Bothle Sakuze is a dedicated chess player who enjoys testing his skills primarily in rapid chess. Sometimes called the "Rapid Raptor" on the board, Bothle dazzles opponents with a mix of strategic depth and tactical sharpness, keeping games lively and engaging until the very last move.
Playing Style & Strengths
Known for a patient and well-rounded approach, Bothle’s games often stretch into lengthy, thought-provoking encounters:
Frequently plays long, strategic games with an average of about 63 moves per win and 71 per loss.
Highly values endgames, participating in them about 68% of the time.
Famous (or infamous) for resisting premature resignations with a low early resignation rate of around 1.6%.
Special knack for comebacks — the comeback rate is a stunning 78%, proving he rarely folds when down.
Is most lethal and focused playing after midnight, with a peak playing hour at 00:00.
Favorite Openings
Bothle has experimented with and wielded a variety of openings with special success in:
Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation — Achieves a commendable 54% win rate over nearly 200 games.
English Defense — A sharp choice with a 56% win rate.
Modern Defense and Richter-Veresov — Both with slightly over 50% win rates, showing Bothle's comfort in dynamic, lesser-known lines.
Philidor Defense — An opening Bothle has played extensively, learning from wins and losses alike.
Competitive Highlights
Over several years of competition:
Played over 3,000 rapid games, amassing nearly equal wins (1460) and losses (1459), showcasing immense experience.
Reached a peak rapid rating of 1464 in August 2021, with a blitz peak of 1785 in 2024.
Known for close matches against rivals like scunnie, iamme101, and neuzaaa, with fierce games that fuel Bothle’s competitive fire.
Strategically uses the weekends and early mornings for high performance, winning more games on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Fun Facts
At 1.64%, Bothle rarely throws in the towel early — he prefers a good old-fashioned chess battle to the bitter end.
His games often feature early captures around move 6, signaling his aggressive and tactical awareness early on.
Bothle's resilience is legendary, bouncing back from setbacks with a success rate just under 44% after losing a piece.
When playing as White, Bothle's win rate hits a perfect 50%, proving that he knows how to make the first move count.
