Prathiba Y. Gounder - Woman International Master (WIM)
Meet Prathiba Y. Gounder, a chess warrior with the prestigious title of Woman International Master bestowed by FIDE. Known in the online arena as HarshHashu, she is a tactical powerhouse who has danced across thousands of chessboards, blazing through ranks with a blend of fierce precision and unstoppable spirit.
With a blitz peak rating north of 2100, Prathiba is the human embodiment of the phrase “Think fast, move faster.” Her blitz games are a rollercoaster of strategy, where she has racked up close to 1900 wins in more than 4200 games — proof that patience is overrated in rapid decision-making. When her opponents blink, she strikes!
Prathiba's rapid form is just as formidable, boasting a peak of over 2000 and a solid win rate around 75%. And if you thought bullet chess was for the reckless, her calculated bullet strikes (peaking near 1800) show she can handle lightning moves with both grace and precision.
She’s no stranger to complex openings: the Queen’s Gambit Declined (with a perfect 100% win rate in her limited encounters), the sharp Accelerated Dragon, and the classic Ruy Lopez all make appearances in her repertoire. But perhaps the most telling stat is her comeback rate—a whopping 89% of games where she bounces back from setbacks, proving that she’s tougher than a stubborn knight stuck in the corner.
Off the board, Prathiba might be plotting her next ingenious tactic or perfecting an opening variation. On the board, she enjoys testing her mettle against a variety of opponents, often preferring the wee hours or late mornings to launch her attacks (who knew 9 AM was the magic hour for chess genius?). She has an “early resignation” rate of less than 1%, indicating she fights hard even when the odds are against her.
Whether dismantling defenses with surgical precision or outlasting rivals in nail-biting endgames averaging over 65 moves per victory, Prathiba blends tenacity with style. And if she’s on a winning streak, watch out—her record includes an impressive 25 consecutive wins, a feat that would make even the queen envious.
A true gladiator of the 64 squares, Prathiba Y. Gounder continues to inspire fellow players with her dedication, resilience, and a little bit of that chessboard magic that can turn seemingly lost causes into epic triumphs. Next time you see HarshHashu on your pairing list, buckle up and bring your best game — you’re in for a fierce and fascinating battle.