Profile Summary: Mahe B. (aka Ballaven)
Meet Mahe B., known on the battlefield of 64 squares as Ballaven, a resilient chess player whose career reads like a rollercoaster ride through the unpredictable world of rapid, blitz, and bullet chess.
Ballaven’s peak rapid rating soared to 1086 back in December 2021 — a badge of honor reflecting countless battles fought with knights, bishops, and pawns. Not one to shy away from complexity, Ballaven has shown a special fondness for the Ponziani Opening boasting a win rate near 55%, and a healthy respect for classic defenses like the Scandinavian Defense and Caro-Kann Defense, each wielded with about 50% success.
While bullet chess might seem like lightning-speed chaos to others, Ballaven dives right in—though the ratings there tell a tale of brave attempts and learning curves, with a peak of 613 and some recent hiccups at 238. Blitz is somewhere in the sweet spot of Ballaven's skill spectrum, with a top rating of 665 and charming victories through tricky lines like the Scandinavian Mieses-Kotrc Variation where Ballaven scored a flawless 100% win record. Talk about choosing the battlefield wisely!
If chess was a dramatic series, Ballaven’s track record would be full of suspense: a notable longest winning streak of 8 games counterbalanced by a gritty 10-game losing streak. But here’s the twist—Ballaven is a fighter, boasting a comeback rate north of 76%, meaning when the chips are down, they play harder and claw back with style.
Talking strategy, the average winning game lasts nearly 60 moves, proving Ballaven is not one for quick draws or hasty resignations. In fact, early resignations are a rare sight (only 1.5%), indicating a tenacious spirit that battles on through complex endgames (which appear in over 67% of games). The psychological game? With a tilt factor of 10 (not too high, not too zen), Ballaven prefers the 11 AM chess battles, when the mind is freshest and the pawns obey best.
Ballaven’s preferred openings mix both old school and daring lines: from the solid King’s Pawn Opening and its “Kings Knight Variation”, to offbeat weapons like the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack Classical Variation which recently helped secure a time-win victory over “ElvinGUnity” in a nail-biting bullet game. A master of adaptation, Ballaven’s win rates against regular opponents vary drastically—from stunning runs of 100% victories to tough skirmishes with roughly 33% success—showing the exciting unpredictability of the game.
Off the board, Ballaven might be your friendly neighborhood strategist, but on the board they are a relentlessly curious player who enjoys positional battles, tactical skirmishes, and doesn’t blink at the occasional stumble. So next time you see Ballaven challenge you to a game, prepare for a mix of solid defense, timely offensive strikes, and a rollercoaster ride from move one till the bitter end!