Mahmoud Alhaj

Mahmoud Alhaj (Mahmoud-13)

Mahmoud Alhaj, known in the chess world as Mahmoud-13, is a relentless competitor who thrives in the battle of wits and strategy. With skills honed over countless blitz, bullet, and rapid games, Mahmoud’s journey through the ranks is a testament to perseverance, tactical awareness, and a touch of cheeky resilience.

Rating Highlights

• Peak Blitz Rating: 1960 (April 2025) — creeping steadily towards grandmaster aspirations
• Peak Bullet Rating: 1679 (April 2025) — proving that speed thrills
• Peak Rapid Rating: An impressive 2102 (May 2025) — rapid-fire brilliance at its best

Playing Style and Stats

Mahmoud is a master of long, patient battles, with an average of about 63 moves per victory, showing a fondness for endgames (appearing in about 72% of his matches). His early resignation rate is notably low (0.25), indicating he fights to the bitter end rather than conceding early.

Tactically, Mahmoud shines with a comeback rate of 82.24%, frequently turning difficult situations around — if he loses a piece, he's got an almost 50/50 shot at winning anyway. His psychological tilt factor is a modest 10, showing decent emotional control — but don't be fooled; he’s happiest and sharpest between 11 AM and noon, his best time of day to play.

Signature Openings

When it comes to openings, Mahmoud favors a mix of classical foundations and tricky defenses:

• Philidor Defense — Nearly 76% win rate in blitz, a favorite battleground
• Giuoco Piano — A classic opening with solid results across all time formats
• French Defense Exchange Variation — Mahmoud’s choice move in his recent famous victory
• Alapin Sicilian Defense — Impressive 76% win rate in bullet, showcasing his sharp reflexes

Recent Memorable Games

Mahmoud’s latest victories often end in dramatic fashion. Just recently, he secured a resignation win against vijatovicmica using the French Defense Exchange Variation — a game filled with strategic maneuvers and precise calculation (full game here).

He also scored a stylish checkmate against botvinnik86 in a Sicilian Defense Open Dragon Rauzer Variation, proving that Mahmoud can crush defenses as well as build them.

The Lighter Side of Mahmoud

Not just a chess machine, Mahmoud is a tactical wizard who sometimes sacrifices pawns like snacks, keeps opponents on their toes with tricky variations, and probably thinks three moves ahead in life — or at least during chess breaks.

With a nearly balanced win/loss record, Mahmoud embraces the ups and downs of competitive chess with good humor and a hunger to improve. His favorite phrase? "Checkmate or a coffee break — whichever comes first!"

Competitive Records

• Blitz: 761 wins, 729 losses, 46 draws
• Bullet: 460 wins, 384 losses, 22 draws
• Rapid: 125 wins, 75 losses, 5 draws

Opponent Highlights

Mahmoud’s record against some opponents makes his toughest competitors stand out:

• Perfect 100% wins against vijatovicmica, chesachesachesa, and botvinnik86.
• Tougher going against rajaarkhan, with just 20% wins in several encounters.

Looking Ahead

With a steadily climbing rating and a knack for quick come-from-behind victories, Mahmoud Alhaj’s chess journey is one to watch. Whether it’s blitz, bullet, or rapid, he’s always ready to make the next move — hopefully one that ends with a victorious “checkmate!”