Esmail Behbahani

Esmail Behbahani (Essi0007) - The Chess Craftsman

Meet Esmail Behbahani, known in the chess world as Essi0007, a player who has quietly but steadily carved a niche on online chess platforms with a mix of tactical sharpness, strategic depth, and just the right amount of stubbornness — especially when it comes to climbing the rating ladder!

Rating & Performance

Esmail’s journey from a modest beginner to a near-2100 rapid rating powerhouse is one marked by persistence and a passion for the game. His rapid rating peaked impressively at 2082 as recently as August 2024, showing his continual improvement and resilience. Blitz and bullet formats have also seen some solid performances, peaking at 1692 and 1369, respectively, with considerable games under his belt.

Playing Style

A true marathoner of the chessboard, Esmail averages over 70 moves per win and doesn’t shy away from the deep trenches of long endgames — with a remarkable endgame frequency near 80%. His comeback rate from tough positions is a crazy 83%, proving he's never one to throw in the towel early. Early resignations are rare, ruling out any hint of surrender-monkey behavior.

Opening Choices

Esmail has a trusty repertoire, favoring solid and classical defenses like the Philidor Defense, the Sicilian Defense (especially the French Variation), and Petrovs Defense. Whether it's the Philidor Defense Exchange Variation or the Sicilian Defense French Variation, he’s a master at steering the game into familiar waters, with near 50% win rates on many of these lines — or better! He’s comfortable both with White and Black, slightly edging White with a 52% win rate, but don’t count on him giving Black an easy ride either.

Psychology & Timing

Esmail’s optimal chess hours are a bit nocturnal, with 2 AM being his golden hour for precision and success. His tilt factor is kept impressively low at 12% — meaning he’s got nerves of steel when the clock ticks down. And he’s no stranger to the drama of time scrambles: he has hundreds of wins by timeout, proving he’s adept at both pace and pressure.

Record & Rivalries

With over 12,000 rapid wins and counting, Esmail’s competitive spirit is unmatched. While he relishes fierce battles against opponents like samuel_sieman46 and aa136552, he’s shown some undefeated streaks against a bunch of challenging foes (looking at you, kocharyan and ash201972!), keeping his fans on the edge of their seats.

Memorable Games

Among his recent triumphs, Esmail turned the tables with a dazzling victory using the Philidor Defense against setia_vista in 2025 — finishing the game on time after a grueling 54 moves. Not a fan of quick draws or easy wins, his games testify to patience, vibrant tactics, and endurance.

Fun Facts

• He has a curious habit of hunting wins at odd hours, with the 2 AM slot being his best time to play.
• Despite a tactical style, Esmail tends to win more often by resignation than checkmate — perhaps too merciful or maybe just deadly efficient.
• His longest winning streak is 13 games; lucky opponents beware!
• He’s battled nearly 700 games in one single month of rapid chess — someone loves the grind!

Whether you are a fan of strategic bruisers or swift tactical strikes, Esmail Behbahani’s games deliver a great blend of both. Keep an eye on Essi0007 — his chess story is far from over, and checkmate might just be around the corner.