Arlette Van Weersel: The Woman International Master
Arlette Van Weersel, known in the digital chess arena as Blitzfun84, is a formidable Woman International Master (WIM) who dances deftly through blitz games with a rating peak soaring above 2200. Far from your average strategist, Arlette crafts victories that blend skill, spirit, and a touch of surprise—a hallmark of a true chess artist.
Rise through the Ranks
From a promising start in 2016 with a blitz rating around 1549, Arlette steadily climbed the ladder of online chess mastery to hit her stride in 2025 with a sensational blitz rating of 2234. While she has dabbled in bullet and daily chess formats—garnering respectable ratings—her true playground is the rapid-fire blitz battlefield, where her sharp tactical awareness and quick thinking shine brightest.
Playing Style & Personality
Known for her endurance and love of the endgame (appearing in a whopping 87% of her games), Arlette's matches often extend into deep, complex battlegrounds. Don't be fooled by her graceful patience; she has a remarkable comeback rate nearing 91%, mastering disaster recovery like a cat with nine lives. And while she sometimes tilts (her tilt factor is 10—just enough to keep the games spicy), she often bounces back stronger.
Her games reveal a quirky mix of early resignations (only 0.24%)—yes, she knows when to fold ’em—and intense fights resolved by checkmate or time pressure. With an average of 79 moves per win, Arlette isn’t about quick tricks but long, strategic battles.
Victories, Streaks & Rivalries
With nearly 400 wins in blitz, Arlette has won hearts and games alike. Her longest winning streak spans 8 games, and she is no stranger to tough runs, having endured losses in streaks of 10. Among her many opponents, she holds a remarkable 100% win record against some players, proving she can be quite the nightmare on the board.
Signature Openings and Notorious Moments
The Unknown Opening is Arlette's playground for 776 blitz games, where her unpredictability earns a win rate of around 45%. She also enjoys employing the Top Secret opening, achieving nearly a 46% win rate there. Highlighting her strategic flexibility, she boasts a perfect win in the Indian Game with a solitary but decisive appearance.
Memorable Latest Triumph
Her most recent notable victory came against RoyalTomek in 2025 during a tense blitz encounter. The game, played under the Indian Game opening, ended by a clock victory after a fierce middlegame fight and tactical exchanges that left the opponent baffled. You can relive the drama here.
Fun Facts and Final Checkmate
- Her best time to play? 11 PM – apparently, the night owls in chess think clearer!
- She favors playing on Tuesdays and Fridays, boasting win rates of 51% and 38%, respectively—because why not celebrate the week’s ups and downs over a chessboard?
- Arlette has proven that losses don’t define her—she turns setbacks into comeback stories with a win rate of almost 44% after losing a piece.
In summary, Arlette Van Weersel is a spirited chess warrior whose combination of strategic depth, resilience, and a pinch of humor makes every game a story worth watching. Whether you're an opponent nervously eyeing the clock or a fan cheering from the sidelines, Arlette’s chess journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Feedback for Arlette Van Weersel
Arlette, your recent games show a solid understanding of opening principles and a readiness to engage actively in tactical and strategic play. Here are some points for constructive improvement based on your recent performances:
- Opening Consistency: You have a good grasp of common openings like the Scandinavian Defense and Alekhine's Defense. Continue to deepen your opening repertoire so you can reach comfortable and familiar middlegame positions more consistently.
- Time Management: In some games, the clock shows significant difference between you and your opponent by the mid to late middlegame. Make sure to balance speed with accuracy — avoid rushing in complex positions but also maintain a steady pace to avoid time trouble.
- Positional Play: Your handling of piece coordination and pawn structure is improving. However, in some games, take extra care to prevent your pieces from becoming passive or trapped. Focus on improving piece activity and control of key squares.
- Middlegame Tactics: You demonstrate an ability to create tactical threats and capitalize on opportunities. To enhance your edge, practicing calculation and pattern recognition drills could help you spot more winning combinations and avoid oversights.
- Endgame Technique: Some endings have been challenging. Studying fundamental endgames, such as rook and pawn endings, and practicing technique under time pressure will boost your confidence and conversion rate.
Below is one of your recent games where you successfully pressed for a win by applying steady pressure and exchanging strategically:
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. h4 h5 6. Nf3 c6 7. Ne5 Nbd7 8. Qd2 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Bf5 10. f3 Qc8 11. O-O-O Qd7 12. e4 dxe4 13. fxe4 Bg4 14. Be2 O-O 15. Qf4 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Ng4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. e5 Qe6 19. Kb1 Rad8 20. Rd3 Rd5 21. Nc3 Ra5 22. a3 Rd8 23. Ne4 Qf5 24. Qxf5 gxf5 25. Ng3 Nf2 0-1
To continue your growth, consider these specific resources:
- Study tactics regularly to sharpen your calculation skills.
- Review endgames concepts, focusing on common rook and pawn scenarios.
- Analyze your own games to identify recurring positional and tactical themes.
Keep up the hard work and enjoy your chess journey!
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arne Moll | 11W / 11L / 0D | View Games |
| Corpescador | 3W / 18L / 0D | View Games |
| claro masisado | 3W / 5L / 3D | View Games |
| Kavalerik | 6W / 2L / 1D | View Games |
| Maaike Keetman | 1W / 4L / 2D | View Games |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2240 | |||
| 2024 | 2205 | |||
| 2023 | 2167 | |||
| 2022 | 1400 | |||
| 2021 | 1678 | 2106 | ||
| 2020 | 2046 | |||
| 2019 | 2116 | |||
| 2018 | 2175 | |||
| 2017 | 2080 | |||
| 2016 | 2135 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0W / 1L / 0D | 2W / 1L / 0D | 78.8 |
| 2024 | 3W / 1L / 1D | 0W / 2L / 1D | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 3W / 1L / 0D | 1W / 0L / 2D | 86.9 |
| 2022 | 0W / 0L / 0D | 0W / 1L / 0D | 13.0 |
| 2021 | 14W / 14L / 3D | 13W / 12L / 3D | 79.5 |
| 2020 | 19W / 17L / 2D | 13W / 22L / 3D | 81.4 |
| 2019 | 33W / 33L / 10D | 25W / 44L / 6D | 88.6 |
| 2018 | 53W / 45L / 10D | 42W / 48L / 8D | 85.5 |
| 2017 | 14W / 19L / 3D | 12W / 21L / 3D | 83.5 |
| 2016 | 86W / 68L / 4D | 74W / 72L / 8D | 85.3 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | 49 | 23 | 20 | 6 | 46.9% |
| Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind | 39 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 53.9% |
| Giuoco Piano: Tarrasch Variation | 36 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 61.1% |
| French Defense: Exchange Variation | 30 | 10 | 17 | 3 | 33.3% |
| Gruenfeld: Exchange Variation | 30 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 36.7% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 29 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 41.4% |
| Sicilian Defense | 29 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 48.3% |
| Scandinavian Defense | 28 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 53.6% |
| Scotch Game | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 63.2% |
| Czech Defense | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 55.6% |
| Daily Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Knights Game | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian Defense | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Blackburne Shilling Gambit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| French Defense: Exchange Variation | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Modern | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Alekhine Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Barnes Opening: Walkerling | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Gruenfeld: 4.e3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Scotch Game | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Bishop's Opening: Horwitz Gambit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 8 | 1 |
| Losing | 10 | 0 |