George Chatzakis

George "Kovios" Chatzakis

Meet George Chatzakis, affectionately known in the online chess world as Kovios. A resilient and spirited competitor, George's journey on the 64 squares is a blend of gritty battles, strategic gambits, and moments of sheer brilliance — sprinkled with a dash of good humor.

Playing Style & Strengths

Known for never surrendering early (an early resignation rate of just 2.42%), George prefers to slug it out in the trenches, with over 66% endgame frequency. Whether mid-game or endgame, he averages a solid ~65 moves per game, indicating patience and persistence are his true weapons.

While his comeback rate is a stunning 76.32%, illustrating George's tenacity even after losing material, his psychological tilt factor is manageable at 8, proving that losing a piece won't send him off the rails. And just to add a bit of mystery, Kovios has a knack for performing best at the somewhat unlikely hour of 1 PM — prime time for chess domination!

Rating & Records

George's peak blitz rating hit a modest but respectable 567 in May 2025, while rapid saw him soar to 631 just a couple of months earlier. Not a grandmaster just yet, but most definitely a formidable opponent who isn’t afraid to tangle with higher-rated players, albeit with a harsh reality check (above-rated opponents have him winning only 10.8% of the time).

Most games fall under rapid and blitz formats, where George has logged well over 250 matches — posting nearly as many wins as losses (Blitz: 43 wins, 48 losses; Rapid: 109 wins, 117 losses). When facing equally matched opponents, he is undefeated, holding a perfect 100% win rate. That’s some serious confidence!

Opening Repertoire – The Good, The Bad & The Occasionally Lucky

George’s opening choices reveal a love for classical play with a twist. The Italian Game is his shining weapon in blitz, boasting an impressive 80% win rate over 5 games. On the flip side, the Scandinavian Defense in blitz battles is more of a nemesis, with zero wins in three attempts. But fear not! In rapid, he turns the tides with the Scandinavian Defense Closed where he wins over 83% of his games—talk about adaptation.

Notably, the Three Knights Opening is another favorite tactic, earning George a solid 60% rapid and blitz win rate combined. Seems like he’s got some Knights patrolling his side quite effectively.

Memorable Battles & Online Rivals

Kovios has carved a special reputation against opponents like shabadsucks, papadragon1, and hogleg89, sweeping them with 100% win rates. On the other hand, some opponents like granzeuz and t_bill have gotten the better of him, reminding George that even knights must bow to kings now and then.

Recent Highlights & Chess.com Moments

On June 1st, 2025, George showcased a classic display of tactical prowess and patience, defeating shabadsucks by resignation with a swift victory in a King's Gambit Declined variation, proving that sharp lines and solid defense can turn tides. Another victory on the same day involved a well-played Giuoco Piano, where he rapidly dismantled his opponent’s defenses.

Of course, not every day is a winning streak; a recent loss came via checkmate in a Scandinavian Defense Closed game to GranZeuz. But hey, even the best fall sometimes — it just makes the comeback stories sweeter!

Fun Fact

If George ever gets tired of chess, he might just moonlight as a motivational speaker for chess engines worldwide, reminding them not to throw in the towel too soon. His record of coming back from losing pieces far exceeds 38%, making him a true phoenix of the pawns.

In the grand tournament of life and chess, George "Kovios" Chatzakis remains a warrior with a chessboard, a smile, and a stubborn streak that refuses to quit.