Avatar of Graham Mann
Player Profile

Graham Mann

Graham London Since 2007 (Inactive) Chess.com
67.5% W 27.7% L 4.8% D
Bullet
1032
0W 1L 0D
Blitz
1079
0W 1L 0D
Daily
1473
56W 21L 4D

Overview

Graham is a cheeky and persistent Daily chess player whose games read like a well paced novel - sometimes a comedy, sometimes a thriller. Preferring Daily time control, Graham favors deep, thoughtful play and a healthy dose of unconventional openings that catch opponents off guard.

  • Preferred time control - Daily
  • Record in Daily games - 57 wins, 24 losses, 4 draws
  • Peak Daily rating - 1665 (2018-03-27) (spring 2018)
  • Highest visible form - a run of consistent improvement across 2016 to 2018
Daily Rating1736137210086442792016: 13612017: 16152018: 16152020: 14992021: 15512022: 15072023: 14902025: 4002026: 400201620172018202020212022202320252026

Playing style

Graham plays like someone who enjoys a long conversation at the board. Moves are deliberate, ideas are layered, and the endgames stick around long enough to become dramatic. White games tend to be particularly successful.

  • White win rate - 73.91 percent
  • Black win rate - 56.1 percent
  • Average moves per win - about 59 moves
  • Average moves per loss - about 50 moves
  • Endgame frequency - appears in about half of Graham's games
  • Comeback rate and tenacity - strong, with a comeback rate near 63 percent

Favorite and notable openings

Graham has eclectic tastes. He mixes solid choices with mischievous traps and rare sidelines. When a line suits him, he tends to stick with it until it either wins or teaches him a lesson.

  • Philidor Defense - a reliable favorite with excellent results. See the term: Philidor Defense
  • Elephant Gambit - small sample, perfect results. Brave and effective. Elephant Gambit
  • Blackburne Shilling Gambit - deployed with tricky intentions and decent success. Blackburne Shilling Gambit
Win Rate by Opening0%25%75%100%50%Philidor Defense: 85.7% over 7 gamesBlackburne Shilling Gambit: 57.1% over 7 gamesScotch Game: 60.0% over 5 gamesElephant Gambit: 100.0% over 4 gamesAmazon Attack: Siberian Attack: 66.7% over 3 gamesRuy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation: 66.7% over 3 gamesPhilidor Defense86%Blackburne Shilling Gam…57%Scotch Game60%Elephant Gambit100%Amazon Attack: Siberian…67%Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defen…67%

Rivalries and most-played opponents

Graham has faced a handful of opponents often enough that their names read like recurring characters. The most frequent sparring partner is davidtlegg, a matchup that has produced many long Daily fights.

  • Most played opponent - davidtlegg (19 games, head-to-head roughly 8 wins, 9 losses, 2 draws)
  • Other familiar foes - paule82, olieigg, tomking96, pbryan

Memorable streaks and psychological notes

Graham has shown the ability to build momentum and maintain it. He can also be stubborn when under pressure, and sometimes resigns earlier than fans would like. Best time of day to challenge Graham is early evening.

  • Longest winning streak - 8 games
  • Longest losing streak - 3 games
  • Current winning streak - 1
  • Best time of day to play Graham - around 19:00
  • Tilt factor - low to moderate; generally bounces back

Notable tendencies and tactical profile

Graham is better than average at fighting back from deficits and converting small advantages. He likes to get checks in with heavy pieces and often initiates the first checking sequence.

  • Win rate after losing material - about 61 percent
  • Player-first-to-check percentage - about 43 percent
  • Most common checking piece - Queen
  • Early resignation rate - about 27 percent (keeps things decisive)

Example line and sample game

Here is a short illustrative sequence that captures Graham's appetite for lively positions and tactical opportunities.

For long rivalries and learning material, Graham's games versus frequent opponents like davidtlegg are worth reviewing.

Personality and final notes

Off the board, Graham comes across as good-humored and curious. At the board, Graham is competitive, inventive, and occasionally fond of the theatrical move. If you enjoy carefully crafted Daily games with a sprinkle of surprises, Graham is worth a follow.

  • SEO keywords: Graham chess player profile, Daily chess, Philidor Defense, Elephant Gambit, Blackburne Shilling Gambit
  • Placeholder for quick stats and visuals:
    Daily Rating1736137210086442792016: 13612017: 16152018: 16152020: 14992021: 15512022: 15072023: 14902025: 4002026: 400201620172018202020212022202320252026