Kristóf Kurucz (krist_ft) - The Relentless Rapid Racer
Meet Kristóf Kurucz, a chess player who proves that rapid chess is truly his realm! Although his rating numbers might look like a rollercoaster ride — peaking at 233 in Rapid and even reaching an impressive 517 in Bullet (yes, that’s no typo) — his fighting spirit never wavers.
Kristóf's style? Don't blink! With an average moves per win just around 29 but a whopping 51 moves per loss, he dares to stick games out longer than most. His endgame frequency clocks in at a solid 35%, showing he prefers to see the final act unfold — sometimes with a flourish, sometimes with a desperate huff.
His preferred battlefield? Rapid time control, where his best win streak hit a confident 4 games. Beware his openings: the King's Pawn Opening Leonardis Variation has been his golden goose with a 100% win rate, and he’s no stranger to mixing it up with the Queens Gambit Accepted or swinging boldly with the Alekhine's Defense Maroczy variation.
Highlight Reel
- Peak Blitz Rating: 173 (April 2025)
- Peak Bullet Rating: 517 (March 2025) – Lightning fast and occasionally lightning bright!
- Peak Rapid Rating: 233 (April 2025) – The true comfort zone.
Battlefield Report
Kristóf shows no fear when facing opponents close or far in rating, boasting a near-perfect record against those rated below him (winning over 96% of those games!). However, the bigger fish — those rated above him — tend to slip away, with a rougher 8% win rate.
His resilience shines through with a comeback rate over 62% after moments of adversity (losing pieces or going behind), proving it’s not over until the King is checkmated — or he resigns first out of pure frustration, a habit he admits occurs about 14% of the time.
Fun Facts
- Best time to challenge Kristóf: 5 AM sharp! He’s practically unbeatable before breakfast.
- Loses most on Sundays — perhaps his day for napping, not battling.
- Has faced bersajak and albert-hsh recently, scoring clean wins (see the last win in the Hippopotamus Defense).
Recent Highlight:
In a flashy display, Kristóf crushed bersajak using the King's Pawn Opening Hippopotamus Defense, winning by resignation just after 6 moves!
Whether you're challenging him at bullet speed or slow and steady daily games, Kristóf Kurucz always brings a unique blend of tactical flair, gritty comebacks, and a dash of unpredictability. Keep an eye on this rising rapid star — he might just surprise you next game!
