Arne Claes: The Relentless Checker

Meet Arne Claes, a chess enthusiast whose journey from humble beginnings at a modest 814 rapid rating in 2022 to soaring victory peaks beyond 1800 elo is nothing short of a heroic tale. Arne is the kind of player who really knows how to bounce back — boasting a remarkable 79.36% comeback rate, proving that losing a piece only makes the win sweeter (with a 44.7% win rate after that blunder).

Rating Rises & Battles Fought

Starting off like a pawn on the board, Arne quickly climbed through the ranks, hitting a peak rapid rating of 1888 in April 2025. Blitz battles are no less thrilling, with a best blitz rating close behind at 1819. Bullet? Oh, Arne's fleet fingers reached an explosive 1507 at peak! It’s safe to say that Arne's fingers move faster than a knight can jump.

Playing Style

Patience meets strategy in Arne's style. With an average of over 64 moves per win, most opponents endure a prolonged chess marathon, where every move is calculated. Not one for early quitters, Arne’s endings are classics, with endgames featured in over 66% of games — because why finish early when you can dramatize it?

Psychological Warfare and Timing

Known for keeping his cool on the battlefield, with a tilt factor hovering at a modest 11, Arne hates to throw tantrums over bad moves. Fun fact: Arne's best time to dominate the board is the crack of dawn at 6:00 AM, catching opponents still hazy and sleep-deprived. Early risers get the rook!

Opening Secrets & Favorite Defenses

Arne is a fan of mixing secrecy and classics. With nearly 5,000 games in the clandestine "Top Secret" opening (which may or may not be "pizza delivery incoming"), his quick feet tiptoe through the Scandinavian Defense, Swiss army knife Modern Defense, and the sneaky Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack. A bit of unpredictability keeps the opponents guessing, and frankly, that’s half the fun.

Memorable Battles

Nothing beats a good finish. Arne's latest rapid checkmate against eyeoftiger502 is a textbook example of persistence and tactical finesse, wrapping the game up in just 33 moves. He's also not shy to play the underdog in timed matches, where daring gambits often make the clock the fiercest opponent.

Fun Facts

Longest winning streak: 14 games, because sometimes the pawns really do line up.
Average move count per game when losing: a respectable 63.7 moves, proving that even in defeat, Arne puts up a fight.
White pieces tend to do slightly better (48.46% win rate) than black, but don’t count out Arne’s black pieces—they’ve got spirit too!

In conclusion, Arne Claes is a chess warrior, blending strategy, resilience, and a pinch of humor when the tension gets too real. Whether your tactic is to strike early or hang tough to the bitter end, stepping into a chessboard with Arne promises a battle you won’t forget.

Arne Claes