Lasse Østebø Løvik (aka Lovlas)
International Master Extraordinaire
Meet Lasse Østebø Løvik, the chess wizard known online as Lovlas, who has ascended the ranks to earn the esteemed title of International Master from FIDE. Not just a player, but a relentless force on the 64 squares, Lovlas has carved out a reputation that’s part brilliance, part strategic mischief, and all heart.
Starting with a blitz rating just shy of 1250 in 2012, Lovlas quickly accelerated to lightning-fast moves and crushing victories, soaring past 2700 in both blitz and bullet formats — a testament to his insane reflexes and razor-sharp intuition. His peak blitz rating of 2776 (May 2025) and bullet rating of 2759 (April 2025) place him among the elite stormers of quick chess, while his steady rapid rating of around 2400 reflects his all-around mastery.
Style & Achievements
- Known for a fierce Top Secret opening repertoire — shhh! — that’s fended off thousands with an impressive win rate of 58.55% in blitz and an even more human-defying 70.46% in bullet.
- Favors classic openings like the Queen's Gambit Declined Catalan and French Defense Tarrasch Closed, but don't be fooled, Lovlas will spring surprises whenever the position calls.
- Has achieved a staggering 73-game winning streak at one time — enough to make even Magnus raise an eyebrow.
- Games average around 74 moves when victorious, proving Lovlas isn’t just about flashy tricks but also endurance and precision deep into the endgame, where they shine 76% of the time.
Psychological Prowess & Quirks
Never one to toss in the towel prematurely, Lovlas boasts a low early resignation rate (2.5%), preferring to fight to the bitter end — which makes sense given an exceptional comeback rate of over 85%! Although a bit prone to the tilt (hey, who isn’t?), Lovlas knows how to harness peak playing hours, with the magic happening at 1 AM — obviously when the stars align and the chess gods smile.
Recent Battles
The latest victories show Lovlas's typical flair, including a smoothly executed checkmate in the French Defense Tarrasch Closed Main Line and a king hunt culminating in a dazzling finish against a strong opponent. Not all days end in triumph, but even losses are treated as valuable lessons, sometimes ending in nail-biting time scrambles.
Fun Fact
Despite battling for decades online and offline, Lovlas's win rate against opponents rated lower is a commanding 71%, but when facing equals or higher-rated rivals, the games turn into epic clashes that anyone would pay to watch.
So, whether you're looking at bullet blitz, rapid tactics, or the grind of daily chess, Lasse Østebø Løvik is a player to respect and admire — and to avoid, unless you're ready to lose (or have a lot of fun trying).