Tanguy Marchand

Tanguy Marchand aka GitanM49

Meet Tanguy Marchand, better known to the online chess world as GitanM49. A player whose passion for chess is matched only by his talent for keeping things interesting on the board — even if the rating gods haven't quite caught up yet.

Chess Journey

As of May 2025, Tanguy’s peak rapid rating stands at a modest but respectable 956, while his daily blitz and bullet forays hang around a crisp 100. Although these numbers suggest a steady climb rather than a meteoric rise, don’t let that fool you. He’s a gritty competitor with a curious knack for lasting battles and tricky endgames, clocking in at nearly 40 moves on average in wins.

Playing Style & Preferences

Tanguy prefers to shake things up with the King’s Pawn Opening and its variations — especially the Leonardis Variation, where he’s collected a fair share of wins (or at least tried his best!). He also boasts a perfect win record (3/3) in the Berlin Defense under the Bishop’s Opening in rapid games, proving that when he’s confident, he can be downright formidable.

But beware the Three Knights Opening: 5 games, 0 wins. Apparently, Tanguy has a love-hate relationship with that one — more “hate” than “love,” but hey, every hero has their Achilles' heel.

Notable Stats & Tales

• Longest winning streak: a fierce 8 games, reminding everyone he’s no pushover.
• Longest losing streak: a painful 12 games, proving that even the best stumble — but always rise again.
• Comeback rate of almost 73% after falling behind by piece count — a true fighter who doesn’t give up.
• A tilt factor of 12: when the chess cosmos isn’t aligned, Tanguy might just swear at his keyboard — but only a little.

Time & Rivalries

Interestingly, his best time to play is the early morning at 9 AM, a time when others might still be fighting off the snooze button.

He has faced keke35 a whopping 19 times, with a win rate of just under 16% — a worthy rival to keep him on his toes. Meanwhile, notable wins against blackjackdaniel and diogomat0s show he can strike decisive blows when it counts.

Latest Battles

One of Tanguy’s recent crowning moments was a clever victory over BlackJackDaniel in a Philidor Defense exchange variation, snagging a win by resignation after meticulous pressure.

However, not all battles ended in triumph; a tough checkmate at the hands of sibbrell in the Three Knights Opening serves as a reminder: chess is a humbling master, and every defeat brings lessons (and maybe a little grumbling).

Who is Tanguy Marchand?

He's the kind of player who might lose more than he wins, but what he lacks in rating, he makes up for in persistence, variety, and a dash of quirky charm. A regular on Chess.com, Tanguy’s ongoing quest is not just to top the leaderboard, but to enjoy every game, learn, and occasionally confound his opponents with an unpredictable move or two.

In short: if patience and perseverance were pieces on the board, Tanguy Marchand would be Grandmaster by now. Until then, cheer for GitanM49, the scrappy underdog with a heart of chess gold.