Meet Jose Escartin Lacasa
Jose Escartin Lacasa, better known by his online handle Josechessgg, is a FIDE Master who has turned the internet into his personal chess proving ground. His favorite battlefield is the Blitz time control, and the
chart tells the story of a relentless climber: from 1606 in early 2020 to a monstrous 2761 (2026-07-18) by 2026. If consistency was a person, Jose would still be too busy winning to show up for the meeting.Strengths and Signature Openings
Jose is a player of beautiful contradictions. He can calmly outmaneuver opponents in the London System Poisoned Pawn lines, where he wins roughly 70 percent of his Blitz games, then immediately unleash the chaotic Amar Gambit to turn the board into a fireworks show. His opening repertoire also features the tricky Döry Defense and a scorching 80.77 percent win rate in the Sicilian Defense Closed Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, a line that has become one of his deadliest weapons. The
display shows exactly how many ways he can beat you before you even finish your coffee.Rivalries That Define Him
No online rival has felt Jose's pressure more than drcanarychess. Across 45 Blitz encounters, Jose won 44, which is less a rivalry and more a recurring educational seminar. The real test comes from Tiago MANOCHESS, who has beaten him 16 times in 28 meetings and remains the closest thing Jose has to a kryptonite. Every rematch between those two is worth watching.
Beyond the Blitz Board
Blitz may be his first love, but Jose is nearly untouchable in Rapid chess, with 116 wins and only 8 losses. His Bullet peak of 2649 proves that his mouse hand is just as dangerous as his opening prep. He once won 23 games in a row, recovers from losing positions about 81 percent of the time, and his best playing hour is reportedly 3:00 in the morning. Some players chase sleep. Jose chases rating points.
- Longest winning streak: 23 games
- Comeback rate after losing positions: about 81%
- Favorite time to play: 3:00 AM
- Most frequent Blitz opponent: drcanarychess
A Little Opening Taster
Here is a classic London System setup that Jose loves to steer games into before calmly collecting the point: