eithanm

Eithan Markov: The Chessboard Biologist

Meet Eithan Markov, known online as eithanm, a chess player whose game evolves much like a living organism. From humble beginnings in 2013 with a Rapid rating just over 1100, Eithan’s skill has blossomed through the years, reaching a peak Rapid rating above 2200 in 2024 and a strong Blitz rating pushing 1900 by 2025. His gameplay is anything but static—like a cell dividing and multiplying, his strategies have grown more intricate and dynamic.

Eithan favors opening gambits that remind us of biological adaptations—quick, aggressive, and adaptable. The Danish Gambit is one of his favorites in Blitz and Rapid formats, boasting over 50% win rates, while in Blitz he shows a predilection for French Defense variations with a win rate as high as 73%. His choice of openings could be considered a kind of evolutionary fitness: energetic enough to surprise opponents yet stable enough to endure through the middle game.

Known for his tactical awareness, Eithan’s comeback rate is an impressive 72.73%, and he pulls off wins 100% of the time after losing a piece—truly living proof that in the ecosystem of chess, he’s a survivor. His longest winning streak of 21 games shows that once he locks onto a strategy, he replicates success vigorously, much like DNA copying its genetic codes flawlessly.

While every chess player experiences psychological ups and downs, Eithan fights the tilt factor—a mere 12% in his case—keeping his nerves steady like a well-regulated nervous system. His average of nearly 60 moves per win suggests a patience and endurance reminiscent of a marathon runner in the cellular world, winning not by haste but by persisting through multiple cycles of attack and defense.

His playstyle leans slightly toward the methodical, with a balanced win rate as White (53.81%) and Black (50.46%). Eithan’s games resemble a living cell’s lifecycle: dynamic openings, resilient middlegame tactics, and a frequent endgame presence (over 58% endgame frequency), where he expertly maneuvers until the final “cell division” — the checkmate.

Always evolving, always adapting, Eithan Markov continues to proliferate on chessboards worldwide, proving that with a blend of biology and strategy, one can truly make their mark in the grand experiment of chess.