Donald Cotten NM

Donald Cotten - National Master Extraordinaire

Donald Cotten, also known in the chess world by the handle doncotten, is a formidable National Master whose journey in the royal game is nothing short of a thrilling chess novel. Starting with a humble rating of 1200 in mid-2013, Donald rapidly blossomed into a master tactician, reaching a stellar peak daily rating of 2444 in 2024. With a strategic mind sharper than a freshly honed bishop’s diagonal, Donald has proven time and again that patience and precision pay off.

Known for a spectacular longest winning streak of 19 games and a current winning streak still blazing at 14, Donald’s chessboard is a battlefield where opponents often find their pieces waving white flags—sometimes metaphorically, sometimes quite literally by resignation. His playstyle? A perfect blend of endgame skill (nearly 62% frequency) and tactical wizardry demonstrated by a remarkable 73% comeback rate. If a piece is lost, fear not—Donald transforms adversity into advantage with nearly 80% victory after losing material.

His opening repertoire might appear as "Unknown Opening" to the untrained eye, but Donald’s 86% win rate in these mysterious lines shows the danger in underestimating the unexpected. A crush on “Top Secret” openings with about 74% win rate keeps his opponents guessing and often scrambling. Fun fact: he’s undefeated in rapid chess losses with 10 wins and 2 draws!

When asked about his preferred playing times, Donald’s success peaks in the early hours as well as at 8 AM sharp, ideally after a strong coffee—he has an impeccable 100% win rate in several prime time slots. Sundays and Fridays are particularly lucky, with over 90% win rates. Monday blues? Not in Donald’s vocabulary.

Donald’s games are a blend of chess artistry and psychological resilience. His tilt factor is a humble “1,” implying that even after a rough patch, getting under his skin is a mission impossible. Besides, his love for white pieces shines through with an impressive 81% win rate playing white, while black remains no less commanding at an even higher 86%.

The Most Recent Masterpiece

On September 17, 2024, Donald faced off against SuperPatzer1956 in a thrilling encounter featuring the Petrov’s Defense. Displaying calm nerves and surgical precision, Donald clinched victory by resignation after weaving a complex web of threats mere moves into the game.

Whether battling online titans or casually dispatching less fortunate amateurs, Donald Cotten is a chess player you want on your side—or at least across the board for an epic duel filled with strategy, wit, and a dash of humor.