Dubov just agreed to something wild. He's playing 100 bullet games against Josh Smith, a 1800-rated amateur known online as "Bullet Grandpa," with $20,000 at stake. The twist kills the deal for Dubov: he needs to win every single game to get paid. One draw, one loss, and the money vanishes.
This is classic bullet chess theater. Smith earned his "Bullet Grandpa" nickname by streaming bullet games and building a cult following despite his modest rating. He's clearly sharp at blitz and bullet speeds, even if his classical rating doesn't reflect it. Bullet is a different animal. Time pressure erases preparation. Pattern recognition and instinct dominate.
Dubov accepted. That tells you something about his confidence in bullet, but also about the economics of elite chess right now. A young super-GM can't turn down $20,000 for streaming content that generates real viewers. The match becomes content. Dubov gets paid. Platforms get traffic. Smith gets validation against a world-class opponent.
But winning 100 straight bullet games against anyone is absurd. Even if Smith is rated 1800 in classical, he's clearly dangerous in rapid bullet. One bad position, one computer miscalculation, one moment of exhaustion from Dubov, and the whole prize evaporates. Smith doesn't need to win. He just needs to not lose.