Thomas McDonnell

Profile: Thomas McDonnell (aka KAWSnite)

Thomas McDonnell, widely known by his chess alias KAWSnite, is a rapidly evolving player on the online chess scene. His journey through the 2025 chess season showcases an adventurous spirit—sometimes triumphant, occasionally a bit... dramatic.

Rating Rollercoaster

Thomas has experienced the full spectrum of chess emotions reflected in his ratings:

• Rapid: Peaked impressively at 579 (April 2025), but has been navigating some ups and downs, currently sitting around 248 as of June.
• Bullet: Tops at 400, but frequently wrestles with the whirlwind pace, currently rating at 154.
• Blitz: Achieved a peak of 401, though recent games show a bit of blitz burnout with rating dropping near 124.

Opening Repertoire — A Mixed Bag of Magic

Thomas's favorite openings reveal a player unafraid to mix things up, often choosing sharp and offbeat lines:

• French Defense (Rapid): His shining armor, boasting a win rate of nearly 78%—rumor has it he might be part-time French chef given his knack for this defense.
• Bishop’s Opening (Rapid): A front-runner with a solid 54% win rate, proving bishops do have a way of sneaking into his heart.
• Queen’s Pawn Opening (Rapid): The Achilles' heel with a humble 17% win rate—let’s just say queens can be quite the diva.
• Alekhine’s Defense: A personal favorite in Rapid with a robust 67% strike rate, perfect for surprising opponents and fans alike.

Style and Tendencies

Thomas is no stranger to tactical fireworks. With a remarkable 70% comeback rate after setbacks, he’s the chess equivalent of a cat with nine lives. Although he sometimes gets rattled (tilt factor about 11%), he recovers fast and often ends games around the 40-move mark, showing stamina and patience.

He has a whimsical habit of resigning early about 13% of the time—maybe he just wants to preserve energy for the next thrilling match or a snack break.

Recent Highlights

In his latest memorable victory (June 3rd, 2025), Thomas executed a commanding checkmate using the King’s Pawn Opening: King’s Knight Variation. The game showed his tactical prowess by hunting down the opposing king with elegant precision — a true feast of moves culminating in a victorious checkmate.

Against the Odds

His encounters with regular foes show a mixed bag of results, with stellar wins against players like toaldines, lorduwow, and debujayrath (100% win rate!) and tougher battles against others like warmestwinter and iykyk_j, where victories proved elusive.

When to Catch Thomas in Action

If you want to see Thomas at his best, tune in around 11 PM (23:00), his prime time for tactical brilliance and inspired play, boasting a surprising 64% win rate at this hour. Clearly, late-night snacks and chess mix well!

Parting Thoughts

Whether bulldozing forward in the French Defense or entertaining the crowd with unexpected openings, Thomas McDonnell is a chess journeyman with a flair for fightbacks and the occasional early exit. If chess was a cocktail, he'd be a shaker filled with resilience, a dash of flair, and a splash of unpredictability—best served chilled at midnight.