Alex King: The Monarch of the 1.d4 Grind
Alex King, known online as AlexanderKing, is a FIDE Master with a record that screams volume, resilience, and a very stubborn refusal to resign. Since 2011, he has built one of the most decorated online chess résumés around: more than 36,000 analyzed games, nearly 20,000 wins in Blitz and Bullet combined, and a title earned the hard way. He is a midnight specialist, a Rapid devotee, and the kind of opponent who will defend a lost endgame until the clock physically gives up.
From Unknown to FM
Alex started his online journey in the quiet corners of Daily chess, where he built a sparkling record of 60 wins, 10 losses, and 7 draws. From there, he expanded into Bullet, Blitz, and Rapid, turning raw enthusiasm into a professional-grade skill set. His Blitz rating climbed steadily through the 2010s, and by the summer of 2020 he touched his all-time peak of 2761 (2020-08-13). It was the reward for years of grinding, late-night tactics, and an almost unnatural love for the London-style structures.
His favorite time control is Rapid, where he can blend calculation with his natural fighting instinct. But make no mistake: he will happily play Blitz until the sun comes up.
How He Plays
Alex is not a one-trick pony. With White, he is a dedicated 1.d4 player who loves to steer the game into rich strategic waters. He also has deep experience in classical battlegrounds like the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense and the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense. As Black in Rapid, he scores a remarkable 76% with the Scandinavian Defense, turning a so-called "beginner's opening" into a precision weapon.
- Longest winning streak: 22 games
- Longest losing streak: 18 games, proving he always comes back
- Comeback rate: 85.55%, so never count him out
- Win rate after losing a piece: 51.25%, because he plays chess like a horror movie villain
- Average decisive games run past 80 moves, showing he does not believe in quick handshakes
Rivals and Resilience
No great chess story is complete without rivals. Alex's most frequent dance partner is Leo Bispo, with 388 battles between them. He has also traded blows with MasterLeif in 335 games, and that rivalry is the definition of a knife fight: 140 wins, 155 losses, and 40 draws. Some kings lose their crown in such matchups. Alex just treats it as extra motivation.
Midnight Legacy
According to his own numbers, Alex plays his best chess at 00:00. He thrives in the dark hours, when the clock is loud and the position is messy. His White win rate hovers above 55%, and his ability to grind through long endgames is almost supernatural. Alex King may not always play the prettiest move, but he plays the most stubborn one. That is why he is a FIDE Master, and that is why his opponents never quite feel safe, even when they are winning.