Aditya Bagus Arfan IM

Aditya Bagus Arfan (Arfan48) - International Master

Meet Aditya Bagus Arfan, or as many chess enthusiasts know him online, Arfan48. A proud International Master titled by FIDE, Arfan is a force to be reckoned with on the 64 black and white squares. A tactician with a love for blitz, bullet, and everything in between, his journey is as dynamic as his opening repertoire—though some openings remain a closely guarded secret!

Chess Journey & Style

Since bursting onto the scene in 2020 with a blitz rating starting below 1000 (we all start somewhere, right?), Arfan made a meteoric rise to an incredible peak blitz rating of 2910 by mid-2025. His bullet and rapid skills are nothing to sneeze at either, boasting peak ratings over 2500 and 2000 respectively. He even mastered daily chess to a perfect 400 rating in his early days, proving he's versatile across all time formats.

His style? A healthy dose of patience with an average moves per win hovering around 79 shows he’s not just relying on quick tricks—Arfan loves a good grind in the endgame, with an endgame frequency exceeding 80%. When the going gets tough and a piece is lost, fear not; his comeback rate of 85% means he loves a good underdog story. He fights, he strikes back, and often wins.

Stats & Streaks

• Overall Blitz Record: 290 wins, 163 losses, 55 draws
• Bullet Mastery: A striking 87.76% win rate in his favorite obscure opening, "Top Secret" (we can only guess what that really means!)
• Longest Winning Streak: 26 games — that's nearly a month's worth of consecutive victories if chess was played every day!
• Psychological Traits: A low tilt factor of 5 suggests Arfan keeps calm even when the queen is sacrificed for dramatic effect.

Notable Openings & Preferences

Arfan's opening book is a curious blend of classics and surprises. The Sicilian Defense in several flavors, including the Chekhover Variation and the fearsome Najdorf English Attack (where he boasts a perfect 100% win rate in small sample games), figures prominently. His Philidor Defense Hanham Lion Variation is a deadly little secret, winning 2 out of 2 games. The "Top Secret" opening—played hundreds of times with a respectable ~58% win rate—is clearly his ace in the hole.

Recent Battles

In one of his recent battles on June 4, 2025, Arfan defeated julian2024 with a graceful resignation victory. The game showcased his deep understanding of complex positions, patiently maneuvering into a winning endgame. As black, Arfan confidently tackled the Indian Game East Indian Przepiorka Variation and closed out the match in just 51 moves. Not too shabby!

Of course, even the best stumble sometimes. His latest loss came in a thrilling Sicilian Defense Marshall Counterattack clash, where a valiant fight ended with him conceding by resignation. But if there’s one thing Arfan’s track record says—it’s never over until the final checkmate or clock runs out.

Behind The Moves

When not calculating double attacks or hunting for forks, Arfan performs his mental gymnastics mostly in the late afternoons, his prime chess hour being 16:00, where he wins 100% of his games (well, statistically at least). Despite a love for dramatic comebacks, he also knows when to gracefully resign, saving energy for the next storm on the board.

Final Thought

Arfan48 is not just a name or a rating number; he’s an embodiment of passion and perseverance in the chess world. Expect the unexpected, appreciate the beauty of endgames, and if you ever face him, be prepared for a “Top Secret” strategy that just might leave your pieces scattered and your king in check.