Jarle Ferkingstad (aka hestenmin)
Meet Jarle Ferkingstad, a chess enthusiast known in the online world as hestenmin. Jarle is a player who treats every game like a thrilling saga, where pawns become heroes, and knights embark on daring quests across 64 squares.
Jarle's chess journey has been a rollercoaster ride through the realms of Rapid, Blitz, and Daily chess. With a peak rapid rating just shy of 1000 (996 in January 2021), and blitz peaks exceeding 1090, he's consistently outmaneuvered many opponents—though the quest for the queen's crown continues!
Playing Style & Strengths
- Endgame Specialist: Jarle loves the endgame, reaching this exciting phase over 64% of his games, weaving his strategic magic long after the opening fireworks have faded.
- Comeback King: With a comeback rate of roughly 77%, he’s the kind of player who never says die – even when a piece goes missing, there's still a fighting chance!
- Patience of a Saint: Average 55 moves per win; Jarle doesn't rush, carefully construing his victories like a fine chess symphony.
- Opening Explorer: A fan of the Scandinavian Defense and the Pirc Defense, Jarle experiments with classical and unorthodox variations, combining aggression and subtlety in opening play.
Quirks & Notables
Jarle's psychological resilience has its ups and downs—his tilt factor is at a humble 12, meaning he handles those inevitable losses better than most (though who doesn’t grumble when a queen sneaks away?). His best tactical hour for brilliance? The mysterious 3 AM slot—clearly where the chess muses whisper their secrets.
Recent Adventures
Recently, Jarle secured a brilliant checkmate victory using the Alapin Sicilian Barmen Defense closing out the game with a flourish on May 30, 2025. His ability to navigate complex middlegames and convert small advantages to full points makes him a worthy opponent in any arena.
Fun Facts
- Jarle’s win rate is surprisingly better when playing black pieces (43.74%) than many would expect, showing his grit in the darker squares.
- Average early resignation rate is quite low (~1.7%) — Jarle fights hard till the end, unless his opponent suddenly drops their queen unprotected (then all bets are off!).
- When feeling the blues, Jarle’s longest winning streak stands impressively at 10 games — enough to convince anyone he’s got some magic in his moves.
While Jarle Ferkingstad may not have a grandmaster title yet, his passion, tactical audacity, and persistent spirit paint the portrait of a modern-day chess warrior, ready to make his mark one move at a time.