Tomasz Poc

Profile of Tomasz Poc (aka DonMortadello)

Meet Tomasz Poc, the chess enthusiast who navigates the 64 squares with a mix of strategy, stubbornness, and just a dash of delightful chaos. Known online as DonMortadello, he turns the battlefield of chess boards into his personal theater — sometimes a drama, sometimes a comedy, but always entertaining.

Rating Rollercoaster

Tomasz’s rating journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride — with highs like a Blitz rating peak of 717 back in April 2021 and a soaring Daily peak of 843 in April 2024. Though he’s seen ratings dip below 300 at times (hey, even champions have their off days), Tomasz always bounces back, proving resilience is his middle name.

Preferred Playground

His preferred time control is Daily, where he enjoys taking his time to plot tricky maneuvers, occasionally surprising opponents with an unexpected flourish. Blitz and Bullet games? He’s no stranger, either — a true versatile warrior who doesn’t shy away from frantic moments or rapid-fire battles.

Playing Style & Quirks

Tomasz is a tenacious fighter, often getting tangled in endgames (they happen more than half the time) and rarely calls it quits early — his early resignation rate is a modest 7.26%, which means he usually fights till the very end, or until his coffee runs out. His average game length varies, but he tends to outlast opponents by playing longer moves in losses than in wins, perhaps plotting a grand comeback.

Tactical Awareness

With a comeback rate of nearly 60%, Tomasz has proved to be a stubborn fox on the board, turning losing positions around with crafty tactics. However, losing a piece knocks down his win rate to about 35%, reminding us that even the best get caught without their favorite chess friends now and then.

Favorite Openings

On the opening front, Tomasz has some loyal favorites:

• King’s Pawn Opening: the classic opener he’s played more than a hundred times in Blitz, though the win rate hovers just below 40% — he’s a risk-taker!
• Queens Pawn Opening Horwitz Defense: a small but shiny trophy with a neat 64% win rate.
• French Defense Normal Variation: Tomasz feels at home here with a solid 60% win rate in Blitz and a sparkling 100% rapid win success (when he plays it, he usually dominates!).
• And a sprinkling of Scandinavian Defense, Caro Kann, Scotch Game, and many more — versatility is key!

Victory & Defeat Highlights

His recent wins feature clever strikes and bold plays, like the Scotch Game victory where he snagged his opponent’s queen early and showed no mercy, or a game won by resignation after a flurry of tactical fireworks. These examples perfectly showcase Tomasz’s blend of patience and sudden aggression.

Notable Stats:

• Total wins: 266 (across all time controls)
• Longest winning streak: 5 games
• Longest losing streak: 9 (a humbling reminder to never get too comfortable)
• Best time of day to play: around 10 PM — apparently Tomasz’s brain switches into chess ninja mode after dinner

Psychological & Social Tidbits

With a tilt factor of 9, Tomasz sometimes feels the heat of the chess battlefield, but his resilience shines through. And despite a playful habit of losing more when rated above his opponents, he doesn’t let statistics change his love for the game. When the chips are down, he’s probably brewing a cup of coffee, muttering “one more game,” and setting that clock again.

In Closing

Tomasz Poc is not just a chess player; he’s a persistent dreamer on a grid of checkered squares, a tactician with a sense of humor, and a competitor who plays not just for glory but for the joy of the game. Facing him is a test of patience, creativity, and occasionally, endurance — so prepare yourself, and may the best player win!

Example of a recent winning tactical burst: