Jimmy Lau

Jimmy "JimBooogie" Lau

Meet Jimmy Lau, aka JimBooogie, a rapidly rising star in the rapid chess scene who’s proving that speed and style aren't mutually exclusive. With a current rapid rating soaring close to 830, Jimmy’s journey started at a humble 224 earlier in 2025 — so yes, this guy really knows how to hustle up the ranks fast!

Known for a rather stubborn affinity for the Bishop’s Opening (where he boasts nearly 88% win rate) and a killer instinct in the King’s Pawn Opening King’s Knight Variation (a whopping 75% win rate), Jimmy has carved out a niche playing aggressive, tactical chess that makes opponents sweat.

If you settle down to watch one of his games, expect bouts lasting around 54 moves on average — definitely not a sprinter’s dash, but more like a steady marathon peppered with surprising tactical fireworks. His games frequently show a strong endgame presence, appearing in nearly half of his matches.

Style & Stats

• Rapid Peak Rating: 833 (May 2025)
• Blitz Peak Rating: 564 (May 2025)
• Longest Winning Streak: 8 wins
• Comeback Rate: 69%, so don’t count him out when he’s down material!
• Tilt Factor: 11 — slightly emotional, but who isn’t?
• Famous For: Turning the tables with timely sacrifices and cheeky bishop maneuvers

Notable Performances

Recent highlights include a thrilling checkmate victory in a Giuoco Piano game — where he danced his rook and bishop across the board to finish a 54-move symphony of strategy (see the magical final moves in
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Fair Warning to Opponents

Jimmy’s winning percentage fluctuates wildly depending on opponent and opening, but be warned: against his favored setups like the King's Pawn and Bishop's Opening, you're more likely to get outplayed than not. His blitz record might not be as polished (blame the finger slips), but rapid definitely suits his game.

When feeling generous, he even lets opponents take a pawn or two... only to swiftly punish them with an avalanche of calculated attacks. A classic “trap you into love, then checkmate” kind of player.

Outside the Board

When he’s not hunting kings and queens, Jimmy’s likely brewing a strong coffee and plotting his next tournament dominance. Or maybe just bragging about his epic comebacks and “that one crazy bishop sacrifice.”

Keep your eyes peeled: JimBooogie is a force to reckon with—and an entertainer on the board!