Sahil Tickoo NM

Sahil Tickoo (CrazyMartian) — National Master, Bullet Chess Streamer

Sahil Tickoo, known online as CrazyMartian, is a National Master (National) whose favorite habitat is the 1+0 jungle. A caffeine-powered flag merchant and cheerful swindler, he’s the rare hybrid: a Bullet junkie with an Endgame grinder’s soul. When Caïssa hands out clocks, Sahil takes the whole armory.

With a career built on speed, nerve, and a sixth sense for Flagging, he’s also a popular streamer—equal parts educator, entertainer, and occasional practitioner of the tasteful Botez Gambit.

Style and Identity

Preferred time control? Bullet—always Bullet. The stats shout it: ridiculous volume, relentless pace, and a habit of turning “LPDO” into “LPDON’T.” Sahil’s games feature sharp piece activity, practical chances, and resourceful defense morphing into a last-second Swindle.

• Endgame frequency: sky-high, proving he can grind a “dead” position into a living nightmare.
• Best time to play: 09:00—apparently the Magnus effect peaks right after breakfast.
• Longest heater: 33 straight wins. Longest ice age: 16—also known as “content.”
• Signature motifs: initiative over material, cheeky Zugzwang traps, and the occasional Dirty flag.

Openings He Loves (and Loves to Torture)

Sahil’s repertoire is a practical toolbox rather than a shrine to Theory. He’ll play what scores and what tilts.

• Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack and the straight-up Amazon Attack—surprise weapons that thrive in chaos.
• Slav Defense and QGD setups when he wants a sturdy shell and a late-game squeeze.
• Modern/Pterodactyl and Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation when the mood is “Blitzkrieg.”
• London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation—because even a Bullet artist deserves a solid day job.

Expect an occasional Harry Attack pawn storm, a speculative sac, and a grin that says, “Was that a Cheap shot? Maybe.”

Rivalries and Regulars

Sahil’s ladder is paved with familiar names and friendly nemeses. If you’ve queued into him often, you’re probably here:

• Most played foes: parnali1611 and lordgigantics—epic mini-matches decided by nerves and premoves.
• Dangerous trainers: imcoach has pushed Sahil into some “study-mode” nights.
• Fan-favorites: thodasachess, knight_monster, and the ever-tense scraps with cockroachdolly.

Whether it’s a quiet positional squeeze or a time-scramble brawl, he’ll take the practical route to a Book win—even if the book is coffee-stained.

Career Highlights

Bullet is home: 2632 (2025-10-11) at world-class online speed, with Blitz not far behind and Rapid/Daily showing the classical spine beneath the premoves. He’s proof that “Bullet junkie” and “endgame technician” can live in the same player.

• Bullet evolution:
• Blitz ceiling that keeps rising, with resilient recoveries after tilt marathons.
• Streak lore: 33 wins on the trot—somewhere between a grind and a miracle.

Call him an “Opening grinder” or “Swindling artist”—either way, he’s a flaglord.

Streamer Life

As a streamer, Sahil blends fast hands with fast quips. Expect live breakdowns of “why this Computer move is actually a great Human move,” on-the-fly evaluations, and post-mortems that turn chaos into coaching. Community challenges? Bring your best Bullet Checkmate patterns and your most devious Cheap trick.

• Content pillars: instructive Bullet, tilt management, and practical endgames.
• Catchphrases: “Flag or be flagged,” “LPDO is a lifestyle choice,” and “Harry runs—always.”

Miniature Moment

A bite-sized crowd-pleaser—fast development, a decoy, then the copium vanishes.

• Theme: clearance plus deflection into a winning rook endgame—“quiet move” into loud result.
• Lessons: punish Loose pieces, respect the initiative, and don’t underestimate a late-game Breakthrough.

Fun Facts and Quips

• Best sessions arrive with sunlight: morning games = fewer Mouse Slips, more brilliancy prize candidates.
• Self-described “premove warrior” and “endgame merchant”—a contradictory combo that wins clocks and hearts.
• If there’s a way to turn a “Book draw” into a win, he’ll find it—usually with a rook lift and a grin.
• Believes every Knight is an Octo-Knight in Bullet—eight squares, zero time.

In short: Sahil Tickoo is a National Master who thrives on speed, survives on grit, and entertains with style. When the eval bar wobbles, he just calls it “content.”