Dennis Wagner (chessdjw)
Grandmaster Dennis Wagner is a German chess powerhouse who brings serious over the board credentials to the online arena. Under the username chessdjw, he has built a reputation as a relentless online competitor. His profile says his preferred time control is Rapid, which is a polite way of saying he will happily play anything, anywhere, especially Blitz.
Career Snapshot
Dennis earned the Grandmaster title from FIDE and then decided to make online chess look easy. His Blitz rating has climbed into the stratosphere, peaking around 2909 (2025-07-22) in 2025. That kind of number tends to make opponents nervous before the clock even starts.
He is not just a Blitz specialist, though. His Bullet rating has also reached 2849, and his Rapid peak sits at 2580. If you spot him online at 08:00, proceed with caution, his analytics say that is his deadliest hour of the day.
Style and Openings
Dennis plays a fearless, fighting brand of chess. With White, he is happy to enter the Caro-Kann Defense and outplay opponents in heavy theoretical lines. With Black, he embraces the chaos of the Sicilian Defense, especially sharp Najdorf and Moscow setups. He has also somehow faced the Blackburne Shilling Gambit dozens of times, proving that even grandmasters get to meet the internet's favorite dubious tricks.
He checks early and often. In over 8,600 analyzed games, Dennis averages 3.15 checks per game and is usually the first to deliver one. His comeback rate is 87.93 percent, so never count him out even if he drops material. Ending games is also his thing, his endgame frequency is over 87 percent, meaning he rarely runs from a fight.
Rivalries and Numbers
Every online warrior has familiar foes. Dennis has faced Dinara Wagner 44 times, winning 21 of those battles. He has also tangled 35 times with Konstantin Kodinets, again taking 21 wins. Against Kevin Bordi, though, the story is spicier, with 11 wins and 20 losses. Even grandmasters have kryptonite.
His longest winning streak is a jaw dropping 15 games. His longest losing streak is 9, which at his level probably felt like a philosophical crisis. He also owns a winning record against lower rated players that would make any tournament director smile.
Fun Facts
- His best time of day is 08:00, when his win rate jumps to nearly 66 percent.
- The rook is his favorite checking piece, with over 9,000 rook checks recorded.
- His record with the White pieces is slightly stronger, but his Black win rate is still a healthy 53 percent.
- He has a 15 game winning streak to his name, which is a great answer for anyone who questions his stamina.