Grandmaster Jon Ludvig Hammer
Meet Jon Ludvig Hammer, better known in the chess world as gmjlh, a true wizard of the 64 squares. Awarded the prestigious title of Grandmaster by FIDE, Jon Ludvig is no stranger to tactical wizardry and fierce competition.
Starting his blitz journey with a humble rating of 1656 back in 2010, Jon Ludvig quickly escalated the ranks to hit a blazing peak blitz rating of 2945 in April 2023. He's also a speed demon in bullet chess, having achieved a peak rating of 3070 in November 2020 — which may or may not be linked to some undisclosed caffeine intake.
His rapid rating peaked at a respectful 2754 in August 2019, demonstrating his versatile mastery across all time controls. With a career total of thousands of games, Jon Ludvig boasts a lightning-fast comeback rate of nearly 81%, proving that losing a piece is never a death sentence if you keep your cool — and your queen ready.
Not only is his brain sharp, but his instincts are sharp too: his longest winning streak is an astounding 71 games, and he is currently riding a 14-game winning spree. His opponents might want to bring their A-game — or a crystal ball.
Playing Style & Personality
Jon Ludvig averages around 72 moves per win, which tells us he enjoys the long strategic battles as much as flashy tactical fireworks. His win rates with white and black pieces hover impressively above 70%, showing no color bias — just pure, relentless chess.
With an early resignation rate of under 4%, he is not one to throw in the towel unless the position is truly hopeless. Outside the arena, Hammer is known for his engaging personality, sometimes throwing in a cheeky grin when he’s just swept the board clean.
Recent Performance Highlights
In his latest clash against Alexandra Botez in March 2025, Jon Ludvig displayed his trademark resilience, clinching victory by resignation after a methodical and precise kingside assault involving queenside control and timely tactical strikes. You can replay this masterpiece here, where every move feels like a stroke of calculated genius.
Opponent Insights
Jon Ludvig has faced top competitors like Alex Botez, GM Krikor, and Georg Meier multiple times, often gaining the upper hand with a win rate north of 65% against most of his frequent rivals. Beware if you find yourself on his opponent list — he’s lethal with a subtlety that can’t be easily anticipated.
Fun Fact
The mysterious “Top Secret” opening he played in over 6,000 blitz games with almost 70% win rate suggests he might just be holding back some super-powered strategies for the World Championship — or at least for his next stream.
In short: whether it’s bullet, blitz, or rapid, Jon Ludvig Hammer is a chess beast balancing tactical ferocity with strategic elegance, seasoned with a hint of playful genius. If chess was a melody, he'd be the composer and the grand conductor.