Mark Blohm

Mark Blohm (jidamb) - Chess Player Profile

Meet Mark Blohm, known in the chess realm as jidamb, a tenacious and sometimes unpredictable opponent on the digital board. Mark’s chess journey reads like a thrilling roller coaster: dazzling peaks, daring comebacks, and occasional stumbles. If chess were a novel, Mark’s chapters would be full of fierce battles and crafty maneuvers sprinkled with a hint of playful mischief.

Playing Strength & Style

Mark's peak Rapid rating soared to an impressive 681 in early 2025, demonstrating prowess beyond the blitz and bullet arenas where his maximum ratings reached 536 (Blitz) and 535 (Bullet) respectively. His Blitz and Bullet careers are marked with almost equal wins and losses—because what’s the fun without a little suspense?

His style can best be described as a gritty survivalist with a 78% comeback rate—yes, Mark is the kind of player who doesn’t get discouraged after losing a piece; instead, he fights back fiercely. However, he admits that his average loss lasts longer than his average win, suggesting he savors the battle, even when it doesn't end in his favor.

Favorite Openings and Winning Weapons

Mark is something of a connoisseur of the Scandinavian Defense, successfully using its various flavors to unsettle opponents in both Blitz and Bullet realms. He’s particularly dangerous with the Scandinavian Defense Closed in Blitz boasting a 73.91% win rate—quite a weapon in his arsenal. Also notable is his penchant for the Bishop’s Opening and the sneaky Queen’s Pawn Opening Zukertort Chigorin Variation.

But tread carefully if you face his “Top Secret” moves—though his win rate there is only 26.09%, the mystery alone might tilt your concentration!

Playing Habits & Quirks

If you want to catch Mark at his very best, set your clocks to 6 PM1 AM and the wee hours.