John Ross Derez - Chess.com username: jr-24
John Ross Derez might not be climbing the grandmaster ladder just yet, but he's certainly making waves in the chess world with his relentless spirit and tactical flair. With a peak Rapid rating soaring up to 792 in February 2025, John has demonstrated tenacity and flashes of brilliance on the board.
Playing Style & Strengths
John prefers a slow burn—his average moves per win hover around 44, showing a love for the long, strategic fight rather than quick flashy wins. His tactical awareness is respectable, boasting a comeback rate of nearly 60%, proving that he never gives up, even when the odds (and the pieces) are stacked against him.
He enjoys the Early Resignation technique, bowing out gracefully just over 8% of the time—because why drag out a losing battle?
Opening Repertoire Highlights
- Rapid Chess: John's Top Secret opening (whatever that means) is his bread and butter with a solid 43% win rate out of 185 games. He also boasts a 100% win record with the Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Chigorin Variation, the Vienna Game Max Lange Defense, and the French Defense Exchange Variation—short but sweet opening experiments.
- Blitz Chess: John shines brightest with the Petrov's Defense Classical Variation, winning all 4 games he played there. He's also a fan of the Scandinavian Defense Mieses Kotrc Variation, scoring over 71% wins.
- Bullet Chess: Well, let's just say bullet chess hasn't quite been John's calling card yet, with a modest 14% win rate in the Top Secret opening.
Recent Memorable Games
His most recent victory was a blitz checkmate in the Italian Game against adrianglln97, showcasing his keen eye for finishing moves under pressure. But even champions have their moments of learning; John’s last loss came after a gallant defense in the Queens Pawn Opening (Chigorin Variation) against cbentson93, ending in a respectful resignation.
Statistics Snapshot
- Overall Win/Loss/Draw Records: Rapid: 98/104/15, Blitz: 117/142/1, Bullet: 2/13/0. Yes, John is more Rapid and Blitz than Bullet—speed demons, beware!
- Best Time to Play: Early mornings around 5:00 AM when the world is still half-asleep and strategy seems sharper.
- Favorite Day to Dominate: Wednesdays and Fridays, where his win rate tips just above 50%—sometimes the midweek magic pays off!
Opponent Insights
John has a curious record against his fiercest rivals: he's undefeated against some like rmlt2011 (100% win rate), yet struggles against a few others such as ozamazon with just a 33% success rate. Learning and adapting is clearly part of his game plan.
Fun Fact
Despite some battles ending in resignation or timeout (hey, chess can get intense!), John's persistence shows in his longest winning streak of 9 games and the ability to bounce back from setbacks with his lightning-quick comeback rate. The tilt factor is a manageable 7—he’s not immune to frustration, but he keeps fighting.
In summary: John Ross Derez might be an underdog to some, but with his steady style, surprise tactical comebacks, and a penchant for late-night chess marathons, he's a player to watch. Next time you see jr-24 across the board, remember: patience, cunning, and maybe just a little coffee, fuel his chess journey.
