diego fernando rivera rodriguez

Diego Fernando Rivera Rodriguez

Known in the chess world as haggardhobbit, Diego Fernando Rivera Rodriguez is a persistent and intriguing chess player who blends steady improvement with a dash of comedic resilience on the 64 squares.

Rating Journey & Style

Diego’s journey through the chess ranks is like a thrilling Netflix series — full of ups, downs, and plot twists. Starting with a modest blitz rating of around 1018 back in 2014, he pushed that number up and down like a yoyo, finally achieving his blitz peak of 1333 in 2018. Not just a one-trick hobbit, his rapid rating soared higher, peaking impressively at 1524 in October 2023. His daily rating launched at a crisp 1200 but took a backseat to his blitz and rapid exploits.

Though he may not yet challenge grandmasters on the regular, Diego shows refreshing tenacity with a solid White Win Rate of 48.53% and a respectable Black Win Rate of 45.54%. He’s the kind of player who trusts the "Top Secret" opening so much (used in over 3800 blitz games!) that even opponents are left wondering what's really going on.

Playing Style & Quirks

Diego is quite the endgame aficionado, with almost 80% of his games winding down in those thrilling final phases. His average victory lasts about 73 moves, while losses tend to drag a bit longer, around 81 moves — maybe he just likes a good story!

His comeback rate is nothing short of heroic at a whopping 86.34%, proving that giving up is not in his vocabulary. Even after losing a piece, he manages to claw back with a 44.38% win rate — probably thanks to his tactical awareness (or sheer stubbornness).

Moments to Remember

Those darkest moments? Diego’s longest losing streak stretched to a fearsome 18 games, but he also boasts an 11-game winning streak — call him the ultimate rollercoaster of chess emotions.

Interestingly, his peak “best time to play” is around 10:00 AM, so if you want to catch him off guard, maybe avoid challenging before his caffeine kicks in.

Recent Battles

In May 2025, Diego, aka haggardhobbit, won a rapid duel with "PokerKnight1" using the Caro-Kann Defense, wrapping up at move 36 in style before the game was abandoned — presumably, PokerKnight1 threw in the towel faster than Diego could say 'checkmate.'

Not all days end in victory, though. His recent starring role in a loss came in the Italian Game, where a checkmate by Mr_T_01 reminded him that even hobbits must sometimes retreat to their shire.

Not Just Numbers

With a nearly equal number of wins and losses in blitz (1829 wins vs 1821 losses), Diego’s chess career mirrors a thrilling saga of determination, occasional chaos, and hope. His commitment shines through nearly 6100 rapid games, proving that with patience (and a little bit of hobbit luck), improvement is inevitable.

So, whether he's secretly plotting with the “Top Secret” opening or grinding the clock down with steady endgames, Diego Fernando Rivera Rodriguez is a chess player worth rooting for — the underdog who plays with heart, humor, and just enough mystery to keep everyone guessing.