Tigran Kotanjian is a chess Grandmaster with a rich history in the thrilling world of blitz chess. Known for his sharp tactical awareness and resilient comebacks (with an impressive comeback rate of 86.4%), Kotanjian balances patience and precision with a penchant for battles that often last upwards of 70 moves on average. Definitely not your average quick-quit player, his early resignation rate is a humble 0.29%, suggesting he fights hard until the very end!
Playing Style & Strengths
Preferred Format: Blitz (where he truly shines)
Endgame Expertise: Particularly strong in endgames, with over 80% frequency.
Average Game Length: Nearly 76 moves per win, showing tenacity and depth.
Tactical Prowess: Maintains almost 47% win rate even after losing a piece – talk about fighting spirit!
Winning Heart: Slightly better performance with White (50.9% win rate) than Black (45.58%)
Strong Opponent Handling: Wins over 50% against equally rated opponents and even manages nearly 59% win rate versus lower-rated players.
Opening Arsenal
Tigran enjoys a strategic opening repertoire in blitz games, favoring classic and dynamic lines:
Slav Defense: 3.Nc3 Nf6 – Featured in 279 blitz games with a ~49.5% win rate
Queen's Pawn 1...e6 2.c4 – A flexible approach with a solid 44.3% win rate
King's Indian Defense: 4.e4 O-O 5.Nf3 – Aggressive and complex, winning around 45% of the times
Neo-Indian and Modern variations of the Queen’s Pawn – Reliable with approximately 50% success
Sicilian Najdorf (English Attack) – A tougher nut with a 42.86% win rate but plenty of game experience
Career Highlights
Kotanjian's peak blitz rating soared to an impressive 2746 in November 2018, marking him among the elite in fast-paced chess. His rapid rating reached over 2262 in mid-2023, and despite limited bullet experience, he’s shown adaptability across time controls.
Notably, his longest winning streak stands at 10 games, showing moments of unstoppable form, whereas his longest challenging streak hit 9 losses — proving even the best can have a "bad hair day" on the board.
Fun Facts
Average first capture move is the 7th move — loves a tactical dance early on.
Has a tilt factor of 9, suggesting some fiery passion (we all do sometimes!).
Best time to challenge Kotanjian? Reportedly around 2 AM — when his chess nerves are sharpest!
Has faced and bested a wide array of opponents from rising stars to seasoned giants.
Whether in the heat of blitz or the more deliberate rapid, Tigran Kotanjian remains a formidable opponent with a blend of solid strategy and dynamic tactics. Keep an eye out — he might just outplay you when you least expect it!
Coach Chesswick
Coach's Advice
It's been a while since you played. Play a few more games so we have more positions and decisions to review — then I can provide you with clearer, more actionable advice.
