Khem Rizal

Khem Rizal: The Chess Journeyman

Meet Khem Rizal, or as the internet chess world sometimes calls them, khemrizal1. With a blitz rating soaring as high as 1483 and a rapid peak of 1537, Khem isn’t just playing chess — they’re wrestling with it and often emerging victorious. Their chess journey is a story of steady improvement and unyielding spirit, from humble beginnings to impressively tactical games.

Starting in 2021 with a blitz rating around 1117 and rapid near 1315, Khem’s been on a steady climb — a reminder that even the most cunning of knights need a bit of time to properly gallop. By 2025, the rapid rating hit a sizzling 1537, proving that patience and practice pay off (and sometimes, so does a well-timed queen sacrifice).

Khem’s style? A blend of patience and tactical prowess. Their average winning games stretch over 66 moves, while losses tend to linger a little longer, perhaps because surrender isn’t the first option. Known for an impressive 80%+ comeback rate, Khem has the resilience to bounce back after losing material — even boasting a perfect record winning games after losing a piece. Now, that’s the sort of optimism most of us only muster in video games.

Some fun quirks: Khem has an early resignation rate of just 0.65%, proving they're not the type to throw in the towel after a minor slip. They love their endgames almost as much as their opponents hate them, with nearly 77% of their games reaching that tense finale.

When does Khem play best? Apparently, around dusk (17:00) and the wee hours (3:00 and 6:00) — when most sane players are asleep or grabbing snacks. Perhaps this nocturnal pattern unlocks some hidden chess superpowers!

While the stats tell a tale of hard work and steady results, don't be fooled — Khem’s not all numbers and calculations. Beneath that rating graph lies a player who’s as determined as a pawn pushing for promotion, as strategic as a well-planned castle, and as unpredictable as a knight’s hop.

"In the game of life and chess, it’s not always about the rating, but about the journey and the joy of the dance of the pieces."