Francesco Alicanti

Francesco Alicanti (Username: fran102903)

Meet Francesco Alicanti, a chess enthusiast whose playing journey is as dynamic and colorful as a bishop zig-zagging across the board on a Sunday stroll. Known in the chess universe by his handle fran102903, Francesco’s rapid rating peaked at a respectable 767 in March 2022, proving he's no stranger to tactical skirmishes and strategic finesse.

Over the years, Francesco has played a whirlwind of games — over 4,000 rapid matches alone with nearly as many wins as losses, proving perseverance is his middle name, and draws? Well, he’s more of a "fight till the last pawn" kind of player. Despite a tilt factor of 13, indicating moments when the queen’s gambit might just throw him off his game, he shows impressive resilience with a staggering ~70% comeback rate after setbacks.

An explorer of openings, Francesco seems to enjoy the mysterious allure of the "Top Secret" opening (whatever that may be - Houdini-level secrets perhaps?), registering hundreds of games with almost an even split between wins and losses. He also has a fondness for the Queen’s Pawn and Scandinavian defenses — so don’t expect an easy stroll if you face him!

His style is a cerebral blend: often lasting over 50 moves when victorious, and even longer when contemplating defeat at over 60 moves per loss. This suggests a player who enjoys soaking in the drama, squeezing every last drop of strategy — and perhaps some suspense — out of each match.

When it comes to timing, Francesco’s zen moment appears to be the early morning hours, with an impressive win rate spike around 1 AM. Maybe the stars align, or maybe coffee fuels his brilliance. His preferred game termination method? Resignation wins and checkmate victories dominate, hinting he knows when to stop the carnage or deliver the coup de grâce.

Let’s talk recent highlights: In a thrilling match on May 31, 2025, Francesco clinched a win against "Vaporek," demonstrating sharp tactics in the Queen’s Pawn Opening: Accelerated London System. The game ended on time, but his relentless pressure was evident throughout the 44 moves. Earlier that day, he checkmated "spidey7770" with mastery in the French Defense, showing versatility across styles and openings.

Yet every hero faces a nemesis — in the same timeframe, Francesco experienced the bitter taste of defeat at the hands of "Alfilobscuro91," losing in a Philidor Defense battle. But knowing Francesco, this loss only makes his next games even more fiercely contested.

In essence, Francesco Alicanti is a gritty competitor on the 64 squares, blending passion, persistence, and plenty of learning (and occasional lamenting) with every move. Whether it's early mornings or late nights, against top-secret strategies or classic openings, he's a player who lives for the game — win, lose, or the spectacle in between.