 20.
Despite a brief setback after his initial winning streak, where he struggled to maintain momentum, Xiong rallied in the final quarter of the tournament. A crucial comeback win against GM Oleksandr Bortnyk, where he turned the tables from a piece down, exemplified his resilience and determination.
With this victory, Xiong not only secured his third Bullet Brawl title but also climbed to equal eighth on the all-time leaderboard, joining an elite group of players who have triumphed in this fast-paced format.
As the chess community eagerly anticipates the next Bullet Brawl, all eyes will be on Xiong to see if he can continue his winning streak and further solidify his status as one of the game’s top talents.