Meet crookalia: The Chessboard Trickster
In the vast digital empire of chess.com lurks crookalia, a player whose rating journey is as wildly unpredictable as a squirrel on a caffeine rush. Starting off strong with a rapid peak of 591 in late 2022, crookalia quickly learned that every chess hero needs their fair share of humble lessons — dipping as low as 229 before plotting a (slightly) steadier return to a consistent 344 in 2023 and 2024.
Not one to shy from the heat of the clock, crookalia enjoys all time controls but shines brightest in the bullet realm, boasting a peak rating of 1335 after a perfect (if brief) undefeated debut. Rapid battles tell a more bittersweet tale with 11 wins to 23 losses, but the wins are as satisfying as checkmating your arch-nemesis with a sneaky queen sacrifice.
Opening Repertoire: A Mix of Bold and “Now What?”
- King's Pawn Opening is the reliable workhorse: 10 rapid games with a decent 60% win rate (because sometimes fortune favors the bold).
- French Defense Normal Variation and Owens Defense: Perfect 100% win rates — but only played once each — proving that crookalia’s mystery openings pack a punch!
- Less successful adventures into defenses like the Philidor, Alekhine's, and Nimzowitsch show that even the bravest have their kryptonite.
Playing Style and Quirks
With an average game length stretching close to 79 moves for wins, crookalia clearly has the patience of a Zen master... or maybe just a fondness for complex endgames (entered in 75% of games). Interestingly, losing pieces is never the end — the comeback rate is a perfect 100%, though the win rate after such stumbles hovers around 32%, showing that this battler fights with both grit and occasional bewilderment.
Tilt factor is low (5%), meaning crookalia keeps the cool even when the chess gods are merciless. Best time to play? Around 6 PM — it seems the evening sparks that extra tactical magic.
Notable Rivals and Rivalries
beandip18 has been crookalia's most frequent opponent (18 games) with a respectable 61% win rate against this familiar foe. On the flip side, smokingacig has proven a tougher nut, with only an 8% success rate. Meanwhile, crookalia holds a clean 100% record against lagartjon, proving that sometimes the stars align.
Memorable Moments
One for the highlight reel was a sparkling checkmate victory on Christmas Day 2023 — a dazzling finish featuring queen and rook cooperation that would make even Magnus Carlsen nod in approval. Of course, not every game ends with glory; recent losses remind us that in the game of chess, humility is the ultimate master.
Whether you see crookalia as a cheeky underdog or a quietly cunning strategist, one thing’s clear: this player’s journey on the 64 squares is a delightful rollercoaster of smiles, surprises, and just the right amount of chess drama.