Leo Tolkach

Leo Tolkach - The Tenacious Tactician

Meet Leo Tolkach, a spirited chess enthusiast known on the board as dogekoin. His journey through the world of rapid and blitz chess paints the picture of a fighter who embraces both the highs and the lows with equal passion — and perhaps a little flair.

Rating Rollercoaster

In November 2024, Leo soared to a rapid peak rating of 226, proving he can hold his own when the pressure's on. Though the following months saw some rating dips — even touching 100 more than once — our hero keeps on pressing forward, showing a comeback rate of 100% after losing a piece (because quitting isn’t in his playbook).

Playing Style & Strategy

Leo’s style is a curious blend of early resignations (a humble 16.67% of the time) and a penchant for long, grueling games — averaging over 60 moves even in losses! His games often last long enough to brew a coffee, underscoring his love for the endgame, which he reaches in roughly half his matches.

When it comes to openings, Leo experiments across the board, from the mysterious "Undefined" openings (where he scored his only recorded win) to tried-and-true kings pawn openings and even the less-charted Kadas Opening Koola Koola Variation. Spoiler: his win rate there is less cookie-cutter and more “work in progress.”

Humor & Quirks

Leo’s approach to chess could be described as “boldly unconventional.” Why move a knight when you can gyrate the rook around like a disco dancer? (Seriously, he opened a recent game with 1. h4, followed by Rh3 and Rd3 — the chess equivalent of a warmup stretch.) It’s this playful unpredictability that keeps opponents on their toes and the audience entertained.

Recent Battles

One of Leo’s most triumphant moments came in January 2025 with a victory against shilux1, secured by resignation after a tactically savvy assault. On the flip side, he’s faced tough luck against frequent rival andrejosep, who has checked him out more than a few times.

In Summary

Though Leo’s win-loss record might raise an eyebrow (1 win to 6 losses in rapid play), it’s clear he’s the kind of player who values lessons learned over trophies won. Whether it's enduring long blunders or staging comebacks, Leo’s chess story is far from finished — and frankly, that’s what makes watching him play such a delight.

So next time you face dogekoin in a game, beware: beneath that playful opening lies a spirit that refuses to quit, a master of the comeback, and a puzzler who’s still crafting his signature style move by move.