Vandan Alankar Sawai - Candidate Master Extraordinaire
Meet Vandan Alankar Sawai, a chess wizard officially titled as a Candidate Master by FIDE. Known online by the enigmatic alias HatsuzukiMeiso, Vandan has danced through the ranks with a mix of talent, persistence, and just a dash of calculated chaos.
Rising Through the Ranks
Starting from humble beginnings with a rapid rating hovering around 770 in 2018, Vandan embarked on a thrilling climb through the chess universe. By 2025, their rapid rating soared to an impressive 2435 — a rating many grandmasters would tip their bishops for. Not to be outdone, Vandan's blitz rating has reached a lightning-fast 2695, and their bullet games have made opponents blink at a sharp 2410.
A Style All Their Own
Vandan plays with the patience of a saint in the endgame (engaging in endings nearly 67% of the time) and the tactical mind of a fox, boasting a comeback rate close to 80% – because giving up is simply not in their chess vocabulary. Their average winning game stretches to about 69 moves, probably because they like to keep both players on their toes.
Vandan enjoys a slight edge playing with White (58.8% win rate), but don’t count them out with Black either — still a formidable 56.6% win rate. They’ve mastered the art of psychological resilience with a tilt factor of only 10, indicating that despite the blunders, their mood rarely crashes.
Opening Arsenal
Known for their eclectic and secretive "Top Secret" openings — seriously, no one knows what’s in there — Vandan secures win rates north of 60% across many classical lines like the French Defense variations, Giuoco Piano, and the Italian Game. Whether tossing out the French Defense Exchange Variation or goading opponents into the Philidor Defense, Vandan strikes with subtlety and flair.
Victories With Flair
One recent online triumph exemplifies Vandan’s grace under pressure: facing the Scandinavian Defense Mieses-Kotrc Variation on Chess.com, HatsuzukiMeiso meticulously dismantled their opponent, winning by resignation after a tough 59-move battle. The position was so tight, even the kings felt trapped, showcasing Vandan's prowess in squeezing every advantage.
Frenemies & Foes
Vandan is no stranger to competition and has a history of fierce battles against regular opponents like wizard_97 and samuelchess321.
Their win record against the chess community is impressive, although certain challengers occasionally survive the storm.
A Word on Timing
Playing late at night or at the stroke of midnight? That’s prime time for Vandan, who boasts a 100% win rate at midnight and at some very specific hours like 23:00 – it seems time really is on their side!
Final Thoughts
In summary, Vandan Alankar Sawai is a chess machine finely tuned for high-level competition. Their journey from a rating novice to a near-grandmaster candidate reflects a blend of strategic mind, tenacity, and maybe a little chess sorcery. If you're looking for an opponent who can outwit you before your coffee cools, look no further — because HatsuzukiMeiso has got your number.