Ashish Shan

Ashish Shan - The Rapid Raiser of Pawns

Meet Ashish Shan, also known by the elusive username 178Ashish123, a chess enthusiast whose journey through the sixty-four squares is as colorful as his rating graph! From humble beginnings in 2024 with a rapid rating scraping the low 700s, Ashish has been steadily climbing the ladder to reach a peak rapid rating of 1308 by May 2025. Not bad for someone whose average game count can sometimes rival a small army—he’s played well over a thousand rapid games across recent months alone!

Playing Style & Stats

Known for enduring long battles, Ashish’s games average about 57 moves per win and a bit longer for losses, making his matches feel like epic medieval duels rather than quick duels. He’s not one to surrender early, boasting a modest 3.87% early resignation rate—unless you catch him on a bad day, when the tilt factor can sneak up to 10!

Psychologically, Ashish shines brightest in the wee hours, with the best time to challenge his brain being around 1 AM. Beware the night owl!

Tactics and Openings

Ashish’s strongest weapon? Tactical flair and unyielding spirit. With a 75.3% comeback rate and an almost stubborn refusal to be outmaneuvered after losing material, he keeps opponents on their toes. His signature openings feature a mysterious yet undefeated “Top Secret” repertoire (over 4000 games!), but when he’s feeling classical, the Italian Game and Scotch Game are his bread and butter—delighting fans and flummoxing opponents alike.

Notably, his highest win rates come from the King’s Pawn Opening Kings Knight Variation with nearly 73% success—a real go-to for shaking hands with victory.

Recent Triumph and Sting

On June 4, 2025, Ashish delivered a brilliant checkmate in a challenging Rapid game against gazsback2111, showcasing his attacking prowess with the Italian Game. The final move, 33. Qc5#, wrapped up the game in just under 12 minutes—a sweet victory added to an ever-growing collection.

But, as all chess warriors face, not every battle is won. The same day he was bested by giusepsmoh after a tough fight in the Giuoco Piano variation, reminding us all that even the bravest knights must retreat sometimes.

More Than Just Numbers

With over 2300 wins in Rapid and upwards of a 48% win rate on an often wild ride through opponents of all skill levels, Ashish is the kind of player who blends passion, persistence, and a pinch of fun into every game. Whether it’s blitz, bullet, or daily games (where he’s at a cool 1200 rating), he’s forging a path that many chess fans will eagerly follow.

In short, Ashish Shan is no grandmaster (yet), but a grand personality on the board. The only secret is that he’s getting better every day—just watch out for his sneaky late-night moves!