Alexander Battey IM

Alexander Battey - International Master

Alexander Battey, also known to friends and foes alike as AlexBattey, is an International Master who’s as comfortable navigating the labyrinthine complexities of chess as he is clocking high blitz ratings and sneaking in unexpected wins. With a chess career peppered with both rapid-fire bullet games and marathon blitz battles, Alex has built a reputation for resilience, tactical wizardry, and occasionally managing the supreme art of graceful resignation.

Rating Journey & Playing Style

Starting out with a solid 2000 blitz rating back in 2014, Alexander swiftly climbed the ranks, peaking at an impressive 2816 blitz rating in June 2020. But don't be fooled—his bullet rating reached an astonishing 2898 later that year, proving that when the clock ticks down, Alex remains cool under pressure (most of the time). His daily and rapid ratings, hitting over 2100 and 2000 respectively, show he’s no stranger to slower, more thoughtful play either.

Known for a love of endgames (he reaches them in over 83% of his games) and an average of around 80 moves per win, Alex clearly likes to grind out victories the old-fashioned way – deep, strategic maneuvering rather than quick flashy tactics. However, his early resignation rate is a modest 0.81%, so if he’s packing up early, there’s usually a good reason.

Strengths & Psychology

The numbers tell an inspiring tale: Alex has an impressive comeback rate of almost 90%, meaning if the chips are down, he’s likely the one turning the tables. His tilt factor is low (a neat 12) for a blitz aficionado, but when Alex loses, he’s in it for the long haul with a longest losing streak of 12 games. He’s a fighter, but apparently even the toughest warriors need a breather.

Psychologically, his best fight times come around 10 AM (logical, since who wants to play before coffee?). His win rates by day hover pleasantly around the mid-40%s, with Sunday giving him his best lucky streaks—maybe chess is his way to unwind from the weekend barbecue.

Eccentricities & Opponents

Alexander has tangled most frequently with opponents like cstevens1 (47 games), blitzstream (34 games), and noukii (30 games), with mixed success—sometimes swinging the chess pendulum his way, sometimes not. His win against speedstraction07, pasha_technique, and antipov_mikhail_al is a perfect 100%, so watch out if you’re in those circles!

One can only assume “Top Secret” openings listed in his stats are just code for "I keep my opponents guessing while plotting my inevitable victory."

Memorable Moments

Among his many battles, a recent highlight was a victory achieved by resignation over makarenkochess in a Sicilian Defense showdown (Ruy Lopez aficionados might raise an eyebrow). In a game lasting nearly 30 minutes on the clock, Alex expertly castled queenside before orchestrating a position so uncomfortable that his opponent threw in the towel. The calm precision of moves like 16. Rd8+ followed by striking tactics prove that this IM doesn’t just play chess—he narrates it.

Summary

Alexander Battey’s chess journey is a tale of calculated risks, resilience against the odds, and consistent performance at every tone of the clock. Whether he's blitzing opponents with bullet speed or carefully negotiating endgames, Alex combines strategic depth with a pinch of humor and a dash of tenacity. In the often unforgiving world of competitive chess, he's a reminder that perseverance and a clever move or two can win the game—and sometimes the day.