Dominic Nguyen

Dominic Nguyen (aka d_oomK)

Dominic Nguyen is a rapidly rising star on the chess scene, known online as d_oomK. Although their rapid rating started modestly in early 2025, Dominic quickly improved their game with a peak rapid rating of 557 in May 2025—a meteoric climb that would make even the toughest grandmasters raise an eyebrow. Whether battling in rapid, blitz, or daily formats, Dominic has shown a tenacity and unpredictability that keeps their opponents on edge.

Playing Style & Strengths

Blessed with an impressive 74% comeback rate, Dominic rarely lets a lost piece decide the game, embodying the spirit of the eternal underdog who fights until the very last move. Their average winning game lasts about 41 moves, proving they're not just about quick tricks but a steady strategic grind—though their average moves in losses stretch even longer, showing some stubbornness or perhaps a touch of "I’m not giving up without a fight" attitude.

On white pieces, Dominic boasts a slight edge with a 50.83% win rate, narrowly edging out black's 50.62%. Apparently, color doesn't faze this player much; they embrace both sides of the board like a seasoned gladiator.

Opening Repertoire

When it comes to openings, Dominic seems to enjoy classical lines with a modern twist. The King’s Pawn Opening is a reliable weapon with a respectable 53% win rate, but their real ace is the Three Knights Opening, boasting an impressive 75% win rate. Their taste in defense includes the Scandinavian Defense Mieses Kotrc Variation where they maintain a winning record, but oddly enough, the Philidor Defense hasn’t been as kind, with a win rate under 40%.

Competition & Records

Dominic’s head-to-head battles reveal some notable quirks: undefeated streaks against opponents like smithlax24, bigblackpawn34, and rahul_2404, showing an uncanny knack for exploiting certain rivals’ weaknesses. Conversely, certain adversaries such as applicationgood and some others have been less forgiving, reminding Dominic that humility remains in the game.

Recent Highlights

The thrill of victory is fresh for Dominic, with memorable wins by both resignation and checkmate. A recent stunning game saw them sacrifice material to deliver a decisive attack, forcing their opponent smithlax24 to resign just shy of the 16th move. On the flip side, a tough loss to applicationgood reminds Dominic and fans alike that even the best stumble—especially against sneaky Giuoco Piano counters.

Fun Facts

• Dominic’s best time to strike is an early bird’s delight: precisely at 8:00 AM, proving that coffee and chess are a powerful combo.
• They have a curious streak of endings decided by resignation, sometimes quicker than their opponents can say “check!”.
• Blitz might not be their strongest suit (a humble 2 wins out of 9 games), but rapid and daily games are where they truly shine.

Dominic Nguyen’s journey is a perfect blend of grit, strategy, and a hint of chaos—a reminder that chess isn’t just a game of kings, but a game of perseverance, and sometimes brilliant madness.