Charles Mark

Charles Mark (aka Firestar373) - The Rapid Riser of the Chessboard

Meet Charles Mark, a chess warrior whose online handle Firestar373 burns bright and fast across the ranks! Starting humbly with ratings barely breaking 200 in early 2023, Charles’s rapid rating shot up like a comet streaking across the night sky — hitting a blazing 617 by April 2025. If you think that’s impressive, wait till you hear about his penchant for scoring wins by resignation and his tactical comeback prowess, proving he's not just fast but fiercely stubborn too.

Rise & Style

Charles’s chess journey is a rollercoaster of grit and flair. With a career Rapid record of 47 wins, 37 losses, and 13 draws, our player dances between glory and occasional heartbreak. His favorite opening? A mysterious "Top Secret" weapon — played nearly 100 times online with just shy of a 50% win rate, proving he likes to keep opponents guessing and on the edge of their seats.

His style is a little like a cunning fox playing midnight chess: a tad early to resign (about 18% early resignations), but very much in it for the endgame thrills, with close to half of games going deep into strategy. Average moves reveal he enjoys a good tussle — around 54 moves per win, versus nearly 59 moves per painful loss. Both white and black squares are his playground, with a slight edge when playing black (52% wins) — chess tradition flipped on its head!

The Stats Speak (and sometimes Laugh)

• Peak Rapid Rating: 617 (April 2025) - definitely not your casual coffee table player.
• Blitz & Bullet: Close companions in speed, with peaks at 474 and 499 respectively, showing he can think on his feet when the clock ticks loud.
• Winning Streak: A jaw-dropping 6 consecutive wins - quite the mini chess marathon.
• Tilt Factor: Bravo on resilience with just a 3 out of 10; Charles bounces back faster than a queen roaming freely across the board.

Notable Battles

The highlight reel? An epic victory in April 2025 where Charles played the "King's Pawn Opening: Wayward Queen Kiddie Countergambit" with style, coaxing his opponent to resign after a dazzling board dance lasting 55 moves. The game is classic Firestar — aggressive, tactical, yet patient enough to exploit every slight weakness.

Losses? Sure, a few — but even those serve as wise mentors reminding Charles that even the fiercest blaze needs air to roar back stronger. His battles with familiar foes like hamburgerwithlettuce show a borderline love-hate relationship, winning about half the time against this frequent rival.

Chess & Chuckles

Behind every calculated sacrifice and sneaky fork lies a player who might just chuckle watching opponents stumble over the unpredictability of his "Top Secret" opening. If only his opponents knew his secret weapon also includes the power of bewilderment... and maybe a good morning latte.

In short, Charles Mark is a passionate, steadily rising chess player whose games combine cunning tactics, studious endgames, occasional gambles, and a dash of fire—just like his username Firestar373 suggests. Keep an eye on him; this star is only getting hotter.