Ziwen Zhou - National Master Extraordinaire
Meet Ziwen Zhou, known in the chess world as the steadfast strategist who earned the prestigious title of National Master. If chess was a gripping novel, Ziwen would be the plot twist no one saw coming but everyone admired.
Ziwen’s journey began with humble rapid ratings hovering around 1500-1600 in the early 2010s, steadily climbing to frighteningly sharp 2400+ in recent years – a rise that suggests countless hours spent plotting on the 64 squares (and plotting some more).
Under the cloak of anonymity, the enthusiastic tactician dominates blitz games with a peak rating flirting with 2796 – a speed demon with reflexes nimble enough to make Grandmasters blink twice. His bullet performance, equally impressive, boasts a killer instinct with a win rate doggedly near 50%, proving he’s just as lethal under time pressure.
Let’s talk style: Ziwen has a 92.58% comeback rate—a true phoenix on the board who rarely lets a lost piece mean a lost game, and a 99.76% win rate after losing a piece. Essentially, if chess were a movie, Ziwen would be the hero who snatches victory from the jaws of defeat… and with a smirk.
His longest winning streak? An epic 16 games, enough to put any opponent in existential crisis mode. While his tilt factor is at a controlled 38 (because even the best sometimes sigh at a missed fork), he maintains a balanced win rate for both white and black pieces—always ready to take on the battlefield regardless of color.
Off the clock, Ziwen demonstrates a preference for thoughtful, longer games—an average of 83 moves per win—showcasing a fondness for grinding down opponents like a chess connoisseur savoring a fine wine. But don't be fooled; when the clock ticks fast, Ziwen is just as ready for rapid-fire tactics.
Among favorite foes, the list includes some quirky usernames like gandhijones (100% win rate – maybe a hint of non-violent domination) and "fianchesstovietnam", while his most played opponent is computer3-hard, proving he’s no stranger to challenging the machines.
Chess fans and opponents alike can find inspiration (or despair) in Ziwen's remarkable ability to keep calm, craft surprises, and become the ultimate comeback king. With such resilience and skill, Ziwen Zhou is a player who doesn’t just play chess — they live it, breathe it, and occasionally cheat by having a chess engine in their coffee cup.