Liam McDonough

Liam McDonough (liamgmcd) - The Gambit Gambler

Meet Liam McDonough, a spirited chess enthusiast whose rating history reads like a rollercoaster ride through the ranks of Rapid, Blitz, and Bullet chess. While Liam’s peak Rapid rating of 1038 back in December 2020 might not have intimidated grandmasters, it certainly showcased the passion and grit of a player willing to learn and improve — even if it took a few losses along the way!

Known online as liamgmcd, Liam is a Rapid aficionado, with nearly 220 games under his belt spanning several years. His forte? Not necessarily keeping an unblemished record, but thriving in the face of challenge with a remarkable 61.76% comeback rate. That’s right, even after losing a piece, Liam’s fighting spirit often turns the tides.

Liam’s favorite battlegrounds are openings like the French Defense and Bishop’s Opening, each boasting a healthy win rate of 55.56% in Rapid games. The king’s pawn opening is Liam’s go-to classic, though the win-loss ratio here is a bit more “adventurous” with a 38.1% win rate — clearly, he enjoys a good challenge!

Liam’s style can be summed up as patient yet bold: an average of 38 moves per win and an even longer struggle during losses (averaging 42 moves). He’s not afraid to resign early (about 22% early resignations, nobody’s perfect), but he’s often the last to blink in the endgame, diving into the thick of tactical battles with nearly 35% endgame frequency.

When it comes to opponents, Liam has sweet revenge stories against players like megotia, aymene333, and kingvonscousin — undefeated in these rivalries! However, some players like bob-remastered-7 and bilbozz manage to keep him on his toes with a tougher track record. Consistency isn’t Liam's middle name, but resilience definitely is.

His best chess hours? Early mornings at 10 AM and late nights at 10 PM (maybe fueled by caffeine and passion?). Curiously, Wednesdays bring him the best luck, with a 66%+ win rate, while Thursdays seem to be less fortunate.

Recent Highlights

• Latest dazzling victory on June 3, 2025: A swift triumph over megotia using the French Defense, where a daring knight sacrifice opened the path to glory.
• Another notable checkmate victory against aymene333 via the Pirc Defense, proving Liam’s creative attack is alive and well.
• Not all battles end in victory, but even in defeat against bob-remastered-7, Liam demonstrates fierce competition and learning opportunities.

In essence, Liam McDonough is the kind of player who may not be winning trophies yet, but certainly wins hearts with tenacity, unpredictability, and a sense of humor about ups and downs. Whether you’re facing him on the board or cheering from afar, expect a thrilling chess adventure full of audacious moves and spirited comebacks.