Erik Almquist

Erik Almquist (erialm)

Erik Almquist, known by the username erialm, is not your average chess player — though you may find his rating hovering modestly around the 700 mark in Rapid chess, do not be fooled! With over 28,000 games played, Erik's passion for the game is unrivaled and his resilience legendary.

Playing Style and Strengths

Erik has a fascinating blend of patience and fighting spirit. Averaging about 64 moves to victory, he clearly enjoys a good long battle on the board — whether he's pressing his advantage or staging one of his impressive comebacks. His comeback rate of 67.64% and a perfect 100% win rate after losing a piece show that giving up simply isn't in his vocabulary.

White squares or black squares, Erik has a slight preference for white, with a win rate just shy of 50%. Opponents beware: those who capture his pieces without caution might find themselves on the losing end, as Erik's tactical alertness shines brightest when under pressure.

Opening Book

In the world of openings, Erik keeps a lot close to his chest — his most played opening is cleverly labeled "Top Secret", and it’s been played over 28,000 times with a solid 47.2% win rate. When he shows his hand, he favors classical lines like the King's Pawn and Scandinavian Defense, both serving him well with win rates north of 60%. Maybe the secret sauce to his style is a mystery wrapped in an enigma; or just a quirky username to mislead his adversaries!

Mental Game

Despite facing more losses than wins (13,401 wins to 13,546 losses in Rapid), Erik’s tilt factor is modest at 12, suggesting a steady approach and a cool head when the going gets tough. He does tend to resign fairly early (2.16% early resignations), but at least he tries! A slightly negative rated versus casual win difference hints that casual games might sometimes sneak past his defenses, but rapid games are where his heart truly lies.

Notable Quirks

• His longest winning streak: 12 games — a mighty impressive feat that could put even grandmasters on alert.
• He tends to play best around the early morning hours 2AM to 3AM, where his win rate jumps over 50% — a nocturnal chess ninja perhaps?
• Friend and foe alike can vouch for his endurance, as he often drags games into the endgame phase nearly 60% of the time.

Fun Fact

Erik’s blitz record is brief but entertaining — just 2 games played, split 1 win and 1 loss, proving that sometimes he likes to shake things up and keep the thrill alive!

Whether you encounter him as a relentless strategist in a marathon match or a mysterious enigma behind "Top Secret" openings, Erik Almquist is a dedicated player whose love for chess shines through every move.