Stoyan Shopov

Stoyan Shopov is a professional Sudoku, Solitaire, and Mahjong player, as well as a seasoned software engineer (and proud technical nerd) with over a decade of experience in both competitive gameplay and software development. He is the co-founder and lead engineer of Forty Media, a Sofia-based gaming studio that owns and operates Sudokus.io, SolitaireX.io, and TheMahjong.io – popular platforms for classic puzzle and card games.

Professional Puzzle & Card Game Competitor

Stoyan has 10+ years of competitive play under his belt. As a professional puzzle and card game competitor, he has mastered games like Sudoku, Solitaire, and Mahjong at an elite level. He has logged countless hours (and _tens of thousands of games) solving puzzles and clearing solitaire deals, often achieving top-tier times. In fact, his personal bests in various solitaire variants rank in the top percentile of global leaderboards. This competitive prowess extends across different genres – whether it’s cracking complex Sudoku grids or clearing Mahjong layouts, Stoyan approaches each game with a blend of skill and analytical strategy. His deep understanding of game mechanics not only makes him a formidable player but also informs his work in game design and development.

Software Engineering & Technical Expertise

Beyond gaming, Stoyan is an experienced software engineer who loves technology – a self-described “technical nerd.” He has leveraged his coding expertise to build advanced systems for gaming platforms. For example, Stoyan developed the real-time scoring engine and AI solvers that power the online solitaire and mahjong tournaments on Forty Media’s platforms. As a senior .NET/C# developer, he optimizes game performance (e.g. ensuring smooth 60 FPS gameplay even on low-end devices) and implements cutting-edge features like GPU-accelerated animations and intelligent hint algorithms. Stoyan’s passion for tech is also evident in his open-source projects and contributions on his GitHub profile. He frequently shares code, tools, and insights with the developer community – you can explore some of his work on his GitHub page. His dual talent in both gameplay and coding allows him to push the boundaries of what single-player puzzle games can do, blending deep software craftsmanship with game design innovation.

Teaching & Mentorship

Stoyan is not only a developer and gamer, but also an educator with 7+ years of experience in teaching technology. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for over seven years, he has mentored 2,000+ engineers in advanced .NET programming, Azure cloud patterns, and game development fundamentals. He has a knack for translating complex technical concepts into practical, easy-to-understand lessons and hands-on labs. Whether he’s training professional developers or guiding new programmers, Stoyan’s patience and expertise shine through. His commitment to teaching is also reflected in content he creates – from technical blog posts on SolitaireX.io to open-source documentation – aiming to educate and inspire fellow tech enthusiasts. This long-standing dedication to mentorship has earned him recognition in the tech community and solidified his reputation as a skilled teacher and tech trainer who loves to share knowledge.

Co-Founder of Forty Media

In his role as co-founder of Forty Media OOD, Stoyan leads the technical vision of a boutique gaming studio devoted to classic games. Forty Media (based in Sofia, Bulgaria) is the independent studio behind the online platforms Sudokus.io, SolitaireX.io, and TheMahjong.io. As co-founder and lead engineer, Stoyan has been instrumental in designing and building these sites from the ground up – ensuring they are fast, user-friendly, and feature-rich. Under his technical leadership, the team has implemented features like global leaderboards, real-time multiplayer tournaments, and cross-platform support to bring timeless games to modern audiences. The studio’s mission is to combine nostalgia for puzzles and card games with cutting-edge technology, and Stoyan’s dual expertise in competitive gaming and software engineering drives that mission forward. With over 10 years of industry experience, he continues to innovate at Forty Media, crafting engaging experiences for players worldwide.

Connect with Stoyan: You can find more about Stoyan’s work on his GitHub profile and professional background on LinkedIn. Whether it’s solving a challenging Sudoku, optimizing a game engine, or teaching a new programming technique, Stoyan Shopov brings passion and excellence to everything he does.