Kendrick Knowles (aka Chessmatic242)
Candidate Master, FIDE
Meet Kendrick Knowles, a titled Candidate Master who has navigated the treacherous chessboard battlefield with courage, wits, and a splash of humor. Known in the digital realm as Chessmatic242, Kendrick has been showing the world what it means to flex both brains and resilience since their early days in 2011.
Rating Journey
From a humble start with daily ratings near 1000, Kendrick's rapid play rating has soared to a peak of 2166 by 2025. Blitz battles have seen them reach a sizzling 2031, with bullet chess performances topping at 1997. Despite being tempted by quick games, Kendrick clearly knows the value of a slow, thoughtful move—seriously, their average moves per win in rapid games are around 69.
Playing Style
Known for a love of deep endgames (65.3% frequency), Kendrick doesn't surrender easily—boasting a 85.6% comeback rate. They’ve mastered the art of bouncing back after losing a piece, with a notable 41% win rate in such situations. Their patience is legendary, as only 3.17% of their games end with early resignations—that's not just stubbornness, that's strategic moxie.
Tactical Awareness & Psychological Fortitude
Kendrick's tactical awareness shines bright. An infamous tilt factor of 25 means they sometimes get a little salty—but who doesn’t? Interestingly, their best time to play is 5:00 AM, a secret hour when the mind is sharp and opponents are still dreaming about their last blunder. Their win rate doesn’t drop much between casual and rated games, proving they’re serious about every pawn push and king hunt.
Opening Repertoire & Preferences
Kendrick seems to have a "Top Secret" weapon—possibly their favorite line, with over 37,000 rapid games played in it. However, the trusty Caro-Kann Defense also gets a lot of love, along with its Exchange and Botvinnik variations. They even have an impressive 63% win rate with the King's Indian Attack Yugoslav Variation, perfect for tricky, strategic battles that boggle the average opponent.
Battle Scars & Notable Games
Kendrick's battlefield records include over 16,400 wins and 20,600 losses in rapid games alone—because sometimes even the wisest knight gets forked. Arrays of recent games show victories by resignation and seamless time wins, especially using solid setups like the Caro-Kann Defense and King’s Indian Attack.
Not Just A Player, But A Performer
With an average of 69 moves per win and tactical resilience set to stun, Kendrick is more than just a chess player—they’re an experience. Their love for long, strategic duels beats the quick blast bullet games, but don’t discount their speed either: their bullet peak rating near 2000 is nothing to sneeze at.
In the world of sixty-four squares, Kendrick Knowles plays like a sly fox wrapped in a scholar’s robes—ready to charm, challenge, and checkmate you before your morning coffee.