On September 5, Bulgarian Candidate Master Volen Dyulgerov – better known online as Witty Alien – announced he would step away from creating chess content after three years. Dyulgerov is the creator and driving force behind the Alien Gambit, an opening that went viral in online chess, with more than 100,000 games played in January 2024 alone.
In his farewell video, the 26-year-old said the main reason was his declining health, worsened by years of marathon streaming sessions lasting 24 to 30 hours. “I ruined my health. Headaches, dizziness, constant lack of sleep – if I continue, I’ll either go crazy or die,” he said. Financial struggles and doubts about his skills as a content creator also weighed heavily on the decision.
The Legacy of the Alien Gambit
The Alien Gambit arises in the Caro-Kann Defense when White sacrifices a knight on f7, dragging Black’s king into the center of the board. From there, White often launches a direct attack with ideas such as Nf3, Bd3, Qf3, castling short, and rook lifts. The gambit creates chaos, giving White many practical chances while limiting Black’s defensive resources.
Though most experts agree the gambit is unsound in classical time controls, it has proven extremely effective in blitz and bullet. Grandmasters including Hikaru Nakamura and Eric Rosen have experimented with it online, sometimes even falling victim to its traps. In some lines, statistical databases showed White winning more than 80% of games, largely because opponents were unfamiliar with the patterns.
A Sudden End to a Rapid Rise
Dyulgerov admitted he pushed himself too far to build an audience. Despite producing more than 2,000 YouTube videos and gaining a loyal following on Twitch and Discord, income remained low. “Even if I made money, my health is gone. That’s 100% my fault. Nobody else to blame,” he said.
Still, his influence on the online chess world is undeniable. In addition to the Alien Gambit, he also introduced the lesser-known Martian Gambit. Fans praised him not only for his creativity but also for his honesty and energy on stream.
Uncertain Future, Lasting Impact
Dyulgerov hinted he may return to programming or another job outside of content creation, while focusing on recovery and fitness. “It breaks my heart, but this is final. I will never come back,” he said.
Even if his channel goes quiet, the Alien Gambit remains his signature contribution – a wild, risky weapon that brought joy to casual players and headaches to unsuspecting masters. Just as Mikhail Tal once showed how chaos could win games, Dyulgerov’s gambit reminded the chess world that boldness still has a place on the 64 squares.
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.
