Andrew Lu (dawnrule)
National Master Extraordinaire
Andrew Lu, known online as dawnrule, is a chess player who has earned the prestigious title of National Master. Over the years, Andrew has carved a niche in the fast-paced world of online chess with a style that's as thrilling as it is tactical — and a win streak to make any opponent reconsider their life choices.
Rating Highlights
- Peak Rapid Rating: 2158 (Feb 2021)
- Peak Blitz Rating: 2634 (April 2022)
- Peak Bullet Rating: 2707 (April 2023)
- Peak Daily Rating: 1918 (July 2022)
Wins, Losses, and Draws – The Battle Stats
With over 9,200 wins combined in Blitz and Bullet games, Andrew’s victories have piled up like pawns on the chessboard. Losses? Sure, but just enough to keep things interesting:
- Rapid: 84 Wins / 32 Losses / 4 Draws
- Blitz: 9274 Wins / 7190 Losses / 679 Draws
- Bullet: 11065 Wins / 8597 Losses / 1102 Draws
- Daily: 66 Wins / 17 Losses / 2 Draws
Opening Repertoire - The Weaponry
Andrew favors dynamic and sharp openings, especially the Sicilian Defense in various guises, with impressive win rates in specific lines, like a perfect 100% in the Open Najdorf and Accelarated Dragon Maroczy Bind variations in Rapid chess. When not Sicilian, Andrew is comfortable mixing it up with London Systems and Bogo Indian variations, showing a versatile approach ready to keep opponents guessing.
Playing Style & Mindset
Andrew’s chess personality isn’t just about calculating moves but also about psychological resilience. Their tilt factor is quite low (11), meaning losing a few games doesn't send them spiraling — the proverbial “calm after the blunder.” Known for an impressive come-back rate of over 70% and nearly cracking a 56% win rate playing with white pieces, Andrew plays both creatively and pragmatically.
Notable Streaks & Quirks
Longest Winning Streak: 39 games
Longest Losing Streak: 11 games (because hey, even masters have their “off days”)
Average Moves per Game: Around 61 moves – proving Andrew loves a good, thoughtful battle rather than quick checkmates (no speedruns here, unless it’s Bullet!).
Recent Triumphs
Andrew’s most recent wins showcase not only solid technique but also creative attacking flair as seen in a thrilling victory using the French Defense Steinitz Variation where Andrew danced through tactical melees to win on time. Another recent gem involved a ruthless checkmate finish in the Kings Indian Attack, proving they can out-calc and out-maneuver opponents with style.
Fun Facts
- Likes to play aggressive lines that get the pawns moving and claws out early.
- Surprisingly effective even when starting off with fewer time on the clock — must be the nerves of steel or just caffeine.
- Famous for perseverance: able to turn games around even after losing a piece.
In short, Andrew Lu is the chess player who embraces complexity and endurance, smiles through blunders, and never resigns before their coffee kicks in. Watch out on the board — they might just "dawnrule" your kingdom.