About M N (ashkoot)
M N, known online as ashkoot, is a dedicated chess player best known for lively Rapid games and an appetite for tricky openings. Active across 2023–2026, ashkoot climbed quickly through the Rapid ranks and became a familiar opponent at all hours — especially around 17:00, their statistically best time of day to play.
- Preferred time control: Rapid
- Peak Rapid performance: (reached during late 2025)
- Playing profile: aggressive opening choices, long decisive games, excellent comeback ability
Playing style & strengths
Ashkoot is a grinder: long games, frequent endgames and a surprising knack for turning bad positions into wins. If a game drags past move 40, you should probably expect ashkoot to still be hunting tactics.
- Avg moves per win: ~72 — these are marathon victories, not lightning blunders.
- Endgame frequency: high (plays deep into endgames in most decisive contests).
- Comeback rate: exceptional — converts lost positions into wins far more often than average.
- Tactical resilience: wins almost half the time even after losing material.
Favorite openings & repertoire
Ashkoot loves opening skirmishes that invite complications. The repertoire mixes cheeky traps with sound counterplay — opponents are equally likely to face a Scandinavian fork or an old-school Blackburne Shilling trick.
- Scandinavian Defense — often used with strong results as Black. (Scandinavian Defense)
- Blackburne Shilling Gambit — a go-to surprise weapon with healthy win rates. (Blackburne Shilling Gambit)
- Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation — a reliable choice as White, with one of the better win rates in the repertoire. (Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation)
- Barnes and Amar-style lines — occasional offbeat choices that keep opponents uncomfortable.
Sample opening that captures the flavor of ashkoot’s play (for the viewer to replay):
Notable opponents & streaks
Ashkoot has a handful of repeat rivalries — some friendly, some brutally efficient. A few head-to-head notes:
- shad3g1 — dominant record in ashkoot’s favor; one of the most lopsided recent matchups. (shad3g1)
- caputo74 — frequent opponent with mixed results; several memorable duels.
- yohliknal — tough rival, more losses than wins here; a matchup that brings out the fight.
- Longest winning streak: 10 games. Longest losing streak: 10 games — proves ashkoot goes through hot and cold phases.
Career highlights & timeline
From steady climbing in 2023 to hitting new personal bests in 2025, ashkoot’s Rapid career shows persistence and growth. A compact timeline:
- 2023–2024: Rapid player building volume and experimenting with many offbeat openings.
- 2025: Breakthrough months with consistent high-level Rapid play and a career peak in late 2025.
- 2026: Continuing to compete and refine the repertoire while maintaining long, tactical games.
Fun facts, quirks & tips for opponents
Lighthearted notes and strategic hints for anyone meeting ashkoot at the board:
- Best time to challenge: around 17:00 — that’s when the win rate spikes.
- Tilt factor: modest — occasional swings happen, but mostly steady nerves.
- Signature psychological trick: spring a rare opening early to take opponents out of book and into long, unfamiliar middlegames.
- Want to study a representative game? Watch one of ashkoot’s classics: View Game