Erkan Menali

Erkan Menali (Erkan1106) - The Chess Journeyman

Meet Erkan Menali, a rapid chess enthusiast whose games are as dynamic as his rating fluctuations! With a current rapid rating of 541 (as of 2025) and a love for the King's Pawn Opening — 582 games played there, mind you — Erkan is no stranger to classic openings, although he sometimes dabbles in the occasionally wild Englund Gambit or the sneaky Scandinavian Defense. His style suggests he likes to keep opponents guessing, much like a magician revealing tricks only at the very last move.

Erkan has played well over a thousand rapid games with a near-even score of 705 wins, 688 losses, and a sprinkling of 52 draws. That’s a lot of chances to both shine and humbly learn.

Despite an early resignation rate of 8.37% (because who wants to drag out a losing battle?), Erkan’s games surprisingly average around 43 moves per win, proving he’s no quick surrenderer when it's his time to shine. His comeback rate of 44.41% shows that even when life (or chess) knocks him down, he’s often poised to rise triumphant. Plus, with a perfect 100% win rate after losing a piece, Erkan clearly believes in the power of unexpected comebacks!

When Erkan plays with the white pieces, he enjoys a slightly better success rate (52.9%) compared to playing black (44.51%), probably reflecting that feeling when you get the first move advantage—and he knows how to make it count.

Ever the night owl, Erkan’s best hours for winning hover around the late afternoon and early evening, with a peak win rate of 58.14% at 14:00 hours. Early mornings? Not so much—looks like mornings are for coffee, not chess.

Memorable Recent Battles

• Most recent win: A quick and brutal checkmate using the Sicilian Defense, finishing off Patrick-Star_123 in just four moves. If speed chess were an olympic sport, Erkan would be on the podium!
• Most recent loss: A tough game against Rajah_27, ending in a loss by game abandonment — sometimes even the strongest face the king of tilt.

Known to be stubborn on the board, Erkan’s longest winning streak clocks in at an impressive 11 games. Currently, the winning streak is on pause, but who knows? Maybe he’s just plotting his next great comeback.

Off the board, Erkan goes by Erkan1106 online, where he’s built a reputation for both tactical sharpness and unpredictable gambits. Whether you’re a fan of positional build-up or flashy attacks, you’ll find something to admire in Erkan’s games.

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Erkan Menali — a player who reminds us that in chess, as in life, it’s not only about the rating, but the resilience and occasional cheeky sacrifice that makes the game worth playing.