Bryson Ballantyne

Bryson Ballantyne: The Gambit of Grit

Meet Bryson Ballantyne, a chess enthusiast whose rapid and blitz adventures resemble a thrilling rollercoaster — full of daring moves, unexpected turns, and lessons learned along the way. While Mr. Ballantyne’s blitz rating currently hovers around a modest max of 112, his rapid play reveals a brighter spark, peaking at a respectable 246 in April 2023.

On the Board

Bryson prefers the Rapid time control, where he displays an eclectic opening repertoire, dabbling in classics like the King’s Pawn and Queen’s Pawn openings. Notably, his rapid victories have come through bold lines such as the Ponziani Opening Jaenisch Counterattack and the Modern Defense, showing a flair for tactical surprises.

His blitz journey is more of a saga in resilience — six tough losses and four draws out of ten games—with a streak that has tested his mettle. Yet, the tenacity shines through; Bryson exhibits a solid comeback rate of 50%, bravely fighting on after setbacks, even if sometimes the one-sided losses sting as much as burnt toast.

Style & Personality

If chess were a movie genre, Bryson’s style would be a blend of suspense and dark comedy. His games often drag the opponent into long battles, averaging about 65 moves per game, but beware: he tends to resign early in about 30% of lost games — perhaps conserving energy or avoiding emotional tilt (rated a mild 3/10). Speaking of tilt, his psychological game suggests when all else fails, a good coffee at noon (his best playing hour) might turn the tide.

He carries zero wins with the white pieces so far but manages a determined 25% win record as black. Against some opponents like ishabay and GothamChessSubscriber111, Bryson celebrates rare but sweet victories — doubtless replayed in his head on his better days.

Memorable Moments

One of Bryson’s crowning glories came in April 2023 when he masterfully executed a checkmate victory after a 79-move marathon, ending with the fierce Ponziani Opening Jaenisch Counterattack. This win is a testament to his patience and strategic depth, even if his average moves per win suggest chess marathons rather than blitz battles.

Even his losses read like thrillers, often involving sharp openings like the Reti or King's Pawn variations, showing that every lost game is a setup for a future comeback. After all, in the great game of chess (and life), it's not about the count of the wins but the quality of the fight.

Quick Stats

• Preferred Time Control: Rapid
• Peak Rapid Rating: 246 (2023-04-12) (246)
• Peak Blitz Rating: 112 (2023-04-05) (112)
• Longest Losing Streak: 3 games
• Current Losing Streak: 1 game
• Average Game Length: ~65 moves
• Early Resignation Rate: 30%
• Comback Rate: 50%

For the Curious

Curious minds can dive deeper into Bryson’s rating journey or explore his unique win rate by the hour of the day, hinting at the sweet spot around noon where the magic happens: