John Urschel — The Streaming Mathemagician of Chess
John Urschel is not your everyday chess player. When he's not busy streaming, this grandmaster-in-the-making dazzles opponents with a blend of precision, patience, and an uncanny knack for the Kings Indian Defense, where he's undefeated in an impressive 18 games—take that, opening theory!
Starting modestly with a blitz rating around 1100 in 2013, John quickly adventured through the ranks, peaking at a striking 1936 Blitz rating in mid-2018. While his bullet games might not break the sound barrier (peaking around 1721), don't let the speed fool you — his daily chess rating crested at an astonishing 1988, proving he's got the stamina for the long haul.
His playstyle? Think of a calm ocean with occasional stormy flurries. With an average game length of 65 moves whether winning or losing, John loves to battle it out deep into the endgame—he's practically married to it, playing endgames in nearly 64% of his matches. Early resignations are rare, less than 3%, which means he’s all about fighting to the bitter end.
John’s psychological resilience is as impressive as his ratings. Even when pieces disappear from his side of the board, his 53% win rate after losing a piece and a nearly 79% comeback rate show he's the Houdini of chess—escaping the jaws of defeat with flair.
Not all days are created equal, though. John’s chess brilliance peaks between 9 AM (his declared "Best Time of Day to Play") and the calm early hours with a smashing 100% win rate at 9 AM and impressive winning probabilities around 2–4 AM. So, if you want to challenge him, maybe avoid scheduling a dawn duel!
His favorite battlegrounds involve classical mainstays like the Ruy Lopez and the Catalan Opening, where his win rates soar above 80%. Also, given his penchant for the Kings Indian Defense and English openings, he clearly enjoys a mix of strategic depth and tactical fireworks.
Recent highlights from the battlefield
The last time John Urschel pulled off a stunning victory, he checkmated his opponent in a rapid blitz battle using the Gruenfeld Defense's Hungarian Attack — a stylish finish that better be in a highlight reel somewhere. Of course, he's no stranger to defeat either; the humble losses only fuel his drive to improve and ascend in the merciless world of online chess.
With nearly a thousand wins in blitz and bullet chess each, plus his calm, mathematical approach streaming to an audience eager to learn, John Urschel is truly a chess streamer who balances brainpower with strategy, and sometimes a dash of humor.
Watch out world, because when John’s pieces start moving, both on the board and online, it’s a calculated storm you don’t want to miss.