Harish Mohan Pandey (aka harishmo)
Meet Harish Mohan Pandey, affectionately known in the chess world as harishmo — a spirited player who treats the 64 squares like his personal playground. Despite a rollercoaster rating journey peaking at 893 in Rapid chess back in March 2023 and an electrifying 982 in Bullet chess as recent as November 2023, Harish's true strength lies not just in numbers but in his love for the game and willingness to battle through every blunder and brilliant tactic.
Originating from the humble beginnings of a 489 Rapid rating in mid-2021, Harish has experienced both nail-biting defeats and glorious victories, accumulating over 5,532 wins in Rapid and a bullet performance that can only be described as lightning-fast with a 75% win rate in his limited games. His adventurous opening repertoire reveals a fondness for the mysterious and dynamic Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack Modern Variation, where he has battled fiercely in over 80 games, alongside frequent experimentation with Owens Defense and some unsung gambits – because who likes boring openings anyway?
When it comes to playing style, Harish masterfully combines patience and aggression. His average game length shows he often drags battles past the 50-move mark, savoring every tension-filled move on the board. Despite the inevitable occasional tilt (at a manageable 17%), his psychological resilience shines through with an impressive 60% comeback rate after losing material, proving that Harish believes in comebacks that make you cheer or shake your head in disbelief.
Off the board, Harish’s humor is as quick as his knight forks. Early resignations haunt him no more than a cool 5% of his games, which means he doesn't quit until the final whistle. His favorite moments to strike? Turns out, late evening battles around 10 PM are his prime time to deliver checkmates and unexpected sacrifices.
Highlight of a recent victory
On June 4th, 2025, playing under the username harishmo, he executed a thrilling checkmate against Algamet0 in a Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack Modern Variation. The game, lasting 23 moves, flowed with tactical precision, culminating in the queen delivering the final blow—a testament to his growing tactical sharpness.
Whether facing opponents new or old, Harish's competitive spirit never fades. His record shows he has faced plenty of rivals multiple times, with varying degrees of success, but always with undying enthusiasm. Sure, sometimes it's a loss (he’s human after all), but often it’s a hard-fought victory that leaves both players wondering what just happened.
So if you ever find yourself paired with harishmo, beware! You're in for a strategic tussle filled with sly openings, mid-game twists, and an endgame that would give Magnus Carlsen pause (or at least a smirk). Chess is serious business, but with Harish around, it’s also seriously fun.
