deniseharrington

Denise Harrington: The Reluctant Chess Warrior

Meet deniseharrington, a chess player whose rating journey resembles a thrilling novel—full of ups, downs, and surprising twists. Starting modestly in 2016 with a blazing Blitz rating of 1071 from a single game, Denise has since waded through countless positions, pawns, and probably a few spilled coffees.

Despite an early stumble on the Daily ladder with a starting rating of 384 in 2020 (and the distinction of losing that debut game), Denise didn’t throw in the towel. In fact, by 2025, she’s cruising near a solid 950 rating in Daily play, proving persistence beats initial anxiety. Meanwhile, her Bullet games tell a tale of stamina and battlefield chaos—over 6,600 games played, almost as many wins as losses, and an average rating slowly climbing to 288 in 2025. It might seem she’s playing 24/7, which, frankly, she might be.

Blitz and Rapid games add more flavor: after a Blitz peak in 2016, Denise took a (merciful) break before returning to master the time control mid-game scrambles. Her clever mix of patience and tactical flair shines with a 100% win rate right after losing a piece. That’s a player who refuses to be counted out once the material tally dips.

Psychologically, Denise carries a tilt factor of 14%, which in chess jargon means, occasionally, the queen’s sacrifice on impulse might have been a bad call—but hey, we all have our moments. Her average winning game length is about 52 moves, showing she doesn’t shy away from the long haul, unlike many who resign early—her early resignation rate is impressively low at under 2%, which means she fights ‘til the very end.

Her preferred secret weapon? A mysterious "Top Secret" opening, used in thousands of games across all formats, maintaining solid win rates around 45%-57%. Whether it’s a clever gambit or just a really good disguise, opponents clearly underestimate her preparation at their peril.

Denise’s style can be summed up as “the valiant underdog with endless grit”. Her comeback rate is over 65%, turning near-defeat into improbable victories—she’s the type who’d lose her queen, flip the board, then win anyway.

Beyond the board, deniseharrington is a community stalwart, having played thousands of games and faced a diverse crowd—from some friendly wild-knights to opponents like joker1010101 and chessbicycle. And while some opponents have a dismal 0% success rate against her, a few suffer with a 100% loss rate—classic Denise style.

To sum it all up: if you see deniseharrington across the chessboard, expect a resilient player who blends steady improvement with a dash of unpredictability and a lot of heart. And maybe, just maybe, prepare for a marathon because she doesn’t quit early.

Chess might be a game of kings and queens, but Denise Harrington is the unbeatable gladiator.