Daniel Blanchard

Daniel Blanchard (username: blanch1992)

Meet Daniel Blanchard, a chess adventurer on the 64-square battlefield, who prefers sharp battles and bold gambits over timid pawn pushes. With a top rapid rating soaring to 554 in May 2025, Daniel is no stranger to thrilling victories—and some humbling defeats that teach humility and resilience.

Chess Journey & Style

Since bursting onto the chess scene in 2023, Daniel’s rapid games have been a rollercoaster of passion and perseverance. Known for a 72.83% comeback rate, he’s a player who never waves the white flag too early (only resigning early 2.67% of the time). Although his average win lasts around 51 moves, losses tend to drag on a bit longer, averaging 65 moves—because who wants to quit without a proper fight?

Daniel prefers the initiative early but can cozy up in endgames, with an endgame frequency of 58.38%. Whether wielding white or black pieces, his win rates are fairly balanced: 54.44% with White and 51.81% with Black, proving he’s equally comfortable striking first or returning fire.

Favourite Openings & Tactical Flair

When the opening moves begin, Daniel leans heavily on the Caro-Kann Defense, particularly shining with a 57.58% win rate over 33 games. If you fancy a brutal clash, he can also swing spectacularly with the Queen's Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation, boasting an impressive 87.5% win rate. For a brief moment, he even flirted with the French Defense Normal Variation—winning all 4 games played! Clearly, Daniel’s opening repertoire is diverse enough to keep opponents guessing yet precise enough to end with a smirk.

Memorable Matches

One of his most recent notable victories was a dazzling checkmate against "naldina" on May 30, 2025. The game featured cunning maneuvering in the Queen’s Gambit territory and concluded with Daniel delivering a final royal smackdown in just 26 moves. As for defeats, Daniel takes them in stride—like the May 18, 2025 encounter against "Hayezz73," where he gracefully accepted defeat by resignation, proving that even the best can be humbled.

Opponent Encounters & Streaks

Daniel has tangled with a colorful cast of challengers. Notably, he holds a perfect 100% win rate against several opponents, including “naldina,” “szwejax,” and “goldy971,” among others. However, the universe keeps the balance: he’s suffered tough losses against some foes, reminding him that true mastery is a lifelong quest.

His resilience is further reflected in his longest winning streak of 7 games and a current winning streak of 3—clearly someone who knows how to ride the wave when in form.

When to Catch Daniel at His Best

Timing is everything, and Daniel’s sweet spot is around 7-8 PM local time, where he enjoys peak win rates of over 70%. Interestingly, his best theoretical time to play is 3 AM—perhaps suggesting a nocturnal genius lurking under the chessboard.

Psychological Notes

Even grandmasters have off-days—Daniel’s tilt factor is a calm 6, meaning he rarely lets frustration get the better of him (except maybe when the coffee runs out). He performs a bit better in casual matches compared to rated ones, showing that sometimes, playing for fun brings out the best moves.

Final Thoughts

In the grand tapestry of chess warriors, Daniel Blanchard is a spirited competitor who embraces both the exhilarating highs and instructive lows of the game. Expect his next surprise in a rapid game where clever tactics meet enduring determination, proving that every pawn push might just be the start of a new legend.