Vu Bui Thi Thanh Van WFM

Vu Bui Thi Thanh Van - Woman FIDE Master

Meet Vu Bui Thi Thanh Van, a chess warrior whose knight leaps and bishop slices have earned her the prestigious title of Woman FIDE Master. Known in the online realm as black_pawn_16, Van has journeyed from humble beginnings with blitz ratings just over 1000 in 2015 to soaring peaks above 2500 by late 2024. That’s not just progress, that’s a full-on promotion march across the 64 squares!

Starting her blitz journeys with a cozy rating around 1054, Van quickly warmed up the board, smashing through barriers year after year. By 2019, she had crossed the 2100 mark and continuously pushed toward the elusive 2500 milestone, a level few can boast. What’s her secret? A tactical awareness rate soaring close to 85%, meaning if she loses a piece, chances she bounces back and wins nearly half the time! Talk about turning lemons into crowned kings.

Van’s style is a fascinating blend of stubborn endurance and calculating patience — with an exceptional 82% endgame frequency, she clearly loves burning the midnight oil refining her winning technique. Average games stretch well beyond 70 moves, so if you’re looking to sprint, she’s more of a marathon runner on the chessboard.

Psychologically, Van’s resilience shines: a tilt factor of just 14 hints she doesn’t rage quit after setbacks, although her one-sided loss rate is a modest 3.36%, proving even the best occasionally get mated in style. Interestingly, her best time of day to play is exactly 20:00 — perhaps when her coffee kicks in or her psychic presence is strongest.

Win rates tell their own story—she crushes opponents below her rating nearly 69% of the time and holds her own against peers with a 45% win ratio. Above her own rating? She still nets nearly 32% wins, the mark of a fearless competitor who enjoys a good challenge.

Off the board, Van's favorite opening is, somewhat cheekily, a Top Secret weapon—she’s played it almost a thousand times in blitz with nearly a 49% win rate, enough to keep her foes guessing and checking!

Notably, her longest winning streak clocks in at an impressive 11 games, but she’s also experienced the bittersweet taste of a 14-game losing streak. Chess, after all, is a journey of ups and downs, and Van keeps marching, always ready for the next battle.

Recent Highlights

In December 2024, at the Early Titled Tuesday Blitz, Van demonstrated her formidable skills by clinching victories against tough opponents through sharp play and timely resignations from foes who knew when they were outclassed. Whether by outmaneuvering opponents or edging them out on the clock, she keeps the pressure high.

So, whenever you see black_pawn_16 on the board, beware: behind that unassuming username lies a chess force with grit, elegance, and the occasional mischievous grin—ready to turn the tides of battle on a dime.

Tip for challengers: Play your best before 8 PM, or you might just fuel Van's prime time combo!