Ivan

Ivan (igarriaga) - The Relentless Chess Adventurer

Meet Ivan, a chess player whose daily grind on the 64 squares is as steady as a well-tuned Rook! With a peak daily rating of 1183 achieved in November 2024, Ivan demonstrates a relentless drive to improve, often battling opponents both higher and lower rated with undeterred spirit and a surprisingly sharp tactical eye.

Playing Style & Strengths

Ivan plays a long game - literally and figuratively - with an average winning game lasting about 56 moves. This marathon-style chess reflects a deep appreciation for complex middlegames and endgames, where patience and precision reign supreme. He’s famous for an impressive 80.99% comeback rate, showing that even when behind, Ivan rarely throws in the towel early (his early resignation rate is a modest 3.9%).

White seems to favor him slightly more than Black, winning about 51% of his White games, while Black games pose a tougher challenge with a 43% win rate. Those losses? They happen mostly to players rated above him – a humble reminder that the chess mountain is high, but Ivan climbs steadily.

Favorite Openings (Spoiler: Queens Pawn Rocks!)

Ivan’s secret weapon in Daily games is undoubtedly the Queen’s Pawn Opening, boasting a remarkable 90.9% win rate in 11 games. However, mess with his beloved Chigorin Variation, and things get spicy – with only a 25% win rate, it’s a clear area for growth (or perhaps a quirky challenge Ivan merrily accepts).

Besides that, his Scandinavian Defense (Mieses-Kotrc Variation) is a swift strike with an 80% success rate – because who doesn't love catching their opponents off guard with some Nordic flair? And when Ivan switches to the Philidor or Caro Kann defenses, he finds mixed success but never dull moments.

The Record Books

• Total Daily Wins/Losses: 101 wins / 82 losses / 8 draws
• Rapid & Blitz Enthusiast: 100 wins in Rapid, 141 wins in Blitz (though Blitz remains a rollercoaster, rating-wise!)
• Longest Winning Streak: 5 games – proving Ivan can catch fire
• Longest Losing Streak: 8 games – because even warriors have rough patches

Psychology & Quirks

Sometimes, Ivan’s tilt factor hits 8 out of 10, meaning a rough game can cause some heartburn – but overall, he keeps chess fun and competitive. He’s a night owl on the board, showing the best results around midnight and early morning hours (imagine the coffee consumption!). Also, Ivan’s comfortable sealing games by resignation or timeout, rarely dragging out stalemates, which means he respects when it’s time to call it.

Recent Notable Games

Ivan’s most recent victories feature classic clashes like a victory on time against a weaker opponent using the Pirc Defense, and slick resignation wins from well-fought Queen's Gambit positions. Losses come from tough battles including a cheeky checkmate defeat against the Polish Opening and some hard-fought tussles in the Chigorin Variation.

Final Thoughts

Ivan may not be storming the grandmaster ranks just yet, but this chess journeyman’s journey is a testament to perseverance, strategic adventure, and the joy of the fight on the 64 squares. Whether it’s executing a Queen’s Pawn dominant plan or surviving a wild comeback, Ivan’s story is one every chess fan can root for – because it’s not just about the rating, it’s about the heart behind each move.