Overview
Basem Shaban (username: Basem1985) is a tenacious online blitz specialist and a prolific player whose career stretches from the early 2010s through 2025. A grinder at heart, Basem has played tens of thousands of blitz games — a true marathoner of the two‑minute battlefield. Fans know him for late comebacks, patient endgames and an affection for d4 openings. His peak blitz rating is proudly recorded as and his rating trend is worth a look: .
Style & Strengths
Basem’s play reads like a slow‑burn thriller: he wears opponents down, loves long endgames and rarely gives up early. He combines tactical grit with stubborn defense.
- Preferred time control: Blitz — fast decisions, slow resilience.
- Endgame frequency: very high (Basem converts long games into wins or dramatic reversals).
- Comeback specialist: an impressive comeback rate that makes trailing opponents uneasy.
- Psychology: prefers midday play — "best time of day" around 12:00 — and has a modest tilt factor (keeps humor intact after bad streaks).
Openings & Repertoire
Basem’s repertoire tilts toward flexible, unorthodox and sometimes hypermodern setups. He opens with d4 far more often than e4, and his choices reflect both surprise value and practical chances.
- Signature approaches: Amazon Attack (a favorite), Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack, Nimzo‑Larsen tendencies and a respectable Caro‑Kann response when on the black side.
- Notable stats: high volume with the Amazon Attack in blitz, solid win rates with Nimzo‑Larsen and some favorite sharp sidelines in bullet.
- First‑move preference: d4 (dominant across recent years).
Memorable Moments
Basem’s career highlights are less about trophies and more about marathon sessions: crushing win streaks, improbable comebacks, and the occasional spectacular tactical finish. His longest recorded streaks include a 19‑game winning run and, yes, a humbling 22‑game losing slide that taught him more than any lecture.
- Longest winning streak: 19 games.
- Longest losing streak: 22 games (the stuff of character development).
- Current streak (latest snapshot): a short 2‑game losing run — perfect fuel for a comeback.
Quick Facts & Figures
- Career blitz activity: a staggering volume of games (tens of thousands), making Basem one of the most active blitz competitors online.
- Play rhythm: busiest and most successful around midday, but a decent night owl too (some of the best wins come at 00:00).
- Durability: low early‑resignation rate and long average game lengths — Basem fights until the end.
Notable Opponents
Basem has logged many duels with recurring rivals. A few frequent names:
- David Levine — most played opponent.
- juan saenz — long rivalry with swings either way.
- Meshter — countless tactical skirmishes.
Sample Tactical Win (Viewer)
Here’s a short, replayable sequence that shows Basem’s penchant for steady pressure and timely breaks. Watch the maneuvering and the pawn‑structure decisions in the middle game.
Why Fans Like Basem
Fans root for Basem because his games rarely end quietly. He’s the kind of player who will grind in worse positions, pull off a cheeky tactic or simply outlast an opponent in a long endgame. Add a dash of self‑deprecating humor and you have a favorite sparring partner and a thorn in many an opponent’s side.
- Humor: known to send a joking "sorry not sorry" after a lucky escape.
- Learning curve: constantly experimenting with new openings and postgame notes.
- Community: often plays long sessions, happy to analyze and share insights afterward.
Want More?
For a full timeline of Basem’s blitz journey, check the rating chart above and enjoy rewatching those roller‑coaster games. If you're hunting for an entertaining opponent, search Basem1985 and challenge a stylist who always plays to the last move.