Ken Timur Salim (HakoneRider) — Chess Biography
Ken Timur Salim, who often plays online as HakoneRider, is a versatile player known for ferocious blitz and bullet skirmishes and a surprising soft spot for long, thoughtful Daily games. Preferring Daily play, Ken blends tactical fireworks with endgame patience — a rare combo that has produced some eye-catching peaks and long winning stretches.
Preferred time control: Daily. Peak snapshot (highlights): 2058 (2018-02-16) and 2018 (2025-07-13).
Playing Style & Strengths
Ken is equal parts tactician and marathoner. He often brings games to long, technical finishes and is comfortable grinding in endgames.
- Endgame-oriented — Endgame frequency is high, so don't expect quick resignations: Ken averages long decisive games.
- Tactical resilience — Excellent comeback metrics: a strong Comeback Rate and high Win Rate After Losing Piece.
- Time-of-day advantage — Best performance around midday; if you see Ken online at 12:00, be warned.
- White & Black equilibrium — Both White and Black win rates are impressive; Ken converts chances from either side.
Openings & Repertoire
Ken's repertoire is adventurous. He embraces offbeat gambits and sharp defenses, and often gets opponents into uncomfortable, tactical waters.
- Alekhine Defense — a staple across time controls (very strong win rates in Blitz/Bullet).
- Sicilian Defense — frequent and effective counterplay as Black.
- Elephant Gambit & Amar Gambit — Ken uses aggressive gambits to unbalance games early.
- Scandinavian Defense & Philidor — reliable practical weapons in rapid time scrambles.
Explore a typical attacking skeleton from Ken (click to view):
Notable Streaks & Records
Ken has experienced impressive momentum swings — the kind that fill highlight reels and tournament reports alike.
- Longest winning streak: 56 games — a run that defies small-sample logic and delights fans.
- Longest losing streak: 12 games; current losing streak: 2.
- Most-played opponent: hyrizal (hundreds of games). See their head-to-head: hyrizal.
Fun Facts & Analytics
Numbers tell stories — and Ken's numbers read like a dramatic novel with tactical ambushes and steady endgame conclusions.
- Most common checking piece: Queen — Ken checks early and often.
- Player-first-to-check percentage: ~62% — initiative-seeker behavior.
- Average moves per win: roughly 57; games tend to develop and resolve rather than end instantly.
- Strength-adjusted win rates show Ken especially strong in Daily and Rapid formats.
Interactive snapshots and sample data:
- Rating trend (Daily):
- Sample opponent profile: hyrizal
Personality & Table Talk
Off the board, Ken mixes dry wit with confident humility — the kind of player who will offer a cheeky one-liner after delivering a quiet endgame squeeze. He’s as happy to try a wild gambit for thrills as he is to grind out a 70-move study-like win.
- Psychological traits: decent tilt control, a reliable comeback instinct, and a taste for flashy ambushes.
- Fan favorite line: any opening that surprises the opponent into blundering an early piece.
Challenge Ken
Want to test your mettle? Ken prefers Daily matches but is equally dangerous in Blitz/Bullet if you’re looking for fireworks. Send a challenge to HakoneRider and see if you can survive the middlegame mayhem.
- Profile / challenge link: Ken Timur Salim