Josh Smith, an amateur player with a US Chess rating in the 1800s, is set to play GM Daniil Dubov in a 100-game bullet match with up to $20,000 on the line. But there is a catch: Dubov must win every single game to collect the full amount.

The 49-year-old Arizona businessman needs just one draw or win to cut Dubov's payout to $10,000. The 100-0 Project by The Bullet Grandpa takes place on November 7, with each player having just one minute per game with no increment.

Smith set a new 2579 bullet rating peak on his Chess.com account, BulletGrandpa, on October 6. Now he will test decades of experience in his favorite format against the former world rapid chess champion, ranked fifth among the world's highest-rated blitz players.

However, in an interview with podcaster Greg Mustreader, he was not optimistic about his chances. "Not good. Not good at all."

Nevertheless, winning the match is not his goal. Avoiding a 100-0 defeat would be enough, and Smith believes the speed and unpredictability of bullet gives him something to fight for.

"I know I'm going to lose the majority of the time, the vast majority of the time," he said. "But there's the opportunity."

The match terms guarantee Dubov $10,000, with another $10,000 available if he scores a perfect sweep. Even a 99.5-0.5 victory would cost him the bonus.

Despite having a bullet rating above 3000 and a personal best of 3136, Dubov believes Smith is a "massive favorite" to deny him the bonus. In his own interview with Mustreader, he opened with a joke: "It takes a lot of talent to lose 100 games in a row."

It takes a lot of talent to lose 100 games in a row.
-Daniil Dubov

The grandmaster estimated Smith's bullet level to be around candidate master strength. He also acknowledged that Smith's experience in the format exceeds his own.

"I'm pretty sure he has played way more bullet games online than I have," Dubov said.

With the possibility of connection issues and mouse slips, Dubov sees plenty of ways for Smith to escape a whitewash. "He only needs half a point. I think he's a massive favorite not to lose 100 in a row."

Smith describes himself as "completely addicted to bullet chess," estimating he's played more than 250,000 games in the format over the last 30 years.

Josh Smith is a 49-year-old businessman, husband, father, soon-to-be grandfather, and a complete bullet addict. Photo: Courtesy of Josh Smith.

"I've taken on improbable challenges before: I lost more than 145 pounds in six months, hiked rim to rim at the Grand Canyon, and make sure I get 10,000 steps every day," he wrote on his profile.

The 100-0 project follows his attempt to train, play, improve, and compete against stronger players in bullet training matches.

Smith and Dubov discussed time odds, but the 49-year-old amateur preferred a match where both players have the same pieces and the same time. The unusual winning condition supplies the handicap.

"In that game he has one minute and I have one minute. He's still a super elite grandmaster and I'm still a club player," Smith told Mustreader.

Asked about his approach, Smith said he aims for solid positions so he can make quick decisions and make his opponent spend precious seconds. He describes building a defensive "bunker" that is difficult to break into within a minute, while keeping stalemate tricks and chances to win on time alive even when behind in material.

"Bullet is not finding the best move. It's about finding good moves fast," he explained.

Bullet is not finding the best move. It's about finding good moves fast.
-Josh Smith

Smith noted he had occasional successes against titled players, which encouraged him, though he added that overall results still heavily favor his opponents. Against his coach, GM Kayden Troff, Smith said his Chess.com record at the time of the interview stood at six wins, three draws, and 151 losses.

"It's nice to say I can beat a grandmaster here and there," he said. "It gives me something to strive for."

Daniil Dubov is a former world rapid champion and ranked fifth in the world in blitz. Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.

Whatever the score, Dubov made it clear he respects Smith for accepting the possibility of a public 100-0 defeat. "I think he has the guts and the mental strength to do it," he said.

For Smith, one successful game would be enough. "Maybe a grandpa can beat a grandmaster."