Ethan Ta

Ethan Ta (aka ethanthesquid)

Meet Ethan Ta, a brave chess adventurer navigating the rollercoaster world of blitz, rapid, bullet, and daily chess battles with equal parts gusto and grace. Known in the arenas of Chess.com as ethanthesquid, Ethan’s chess journey is less about flawless victories and more about a relentless spirit and a penchant for entertaining games.

Despite a rocky start where losses outnumbered wins with an almost comical consistency, Ethan never backs down from a challenge. With a peak blitz rating soaring to 308 in October 2024, and an impressive rapid peak at 869 earlier in 2023, Ethan has shown flashes of pure brilliance (and a somewhat stubborn refusal to quit early, with a resignation rate of just over 31%). Fans appreciate the spirited efforts, especially since Ethan’s comeback rate is a staggering 92.86% – a true testament to resilience and fighting spirit!

If there’s one thing Ethan excels at, it’s unpredictability. Whether it’s unleashing a Reti Opening with a daring push like in the thrilling recent victory here, or bravely facing off against the Kings Pawn Opening with only a 5% win rate to show for it, Ethan’s games keep opponents guessing (and often celebrating). His record against the most played opponent, win111ty, is a meager 8.85% victory rate, but hey, every giant needs a worthy nemesis.

Ethan’s style? A curious blend of bold early moves and tenacious endgame persistence, with an average game length of around 50 moves regardless of outcome. You might see Ethan playing carefully through a Scandinavian Defense or dabbling in the Grob Opening, often turning games into memorable escapades rather than quick finishes.

When not plotting complex chess moves, Ethan is the embodiment of sportsmanship—even if sometimes the clock becomes the toughest adversary, with 17 losses on time. One can’t win all the time, but Ethan’s story is about passion, perseverance, and the occasional (but well-earned) checkmate celebration.

Current chess motto: “Lose fast, learn faster, and checkmate like nobody’s watching.”