Leonardo Pigato

Leonardo Pigato (aka Il_pig)

Meet Leonardo Pigato, a tenacious chess enthusiast known in the online realms as Il_pig. Though his rating may not strike fear into grandmasters just yet, his chess journey is filled with remarkable ups and downs, relentless spirit, and a sprinkle of humor that makes every game a story to tell.

Rating Rollercoaster & Style

Starting from a Rapid rating barely above 600 in late 2020, Leonardo steadily climbed to a respectable peak of 1200 by early 2023—a rise that proves persistence beats blinking first in blitz. His Bullet and Blitz performances, while more modest with peaks of 837 and 987, show a player who isn’t afraid of fast-paced chaos.

His style? A balanced blend of patience and daring. His games finish often with over 50 moves for wins, but losses tend to come quicker—averaging around 46 moves—suggesting he’s not one to quit early but appreciates when tactics snap like a trap. Leonardo’s win rate with the white pieces just sneaks above 50%, while black pieces show a respectable 42.7%. Let’s just say he knows how to press the advantage when he gets the first move.

Favorite Openings and Tactical Flair

Few dare to journey into the murky waters of the Scandinavian Defense as often as Leonardo does, with various flavors like the Mieses Kotrc Variation dominating his repertoire. His win rate there hovers around 40%, but hey, it’s the taking part that matters—or so he tells himself after an epic queen sacrifice. On the lighter side, his Pirc Defense Maroczy line seems to be quite his playground, boasting a commendable 63% win rate.

If you've ever faced Il_pig, chances are you saw him conjuring tricky traps out of the Center Game Accepted Paulsen Berger Variation—his most recent victory in May 2025 was exactly in that line, where he transformed a solid opening into a winning assault that had his opponent resigning in under 20 moves.

Psychology & Quirks

Leonardo has a tilt factor of 11, which means he gets a little miffed here and there, but not enough to throw the board. Interestingly, his best time of day to play is around 5 AM—perhaps he’s a secret chess vampire who thrives when the world sleeps. He tends to start strong but sometimes loses steam, paralleling his longest winning streak and longest losing streak being the same mysterious number: 11.

Early resignation is a rare visitor in his games (only 6.6%), suggesting he’s gritty to the end, fighting through tactical complications where his cleverness shines. He’s a comeback artist, bouncing back nearly 81% of the time after setbacks—a true phoenix rising from checkmate ashes!

Notable Battles & Opponents

Leonardo keeps a close record of fierce tussles with players like dan6661 (72 clashes!) and aleksstm. His win rates vary dramatically against opponents, showing that chess, like life, is unpredictable—and sometimes merciless.

In Summary

Leonardo “Il_pig” Pigato may not be the reigning king of the chessboard yet, but with a heart full of passion and a mind hungry for improvement, every move brings him closer to chess glory—or at least another amusing story. Whether dodging tricky Scandinavian lines or wrestling through the Center Game, he's a player who embodies the true spirit of chess: resilience, creativity, and, above all, having fun.

Follow Il_pig’s adventures – you might just learn a few sneaky gambits... or how not to panic when down a queen!