Michael Bascon
Better known in the chess world as mab23, Michael Bascon is a formidable player who’s been battling the sixty-four squares since 2008. Starting off with a respectable daily rating of 1251, Michael steadily increased his prowess, peaking at an impressive 1811 in 2013. Though his rating has fluctuated over the years, his dedication to the game never wavers — even if sometimes his losing streaks might make him consider a career in checkers.
Playing Style
Michael is the kind of player who thinks deep into the endgame—literally 70% of his games reach the endgame phase, averaging over 60 moves to win and nearly 69 moves even in losses. He’s got a heart of a lion with a comeback rate of 78.16%, and get this: when he loses a piece, his win rate after that is almost 100%! So don’t be surprised if a lost pawn turns into a winning position thanks to his tactical ninja moves.
Fun fact: Michael sometimes resigns early — but only about 2.24% of the time — proving that he’s learning patience, or at least testing his opponent’s mercy.
Formats & Ratings
- Daily Chess: Peak rating of 1811 with consistent battles against over 1500 opponents.
- Blitz: Quick on the clock with a max rating of 1538; lightning-fast knights and bishops.
- Rapid: Trading speed for accuracy, Michael reached 1661 at his best.
- Bullet: Blitz but with caffeine—he hit 1510 here, proving he’s no stranger to adrenaline-fueled chess.
Opening Repertoire
Michael keeps some tricks up his sleeve with a mysterious "Top Secret" opening that yields a win rate just above 50% in daily games. When he's feeling unpredictable, he ventures into "Unknown Opening" territory — because playing safe is boring, right?
Opponent Insights
Facing opponents like sdcruzba (122 matches) and patzermax (75 matches), Michael has honed his combat skills in some intense rivalries. His highest win rates shine against players like tigerwool, dadoom, and bvbeerna — 100% victories there! Although, a few opponents remind him that humility is a virtue.
Chess and Humor
When not calculating variations or hunting down elusive tactics, Michael enjoys the psychological warfare of chess, balancing a tilt factor of 15 with a zen-like calm that keeps his play above water. And if you're lucky, he might share war stories about his longest winning streak of 15 games — a feat that most players only dream of or chalk up to beginner's luck!
In Summary
Michael Bascon is a passionate, resilient, and cunning chess enthusiast who’s mastered both slow and fast game formats. Whether it’s a marathon daily match or a nerve-wracking 1-minute blitz, mab23 is always ready to sacrifice a pawn, bluff a queen, or artfully backpedal to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. If you see him online, prepare for a dance of pieces and maybe a few dad jokes about his chess escapades.