Ethan Li: The FIDE Master Making Waves in the Chess World
Ethan Li, known in the online arena as EthanLi-NY, is no ordinary chess player. Awarded the prestigious FIDE Master title, Ethan has carved out a reputation as a formidable opponent in blitz and bullet formats, thrilling fans with both tactical brilliance and an uncanny ability to bounce back from adversity.
Rise Through The Ranks
Since first clocking in competitive games in 2017, Ethan’s journey has been a rollercoaster of impressive peaks and occasional tumbles — a bit like a grandmaster trying to find their coffee cup before an early morning tournament. Ethan's blitz rating soared to a peak of 2514 in January 2020, while the bullet peak rating hit an astonishing 2516 as recently as January 2025, demonstrating not just longevity but a continued refinement of rapid-fire skills.
Playing Style: Patience and Precision
What's fascinating about Ethan’s game is the love for endgames, with an endgame frequency above 70%. That means Ethan enjoys the meticulous, strategic battles that many players dread — where every pawn move could be the difference between victory and defeat. Not one to give up early, Ethan has an 11% early resignation rate, suggesting a healthy balance of fighting spirit and knowing when to call it.
Frequent opponents like daniel_moreno and tiggy2001 have seen Ethan’s fighting streak firsthand, with a notably impressive comeback rate of nearly 75%. So, don’t be fooled if Ethan seems down in a game — a comeback might be just around the corner!
Notable Achievements and Quirks
- Longest Winning Streak: 25 games — that's enough games to question if Ethan ever sleeps!
- Win Rates: Remarkably, Ethan wins nearly 60% of blitz games and 59% of bullet games, proof that speed and accuracy can coexist.
- Preferred Openings: Mysterious "Unknown Opening" reigns supreme, but Ethan shines with the Queen’s Pawn Opening Krause Variation and other tricky lines, crushing opponents with deep preparation.
- Psychological Edge: Ethan’s “tilt factor” is at a manageable 7%, showing resilience even when the chess gods decide to test patience.
Memorable Matches
One of Ethan’s recent nail-biters was against opponent artinkh7 where Ethan, playing Black, tactfully won on time after an intense 38-move battle in the Queen's Pawn Opening Krause Variation.
However, not every day is a victory lap — Ethan’s most recent loss came at the hands of PapaiFael, in a tense Queen’s Gambit Declined Catalan Opening where time slipped through the fingers, reminding us that even FIDE Masters are mortal.
Final Thoughts
Ethan Li is an inspiring blend of tenacity, speed, and strategic depth who catches opponents off-guard with both unexpected moves and a solid foundation. Whether blitzing in New York or grinding out endgames online, Ethan keeps it exciting — proving a chessboard is not just squares and pieces; it's a stage for comeback stories, strategic masterminds, and, occasionally, a well-timed resignation.
