Li Chao GM

About Li Chao

Li Chao is a formidable Grandmaster known for his steady and strategic playstyle in the chess world. Often a force to be reckoned with in rapid and blitz formats, he has crafted a reputation for resilience, tactical awareness, and a knack for comebacks. Legend has it his opponents sometimes suspect his moves are pre-planned by a chess engine — and they're often right!

Playing Style & Strengths

Li Chao is an endgame wizard with an impressive 84.2% endgame frequency — meaning he doesn’t just rely on flashy openings but grinds down opponents in the late phases of the game. He averages about 81 moves per win and pulls off comebacks with an 87.8% rate, proving he's never out until the last move.

• White pieces win rate: 54.36%
• Black pieces win rate: 52.86%
• Early resignations by opponents: Very rare (3.03%)

Time Control Preferences & Peak Ratings

While equally well-rounded across different formats, Li Chao dazzles most in Bullet and Blitz chess, where speed blends with strategy.

• Peak Blitz Rating: 3028 (October 2024) – talk about lightning on the board!
• Peak Rapid Rating: 2856 (October 2021)
• Peak Bullet Rating: 2801 (November 2022)

Favorite Openings

Li Chao is no stranger to a variety of openings across time controls, favoring both classic and flexible systems that promise strategic complexity.

• Rapid: Loves the Zukertort Opening with a perfect 100% win rate and the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack which he wins flawlessly.
• Blitz: Frequent player of Sicilian Defense - Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation and Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, showing a fondness for rich tactical battles.
• Bullet: Dominates with the Caro-Kann Defense and Van't Kruijs Opening, winning 80-100% of the time in these lines.

Match Record & Noteworthy Opponents

Li Chao boasts a very solid overall win record across all formats:

• Rapid: 78 wins, 11 losses, 43 draws
• Blitz: 201 wins, 125 losses, 65 draws
• Bullet: 40 wins, 29 losses, 3 draws

He's faced many tough opponents including multiple games against Daniel Naroditsky and Anthony Wirig, maintaining competitive and dynamic rivalries.

Fun Facts & Trivia

• Li Chao has survived lengthy battles — with an average game length approaching 88 moves in recent years.
• His best time to play? The mysterious hour of 23:00, when perhaps the moon whispers chess secrets!
• His longest winning streak stands impressively at 31 games. That’s like winning a whole chess mini-series without a hitch!