Jake Mackinnon - AKA HalfShaked
Meet Jake Mackinnon, better known in the chess world as HalfShaked. Starting his journey with a Daily rating that flirted with the 600s and 900s, Jake has shown remarkable grit and determination, steadily climbing to surpass the coveted 1000 rating mark in Daily chess by summer 2024. Not one to shy away from any time control, his Rapid chess prowess peaked impressively above 1250, making him a formidable opponent in faster formats.
Jake's style is an intriguing blend of endurance and tactical surprises. With an Average Moves Per Win of around 58, he's the kind of player who loves a good marathon game, carefully maneuvering to outlast his opponents. But don’t be fooled—his 77.84% comeback rate indicates a fighter who refuses to settle, often turning dire situations into glorious victories. His Early Resignation Rate of 8.61% hints that when the going gets tough, Jake’s chosen not to waste both players’ time—there’s honor in a timely bow out!
Jake’s favorite battlegrounds include opening staples such as the Caro-Kann Defense and the Kings Pawn Opening King's Knight Variation, where he boasts single-handed win rates above 70% in Daily formats. Although his Rapid and Blitz games are peppered with ups and downs, he consistently sharpens his skills, achieving his highest Blitz rating of 1071 in early 2024. His Rapid games show a fun side, notably with a mysterious "Top Secret" opening (score: 52.75% win rate), proving he keeps his opponents guessing.
Psychologically, Jake best performs when the world wakes up—his best time of day to play is a bright and early 8 AM, synchronizing perfectly with his 56% win rate at 8 AM. Outside the chessboard, he maintains a balance and rarely tilts—his 14 tilt factor ensures he keeps calm even when luck isn’t on his side.
When facing opponents, Jake has a mixed bag of results but clearly has some reliable rivals. His war stories include crushing games against users like rexus14, krushna_b4, and josriff16 with a perfect 100% winning rate, while others like samwooddoowmas are tougher nuts to crack with just over 40% wins.
Highlighting his recent heroic battle: On June 2, 2025, Jake (as HalfShaked) delivered a surgical victory against RotiSbubu in a Modern Defense, wielding the bishop's fianchetto with precision that left his opponent no chance but resignation. The game was a crescendo of tactical maneuvers and relentless pressure, proving Jake’s not just a techie but a battlefield maestro.
In summary, Jake Mackinnon is the kind of player who delights in strategic battles, fights tooth and nail to claw back from adversity, and refuses to let the opponent’s plans go unchallenged. He may be "HalfShaked," but his games are fully loaded with passion, wit, and a sprinkle of unpredictability. Chess fans, keep an eye on him; his rating and skills indicate his best games are still yet to come!
