Chess Player Profile: Rick Flair
Known online as empena, Rick Flair is a warrior of the 64 squares whose chess journey reads less like a fairy tale and more like a rollercoaster through the wilds of rapid, blitz, and daily chess. With a peak blitz rating hitting a modest but respectable 1007 in early 2021 and a daily play rating cresting at 1322 in 2024, Rick embodies the relentless spirit of a player who never backs down from a challenge—even if sometimes the losses pile up like a tower of blunders.
Playing Style & Strengths
Rick's games tell the story of a player who loves the fight. His average moves per win hover around 45, showing a patient approach, but when the tides turn, he’s known for his tactical resilience with a comeback rate of nearly 67%. He doesn’t shy away from the endgame, with an endgame frequency of over 31%.
While his early resignation rate clocks in at about 13%, Rick is no quitter. His warrior’s heart shines brightest around late morning, with his best play typically happening around 11:00 AM. Just don’t expect him to dominate at night—his win rate dips when the stars come out.
Opening Repertoire
When it comes to openings, Rick has a bit of an eclectic streak. He plays the classic King’s Pawn Opening almost 400 times in blitz, with an almost even win ratio. His secret weapon: the Vienna Game where he claims a winning rate exceeding 55%. He’s also brave enough to face the Scandinavian Defense and enjoys the company of the Four Knights Game, showing a fondness for both gambits and solid structures.
Recent Battles
Rick’s latest victories are the stuff of legend—or at least worthy of a good post-match celebration. One notable win was a rapid-fire game where Rick used the Four Knights Game Spanish Variation to wrest control and force his opponent to resign after a fierce struggle. His tactical eye helped him claim victory in a mere 16 moves—proof that sometimes the best defense is a strong, surprising offense.
Of course, every hero has their off days. Rick's recent defeats remind us all that even the best chess warriors have to bow sometimes. With games abandoned due to strong opposition, it just adds to the drama of his chess saga.
Chess Personality
With a tilt factor of 14 and an average blitz rating hovering in the mid-500s to 700s in recent times, Rick Flair could be described as a spirited and passionate player. Like the legendary wrestler he shares a name with, he dons the digital chessboard with flashy moves, a dash of unpredictability, and a fighting spirit that refuses to quit. Sure, the numbers show a near-balanced record of wins and losses in blitz, but in Rick's games, every piece tells a story and every game is “WOOOOO!” – worthy.
In Summary
Rick Flair may not have conquered the chess world just yet, but he has certainly left his mark with grit, guts, and a dash of panache. If resilience and passion were titles, Rick would be a grandmaster by now. So if you see empena on your next pairing, prepare yourself for a battle full of surprises, sacrifices, and of course, a little bit of flair!
Performance snapshot:
- Peak Blitz Rating: 1007 (Jan 2021)
- Peak Rapid Rating: 1464 (Jan 2021)
- Peak Daily Rating: 1322 (Sep 2024)
- Longest Winning Streak: 12 games
- Favorite Opening: Vienna Game with a 55% win rate in Blitz
- Comeback Artist rate: 67%
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| liiyowmomo | 9W / 0L / 0D | View Games |
| adnan87070 | 4W / 4L / 0D | View Games |
| trangvico | 4W / 1L / 0D | View Games |
| wtfcheswhydidyoudisableme | 5W / 0L / 0D | View Games |
| alhourt | 3W / 1L / 0D | View Games |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 346 | |||
| 2024 | 369 | 402 | 1186 | |
| 2023 | 671 | 485 | 505 | 1261 |
| 2021 | 377 | 688 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1W / 2L / 0D | 1W / 3L / 0D | 19.7 |
| 2024 | 520W / 510L / 17D | 502W / 532L / 16D | 45.3 |
| 2023 | 708W / 668L / 29D | 652W / 718L / 30D | 42.3 |
| 2021 | 217W / 247L / 5D | 201W / 279L / 2D | 32.4 |
Openings: Most Played
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Pawn Opening | 394 | 195 | 189 | 10 | 49.5% |
| Vienna Game | 324 | 179 | 139 | 6 | 55.2% |
| Scandinavian Defense Mieses Kotrc Variation | 239 | 127 | 108 | 4 | 53.1% |
| Three Knights Opening | 195 | 99 | 94 | 2 | 50.8% |
| Petrovs Defense Three Knights Game | 176 | 81 | 93 | 2 | 46.0% |
| Four Knights Game Italian Variation | 148 | 66 | 79 | 3 | 44.6% |
| Queens Pawn Opening Chigorin Variation | 143 | 60 | 83 | 0 | 42.0% |
| Four Knights Game Scotch Variation Accepted | 140 | 74 | 63 | 3 | 52.9% |
| Scotch Game | 133 | 58 | 73 | 2 | 43.6% |
| Queens Pawn Opening | 124 | 53 | 71 | 0 | 42.7% |
| Rapid Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Geet Opening | 20 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 45.0% |
| Queens Pawn Opening Chigorin Variation | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Kings Pawn Opening | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28.6% |
| Undefined | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 75.0% |
| Van Geet Opening Reversed Nimzowitsch Variation | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Nimzowitsch Defense | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Indian Game | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Petrovs Defense | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60.0% |
| Alekhines Defense | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Scotch Game | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25.0% |
| Daily Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Pawn Opening | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Vienna Game | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Queens Gambit Accepted Showalter Variation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Undefined | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Three Knights Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Four Knights Game Italian Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Vienna Game Max Lange Vienna Gambit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Nimzowitsch Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giuoco Piano Game | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Undefined | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 12 | 0 |
| Losing | 14 | 3 |