Albert Granger (Username: HYMN08)
Meet Albert Granger, a relentless chess enthusiast whose journey on the 64 squares has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride — with a few ups, a few downs, and a lot of creative maneuvering in between. Known in the chess world as HYMN08, Albert blends determination with subtle unpredictability, making each game a story worth following.
Rating Odyssey
Albert reached his peak rapid rating of 957 back in early 2022. Since then, as any true fighter would do, he's kept battling with dedication, sometimes seeing his rating dip and bounce back with gusto, hitting a recent rapid peak of over 525 in mid-2025. His daily chess skills recently soared to an impressive peak of 1054, showcasing his consistent improvement over time.
Preferred Battlefields & Openings
When it comes to openings, Albert favors the classic and strategic. His weapon of choice in rapid games is the Owens Defense, where he holds a respectable win rate of about 52%. Other fan favorites include variations of the Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack — a fitting choice for someone who enjoys a good mix of flair and solid technique. In bullet games, he’s downright adventurous and undefeated with the King’s Fianchetto Opening (4 wins out of 4!), proving he can think fast and strike decisively.
Playing Style & Psychological Flair
Albert's games typically span around 45 moves, whether winning or losing — talk about consistency! He shows a strong knack for comebacks, boasting a comeback rate of over 60%, which means he's never out of the fight (even after losing a piece). Sure, he occasionally feels the sting of a tilt (rated at 10/100, so just a touch of drama), but his best chess is played at the magical hour of 1 PM, when the stars (and maybe the pawns) align perfectly.
Memorable Moments
Among his recent triumphs, Albert delivered a checkmate victory against jmaz119 in a rapid live game, executing the sharp Owens Defense with finesse and winning in just 23 moves. Not one to shy away from challenge, he also secured a victorious mate against SoyQuijas using the Van ‘t Kruijs Opening, proving that the unexpected can be powerful on the chessboard.
Records & Rivalries
With over a thousand rapid game wins balanced evenly against losses, Albert is the embodiment of perseverance and passion. He’s crushed some opponents multiple times, like osmansaleem143 (3 games with a perfect win record), while others, like kwlxox, have proven tricky adversaries. All in all, Albert plays to learn, improve, and keep that king safe — or at least keep the opponent guessing.
Fun Fact
Albert’s early resignation rate is under 6%, suggesting that he fights until the very end — unless his coffee runs out. And with a playing streak record featuring a longest winning streak of 13 games, it’s clear he has moments where he’s absolutely on fire!
In the world of chess, Albert Granger shows us all how it's done: with grit, grace, and a pinch of humor.