Alex M

Profile Summary: Alex M. (aka gooberthal)

Known around the chess universe as gooberthal, Alex M. is a relentless warrior of the 64 squares, balancing tenacity with flashes of brilliance and a dash of delightful unpredictability. With a peak bullet rating soaring to 1217 in February 2025 and a rapid rating pushing the 920 mark in May 2025, Alex showcases a steady climb in the competitive chess ranks.

Playing Style & Strengths

True to their style, Alex embraces deep, strategic play with an average of approximately 69 moves to victory, proving stamina and patience in endgames, which dominate their games about 72% of the time. Their comeback rate is impressive at 68%, meaning even when the chips are down, they fight back from the brink rather than folding like a cheap lawn chair.

Despite a somewhat notorious tendency to resign early at times (early resignation rate of 2.89%), their win rate after losing a piece sits at a respectable 43.65%, highlighting tactical awareness and resilience under pressure.

Opening Repertoire - A Little Quirk, A Lot of Grit

Alex's favorite openings read like a glossary of classic, somewhat esoteric chess styles. The Mieses Opening, Pirc Defense, and the King's Indian Attack are their trusted weapons, with variable win rates hovering mid-40s to mid-50s percent. Notably, they’ve mastered the King’s Indian Attack Yugoslav Variation boasting a tidy win rate over 56%—a true diamond in the rough.

In blitz games, the Pirc Defense Classical Variation is a sweet spot, with an impressive 61.5% win rate, making opponents think twice before diving into tactics.

Recent Battles & Memorable Moments

Alex’s recent games reveal some nail-biting finishes and a competitive spirit that refuses to quit. Their latest triumph was via an intense game featuring the Modern Defense with 1.e4 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6, demonstrating patience and precision through complex middlegame maneuvers. Victory was sealed after a relentless endgame battle where every move counted.

On the flip side, not every day is a winning day—recent losses show Alex sometimes bows out with grace, resigning respectfully against tricky opponents employing the King’s Indian Defense and the Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Fun Fact

Alex’s play hours seem to peak in mid-morning, around 10:00 AM, where their win rate jumps to over 60%—clearly, a morning coffee does wonders for tactical clarity. Their psychological tilt factor is a modest 12, which means they handle frustrating positions with more Zen than a monastery monk... most of the time.

Overall Record

• Bullet: A colossal 4,266 wins versus 4,251 losses (with 388 draws) — talk about fighting spirit!
• Blitz: Holding a strong positive record with 246 wins, 222 losses, and 29 draws.
• Rapid: Balanced with 457 wins and 377 losses, proving versatility across time controls.

Whether grinding out long daily games or blitzing in bullet marathons, Alex M. aka gooberthal is a force on the board, a friend off it, and a player always ready to learn, lose, and laugh.