Istarad Ilham

Istarad Ilham (Username: illluham)

Meet Istarad Ilham, a chess aficionado whose rapid ascent and lightning-fast maneuvers would make even the most seasoned grandmasters raise an eyebrow. Known in the online chess realm by the handle illluham, this player embraces the chaos and charm of blitz and rapid formats while navigating the bullet battlefield with the spirit of a warrior... who occasionally forgets the time control.

Rating Rollercoaster & Style

While bullet chess remains somewhat of an uphill battle with a peak rating just shy of 935 and a humble record of 0 wins in 2 recent games, Istarad shines in blitz with a peak rating of 1567 and an impressive win ratio of 11-1-1. Rapid games truly showcase their creativity and tactical flair, climbing up to a peak rating of 1111 with a solid 34 wins to 20 losses.

Known for an average of about 41 moves per win, Istarad prefers grinding out battles rather than quick knockouts—unless that “knockout” is delivered at breakneck blitz speed! They are equally comfortable playing white or black, boasting a win rate of 68.57% when wielding the white pieces and 61.76% when defending with black.

Opening Repertoire & Tactical Quirks

Istarad's openings are a delightful hodgepodge of classical and daring lines, favoring solid defenses like the Caro-Kann Classical Variation and adventurous responses like the Sicilian Defense Open Dragon Fianchetto Variation, where they boast a 100% win rate in their few appearances. The player's favorite weapon? Rapid games featuring the Bishops Opening Berlin Defense and the Scotch Gambit, both yielding an undefeated 100% success rate.

Memorable Moments & Comebacks

Chess battles for Istarad resemble thrilling rollercoasters—long winning streaks (up to 14) punctuated by moments of reflection during losing streaks (maximum of 8 in a row). An expert in comebacks, their 75.56% comeback rate pairs nicely with a strong win rate of 65.38% even after losing a piece—proving that giving up is not in their vocabulary.

Psychology & Gameplay Nuances

With a tilt factor of just 8, Istarad maintains composure even when the chess gods seem mischievous. Their best time to play? Midnight – a perfect quiet hour for plotting checkmate. Early resignation happens about 30% of the time, a candid admission that sometimes it's better to fold than to heroically lose (or maybe grab a snack).

Recent Triumph

An emblematic victory came recently in a blitz clash against a tough opponent using the Sicilian Open Dragon (ECO B70). In a nail-biter, Istarad's resilience forced resignation, closing the game with a display of timing and tactical precision:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Bd7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Bg7 10. Qb4 b6 11. Be3 Rc8 12. Rad1 O-O 13. Qb3 Be6 14. Qa3 Nd7 15. Bd4 Ne5 16. f4 Nc4 17. Qa4 Nxb2 18. Qxa7 Bxd4+ 19. Rxd4 Rxc3 20. Rb4 Rxc2 0-1
  

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s dodging time scrambles and launching unexpected attacks in blitz, or patiently nudging pawns forward in rapid, Istarad (illluham) remains a player to watch. Not quite a knight in shining armor, but definitely a bishop with a tactical twist—and maybe a queen ready to snipe unsuspecting opponents. One thing’s for sure: the chessboard never gets boring with illluham in play.