Anh Khoi Nguyen (aka Kinzhal) - Grandmaster Extraordinaire
Meet Anh Khoi Nguyen, better known on the digital battleground of chess.com as Kinzhal. A ruthless tactician and a Grandmaster crowned by FIDE, Kinzhal has turned the 64 squares into their personal playground of brilliance and occasional brilliance-induced headaches for their opponents.
Chess Journey and Style
Starting from modest beginnings with a Daily rating just north of 1200 in early 2018, Kinzhal soared to a peak Daily rating of 2356 as recently as July 2023 — which is basically chess superstardom territory. But don’t let that fool you; they tackle Bullet, Blitz, and Rapid formats with equal vigor, boasting peak ratings of 2684 in Bullet (Oct 2020), 2882 in Blitz (Feb 2021), and a slick 2769 in Rapid (June 2019).
Known for their patience (average game length of about 69 moves in wins, 79 in losses) and a penchant for endgames (played in over 77% of games!), Kinzhal's style screams “endgame maestro”, while their psychological resilience shines with a near 79% comeback rate after setbacks. Opponents beware: losing a piece doesn’t scare this player, who still wins more than half those fights.
Record and Achievements
- Daily Chess: 186 wins, 24 losses, 7 draws with a dazzling 85.7% win rate against "Top Secret" openings (nice and mysterious!)
- Bullet Chess: 273 wins, 200 losses, 24 draws, reluctance to quit on fire with 54.9% win rate
- Blitz Chess: The most played domain with 1512 games logged, boasting 822 wins and a respectable 54.4% win rate
- Rapid Chess: Showing solid skill with 28 wins, 11 losses, 13 draws
With a longest winning streak of 25 games and a current streak of 15, Kinzhal is the definition of in-form. However, even the best face rough patches: a longest losing streak hit 12 games—but that’s ancient history by now.
When to Challenge Kinzhal?
Their best times to catch sharp moves? Between late evening and night – 8 PM, 9 PM, 10 PM, 11 PM, and midnight bring out their absolute best. In fact, if you want to beat them, try earlier in the day. Or better yet, just prepare to get checkmated!
Most Memorable Victory Highlight
Recently, on March 28, 2025, Kinzhal executed a flawless checkmate in a blitz game starting with the Queen’s Gambit Declined, dispatching 'tryminent' in style after a dramatic queen sacrifice and a final Qxf7# that must have sent spectators into a frenzy. (See the magic unfold)
In Conclusion
Anh Khoi Nguyen is not just a Grandmaster; they are a force of nature in all time controls, blending iron nerves with a sharp mind, and perhaps a little bit of flair (or mischief). Whether on their winning streak or fighting back from a loss, expect games filled with creativity, precision, and that tiny spark of unpredictability that makes chess so addictive.
So whether you’re a newbie watching from afar or a challenger plotting your own victory, beware: facing Kinzhal means facing a Grandmaster who plays not just to win, but to dominate with style. And, oh yes, also to have fun — because chess without humor is just tedious.