Erlend Mikalsen IM

Erlend Mikalsen: The International Master of Chess

Meet Erlend Mikalsen, a cunning tactician and an elite chess aficionado who proudly sports the prestigious title of International Master, bestowed upon them by FIDE. While the chessboard might be their battlefield, Erlend’s wit and resilience are what truly distinguish their style.

Rising Star with an Explosive Rating Trajectory

Since dipping their toes into blitz chess back in 2017 with a modest rating around 1379, Erlend’s rapid ascension saw them storming the ranks to achieve a peak blitz rating of a whopping 2840 in early 2022 — a number that any grandmaster would nod appreciatively at. Their blitz play is far from just flashy moves; with over 3,500 blitz games under their belt and a win rate just above 53%, Erlend is no stranger to intense, rapid-fire battles.

Master of All Speeds

Whether it's the lightning pace of bullet chess—where Erlend boasts a peak rating near 2780—or the strategic pacing of rapid chess (peaking at 2332), their versatility is undeniable. In bullet, Erlend’s win rate ticks along nicely at nearly 60%, while in rapid chess, an impressive 76% win rate attests to their sharp, calculated play.

Style & Strategy

Known for a rather unusual streak of early resignations (a daring 53%), Erlend compensates by dominating the endgame with a frequency over 76%. They favor long, thoughtful battles when victorious, averaging nearly 72 moves per win, proving patience is as much their weapon as tactical finesse. White pieces tend to be lucky, with a solid 59% win rate, while Black still marches strong at over 51%.

Psychological Warrior

With a tilt factor of 9 (which sounds suspiciously low for a chess player who’s probably been checkmated by a squirrel on occasion), Erlend thrives best in the early morning hours—6 AM is when their brain wakes up and screams “Checkmate!” Their comeback rate after losing material is an astonishing 85%, showing they’re the kind of competitor who laughs in the face of setbacks… and promptly retaliates with a knight fork.

Blitz Battles & Memorable Games

Some recent gems in Erlend’s career showcase their skill and humor on and off the board:

• The “Bishops’ Opening Boi Variation” where Erlend’s fearless queen sacrificed at move 6 led swiftly to a checkmate that left the opponent stunned.
• A rapid-fire blitz game where Erlend won by checkmate after a spectacular queen hunt on move 11 — if you blinked, you missed the finish.
• A victorious odds game where even with some time pressure, Erlend coolly outmaneuvered their opponent, winning convincingly on time.

Enemies & Allies

Among opponents, Erlend has shown particular prowess against “thor0202” with a mighty 75% win rate, and their ongoing rivalry with “hallvardfb” keeps the spirit of competition fierce and fiery, boasting an 83% win record.

Fun Facts

• Longest winning streak: a legendary 36 games — talk about a hot streak!
• Favorite time to play: precisely at 6 AM — early birds get the chess worms.
• Hasn't lost their cool often, with a relatively low tilt score and a swift comeback instinct.

In a nutshell, Erlend Mikalsen is more than a player — they're a chess phenomenon, blending precision, speed, resilience, and a dash of cheeky early resignations to keep the chess world entertained and on its toes. Watch this space; Erlend is far from done shuffling pawns and winning hearts.