Mike

Player Profile: Mike (Gewoondatdus)

Mike, known in the chess realm by the intriguing username "Gewoondatdus," is a determined and seasoned combatant on the 64 squares. Beginning his journey with a daily rating peak at 740 in early 2021, he's shown resilience through the rollercoaster of wins, losses, and the rare draw. Despite a rocky start marked by a flurry of losses, Mike’s persistence carved a path to steadily improving performance, especially noticeable in the daily cadence where his rating eventually surged back toward a solid 699 in 2024.

Though his blitz and bullet ratings might not quite intimidate Magnus Carlsen, Mike's blitz play boasts almost a perfect balance between wins and losses, illustrating a fearless, take-no-prisoners style. His bullet games? Well, let’s just say he’s played over six thousand games with a win rate hovering just shy of 50%, taking more punches than Rocky but still never staying down for long — talk about endurance!

When it comes to openings, Mike prefers the mysterious and untraditional, often opting for "Top Secret" strategies, leaving opponents guessing and plotting their next move as if deciphering a spy movie plot. His favorite time to play? Well, if you were to catch Mike online, you’d want to look around 3 a.m. — his peak time to dominate the board when the world is quiet and opponents are dozing!

His playing style combines a healthy mix of cautious endgames (he reaches them more than half the time) and cunning comebacks, boasting an impressive ~87% comeback rate after setbacks. Mike’s average game length reveals he's not one to rush victory or surrender early: on wins, games last about 50 moves, but losses tend to drag longer, suggesting stubborn fights until the bitter end. Tilt? A modest 15% tilt factor shows he can get annoyed, but he doesn’t let it ruin the game.

Mike’s psychological toughness shines through his performances after losing a piece, managing nearly a 45% win rate after such a disadvantage. He's a reminder that losing material isn't always game over, but a new battlefield for resilience.

Ever the tactician, Mike's games often end with timeout victories, proving he's as patient as a grandmaster and, occasionally, as time-pressured—managing to win by the clock when all else hangs in the balance. His longest winning streak is a solid 11 games, and at the moment he's riding a neat two-game winning streak — momentum is on his side!

Some of Mike's recent battles have ended in thrilling checkmates and timely wins on time, documented in his latest games on Chess.com — like a modern-day chess warrior weaving strategies that stump and surprise. Whether slinging the Queen's Gambit Declined or demolishing foes in the Modern Defense, Mike relishes the challenge,games flashing with fierce on-the-board action as the clocks tick down.

To sum it all up: Mike might not be stepping on the global grandmaster stage just yet, but his chess journey echoes the spirit of any dedicated player — brimming with passion, an endless thirst to improve, and a touch of mystery that keeps opponents wondering, "What’s Mike going to do next?"

Watch this space — Mike’s next move might just be checkmate.