Loek van Wely - The Dutch Grandmaster Extraordinaire
Known in chess circles as KingLoek, Loek van Wely is a formidable Grandmaster hailing from the Netherlands. With a title bestowed by FIDE, he’s proven time and again that the chessboard is his kingdom. Whether blitzing through rapid-fire games or patiently maneuvering long strategic battles, Loek has demonstrated a blend of tactical brilliance and ironclad endgame skills.
Loek's journey is peppered with impressive peaks — his peak blitz rating soared to a jaw-dropping 2985 in November 2023, showcasing lightning-fast calculations and fearless gambits. Not to be outdone, his rapid and bullet performances show solid ratings in the mid-2600s and 2500s respectively, proving versatility across all time controls.
Playing Style & Personality
Van Wely is a patient craftsman on the board, often grinding games deep into the endgame, as 84.5% of his matches unfold into these tight finales. His average game length—over 75 moves per win—means he’s not one to rush to conclusions and certainly never resigns early. Comebacks? They've got a 81.4% success rate—he’s the chess equivalent of a thriller movie you can't stop watching.
Psychologically, this astute gladiator tends to shine brightest in the morning, with a perfect 100% win rate at 9 AM. A morning coffee plus a chess board clearly does wonders for KingLoek! When playing, Loek favors winning with white pieces but confidently holds his ground with black—a win rate near 55% for both.
Record Highlights & Opponents
With over 331 blitz games and a win rate of about 55%, Loek has sharpened his blade against many worthy opponents. His most frequent adversary is captainjames, with 32 battles fought and a respectable win ratio. Some opponents, like sjoerd893 and gm_donatello, never leave the battlefield alive, boasting a 100% win rate for Loek.
However, even kings have their moments of humility. Recent clashes with top talents like AnishGiri have sometimes ended unfavorably — but rest assured, Loek always returns stronger, polishing his strategies with each game.
Latest Triumph
In a recent thrilling duel on May 19, 2025, our grandmaster specialist triumphed over FormerProdigy with black pieces in a Sicilian Defense Westernien Attack. After a tense 38 moves, the opponent saw no choice but to resign — a testament to Loek’s relentless pressure and precise endgame play.
That’s KingLoek for you: a patient, smart, and slightly mischievous chess warrior, turning pawns into kings and battles into legends!