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Benoît Ballenghien – The Chess Enthusiast with a Twist

Benoît Ballenghien might not be the grandmaster lighting up the world chess stage just yet, but he's certainly a player with style, hustle, and a hint of unpredictability. With a passion for blitz and rapid games, Benoît has navigated the tempestuous seas of chess ratings from a Blitz peak of 635 in 2021 down to a steady 498 in 2025, proving that climbing the ladder is rarely a straight line – but always a colorful journey.

Known for an adventurous opening repertoire, Benoît shines particularly when diving into the Scandinavian Defense, boasting an impressive 75% win rate in blitz games. His love for the classics shows through with the Giuoco Piano where he dazzles opponents with a solid 68.75% success. On the flip side, the Philidor Defense has been less forgiving, featuring a humble 14% win rate, reminding us all that even the boldest warriors have their nemeses.

Games with Benoît are a roller coaster – expect long battles averaging 55 moves when he wins, and slightly longer epics of 64 moves when things don’t quite go his way. His resilience is notable, showcased by a staggering 67.6% comeback rate and an almost mythical 100% win rate after losing a piece. Clearly, underestimating Benoît is a gamble as risky as betting on a pawn to queen in a single move.

Outside the board, Benoît’s psychological stamina holds strong with a low early resignation rate of just 2.38%, proving he prefers fighting till the final tick of the clock. Although the tilt factor registers at a moderate 9, this warrior keeps bouncing back, learning, and pushing his limits.

A true tactician, Benoît’s favorite hours to battle opponents are surprisingly human-friendly: prime time chess at 10 am and 2 pm brings him his best win streaks, with win rates soaring up to 60%. Mondays through Fridays stand as his battlegrounds, with Fridays being particularly lucky with a 53.7% win rate. Weekends? Not so much—apparently the call of relaxation trumps strategic brilliance then.

Whether analyzing fierce duels against regular rivals or facing new challengers, Benoît’s balance between wins and losses is nearly poetic – 309 wins, 309 losses, and 26 draws in blitz, plus a bit more modest rapid stats. But like every chess story, it’s the determination and love for the game that counts more than the numbers.

So here’s to Benoît Ballenghien, a spirited player who reminds us that chess is as much about perseverance, strategic creativity, and a touch of humor, as it is about trophies and rankings. Keep an eye on him — the queen, knight, or even that sneaky pawn might just surprise you next game!