Kevin Davidson — National Master & Rapid Specialist
Kevin Davidson (also known online as Good_Knight_Kiss) is a National Master whose reputation was forged in fast-paced play. A relentless tactician with a taste for long, grindy wins, Kevin has made a name for himself in rapid and blitz play while keeping a mischievous sense of humor at the board.
- Title: National Master (National)
- Preferred time control: Rapid (appears strongest and most consistent)
- Signature traits: tenacious endgames, late comebacks, and a fondness for the Najdorf and Caro‑Kann
Playing Style & Strengths
Kevin blends deep endgame technique with aggressive opening choices. Games tend to be long — he averages well over 70 moves — and he is unusually likely to pull out wins after being down material, making him a feared opponent in time scrambles.
- Endgame frequency: Very high (often converts small advantages)
- Avg moves per decisive game: ~74–76 moves — marathon battles are Kevin’s comfort zone
- Comeback rate: Exceptional — known for rescuing lost positions
- Best time of day to play: Around 21:00 (prime Kevin hours)
Openings & Repertoire
Kevin favors combative systems. He is a Najdorf devotee, but his win rates show real variety: the Caro‑Kann and Scandinavian appear as reliable go‑to defenses, while the Amar Gambit and Bird yield excellent results in slower time controls.
- Most-played: Sicilian Defense — Najdorf Variation (heavy usage)
- Reliable counters: Caro‑Kann and Scandinavian — strong win rates in blitz
- Surprise weapons: Amar Gambit (huge success in Daily) and occasional Bird Opening in Rapid
- Curious fact: Kevin overwhelmingly opens with 1.e4 — a traditional striker’s choice
Learn more about common lines: Sicilian Defense • Caro-Kann Defense
Career Highlights & Notable Facts
- Peak blitz performance has produced thunderous rating runs — a relentless streak of strong months in recent seasons. 2584 (2025-05-15)
- Strength-adjusted win rate: Rapid stands out as Kevin’s best category — a dependable performer under that clock.
- Longest winning streak: 15 games; longest losing streak: 13 games — proof that Kevin can both steamroll and suffer setbacks (and bounce back).
- Tilt factor: modest — Kevin acknowledges losing streaks but usually recovers quickly.
Visualize the rise and war stories:
Famous Opponents & Rivalries
Kevin has built intense rivalries with a handful of frequent opponents. These matchups tell stories of grudges, rematches, and long-term study.
- Most played: chesscoachkyle — a lopsided score that reads like a soap opera (Kevin: many wins).
- Other regulars: orestn, garnett14, gerber-baby, kensei26
- Top head‑to‑head highlight: against chesscoachkyle Kevin holds an impressive record (many wins, few losses).
Sample Game — A Taste of the Style
Here’s a compact replay of one of Kevin’s typical sharp victories: aggressive opening, tactical middlegame, and a patient endgame finish.
Interactive sample (use the viewer to replay):
Statistics Snapshot (Quick Takes)
- Massive blitz experience: tens of thousands of fast games — Kevin is a blitz veteran.
- Daily & Rapid: strong win rates and impressive long-game conversion.
- Tactical resilience: high win rate after losing a piece and excellent comeback ability.
Want a peak number? Key milestones are embedded above: 2283 (2023-09-20) • 2584 (2025-05-15)
Personality, Training & Fun Facts
Off the clock Kevin blends seriousness with levity — prepare for puns in postgame chat. Training habits include deep endgame drills, regular opening refreshers, and marathon blitz sessions to sharpen nerves.
- Preparation depth: often dives 7–9 moves deep into typical lines
- Humor: will offer a chess pun after a narrow escape ("I resigned my dignity, but not the game")
- Community tip: best to avoid his Najdorf unless you enjoy tactical fireworks
More Resources
Explore opponent pages, opening terms, and interactive charts embedded above. For quick reference:
- Opponent profile: chesscoachkyle
- Opening term: Sicilian Defense
- Training replay sample: the PGN above is ready to load in a viewer