Karun Bhasin (KarunB13) - The Relentless Rapid Rumbler
In the vast universe of online chess warriors, KarunB13 stands out as a player of persistent spirit and fluctuating fortunes. With a rapid rating that has soared as high as 836 in September 2024, Karun has proven to be a tenacious adversary who loves the thrill of fast-paced battles.
Beginning his rapid journey with humble ratings bouncing between 150 and 490 in early 2024, Karun’s game has matured considerably, hitting a heated peak in late 2024 and early 2025. With over 1,100 rapid wins to his name, his playing style reveals a dedication to endurance—his average game length for wins is nearly 63 moves. Patience is a virtue, especially when others hope the game will end quickly, but not for Karun!
Karun’s endgame is a frequent spectacle, occurring in over half his games, showing his preference for squeezing every advantage out of a position, even when the clock is ticking. Though his “tilt factor” sits at a modest 9, every chess player knows that a few frustrating moves can sneak in—often right before he pulls off one of his signature comebacks, with an impressive 69% comeback rate.
Despite some losses by resignation—because who likes to drag things out when defeat is certain?—Karun can also switch gears fast, occasionally throwing down plays in bullet and blitz formats, with bullet peaking at a solid 406 and a blitz record that shows flashes of brilliance (max 656 rating in May 2025).
Opening Repertoire
Queen’s Pawn Opening: His bread and butter with nearly 460 games and an impressive 51% win rate. Karun knows his d4’s and c4’s like old friends.
Philidor Defense: Despite a less fortunate 38% win rate, Karun keeps trying his hand at this solid, traditional defense. Sometimes bravery demands stubbornness!
Scandinavian Defense and its tricky variants: Another favorite playground, showing Karun likes to stay unpredictable and catch opponents off guard.
Memorable Recent Victories
One cannot forget his swift resignation win over Artistryusa in June 2025 where Karun, wielding the Black pieces, calmly outmaneuvered his opponent using the Queen’s Pawn Chigorin Variation. With a dozen moves of precise calculation, the game ended with the opponent gracefully conceding defeat.
Quirks & Highlights
Karun also has an interesting habit of playing his best games around 3 PM, a sacred hour when the caffeine kicks in and the brain enters its “knight-move mastermind” mode. Expect sparks to fly around that time!
His psychological resilience shines—while he might occasionally lose his cool, his remarkable ability to bounce back keeps him in the game and the community buzzing about his next match.
In battle, Karun doesn't shy from tactical warfare, and though his losses sometimes outnumber wins against stronger foes, he never hesitates to dive deep into the fight, showing the heart of a true chess gladiator.
