Assanali Zhunussov (aka assanalish)
Meet Assanali Zhunussov, a chess player whose rating journey resembles a thrilling rollercoaster ride through the 2025 competitive season. Starting from a humble Rapid rating of 575 in April, Assanali skyrocketed to a peak of 1215 by June – a meteoric rise proving he’s no stranger to hard work… or perhaps some lucky blunders from his opponents.
Playing Style & Strengths
Known for a strong endgame presence (played in over 60% of his games!), Assanali’s average moves per win clock in around 57, though losses tend to drag a bit longer – 70 moves on average – showing he battles till the very end before conceding. A tactical magician, he boasts a 70% comeback rate when behind, and an impressive resilience when losing a piece, winning roughly 48% of those challenging positions. Early resignations? Rarely – only about 0.38% of the time.
Favorite Openings
With a playful yet mysterious aura, his signature in Rapid and Blitz is the intriguingly named "Top Secret" opening, where he holds over 57% win rate in Rapid and nearly 58% in Blitz. When he’s feeling classic vibes, he opts for clever lines in Scotch and Three Knights openings – achieving a solid 61% and 50-60% win rates. Watch out if he throws down the Italian Game Knight Attack or the Philidor Defense; those variations hint at a strategic mind always aiming to keep opponents guessing.
Recent Highlights
Assanali’s recent games demonstrate his flair for the dramatic: a nail-biting checkmate victory via the French Defense Knight Variation on June 4th, 2025, proving he knows exactly when to pounce. His most recent rapid victory on June 5th, 2025, came with a black win in the Van Geet Opening Reversed Nimzowitsch Variation, ending with the opponent resigning as his relentless pressure finally broke through.
Psychology & Quirks
He’s an early riser (seriously, his best time to play is midnight!) with wins peaking around unusual hours like 0:00 and early mornings. His tilt factor is pleasantly low, so don’t expect post-loss meltdowns—though he’s no stranger to losing streaks, a particularly rough patch lasted six games. And if you meet him on a Thursday or Monday, expect him to bring one of his best games—the win rates on those days are well over 55%.
Stats Snapshot
- Rapid: Peak rating 1215 with 225 wins, 165 losses, and 33 draws.
- Blitz: Max 904 rating, over 100 wins and a solid winning record.
- Bullet: Fast and furious with a top rating of 908 and a 62% overall win rate.
- Longest winning streak: 9 games. Not bad for assuming he's not a robot… yet.
Whether it’s a quick bullet duel or a prolonged rapid battle, Assanali Zhunussov combines strategic insight, resilience, and a dash of mystery – making him a formidable opponent and an intriguing player to follow. Next time you see assanalish in your opponent list, prepare for a game full of surprises, mind tricks, and perhaps a little “top secret” sauce.
