Ksenija Novak (ksenijan) - Woman FIDE Master
Meet Ksenija Novak, a fierce competitor who has earned the respected title of Woman FIDE Master. Known in the chess world by the username ksenijan, Ksenija combines strategic brilliance with a spark of wit—because why just checkmate when you can entertain too?
Starting from modest blitz ratings around 1400 back in 2017, Ksenija's rapid ascent through the ranks has been nothing short of impressive. By mid-2020, she had blitzed her way up to a blazing peak of 2134, and in rapid chess, she soared past 2100, peaking at 2191 in 2022. A quick thinker, Ksenija’s rapid win rate is a mighty 75%, proving she's not just fast but consistently clever.
Don’t let her lightning-fast moves fool you—Ksenija is a patient warrior too, averaging over 70 moves per win, showing a love for gritty, intellectual marathons rather than quick kills. She has a knack for comebacks, winning nearly 84% of games where she was down in material. Clearly, Ksenija doesn’t just play chess, she stages dramatic thrillers.
Her psychological resilience is admirable—she keeps a tilt factor of 5, which, in chess speak, means she rarely lets frustration get the better of her. In fact, her absolute best time to play is the witching hour at 1:00 AM, when the stars align and the chess gods favor her moves.
Ksenija’s opponents might sigh at her mastery of the Top Secret openings—a mysterious approach that has yielded a solid 53% win rate in blitz and a stunning 75% in rapid. She has a killer winning streak record of 19 games and is currently on a hot 4-game winning streak, so better watch out!
Recent Battles
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Most Recent Victory: On March 26, 2025, Ksenija claimed a victory by resignation in a sharp battle playing black against DomPirc, showcasing her deep preparation in the Reti Opening with Kings Indian Attack flavors. The game was a brilliant example of strategic pressure and tactical awareness.
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Recent Defeats: Even the best have off days. In May 2024, Ksenija suffered a couple of tough losses against strong opponents Hermannsen and x_subash_R, highlighting that even a WFM must keep being humble before the chess board's unpredictable nature.
Whether it’s blitz, rapid, or bullet, Ksenija Novak plays with passion, precision, and a pinch of humor, proving every day that chess is much more than a game—it's an art form ripe for dazzling victories and spectacular comebacks.
