Profile Summary: Hédi Ayoub (aka Mano-6969)
Meet Hédi Ayoub, or as the online chess community knows him, Mano-6969 — a player whose rating rollercoaster might make even the boldest thrill-seekers dizzy. Currently climbing the ranks in 2025, Hédi’s highest Rapid rating peaked at a respectable 524 in April, proving that patience and persistence do pay off, especially after a humble beginning at 309.
Though his Blitz and Bullet ratings hover in the lower 200s to 400s range, Hédi’s bullet prowess is nothing to sneeze at, boasting a peak of 409. His lightning-fast reflexes have clearly been sharpened by countless frantic games.
Playing Style and Strengths
Known for a balanced style, Hédi isn’t shy about exploring a variety of openings. His trusty weapons include the Caro Kann Defense and Owens Defense in Rapid, with win rates pushing above 60% — not bad for a defense named after a guy who probably also liked his coffee bitter and his gambits sneaky. In blitz, he shows a penchant for Scandinavian and the elusive Van't Kruijs Opening, pulling off perfect records in these with just a smidge of flair.
He’s also got a bit of a comeback spirit with a 62% comeback rate, meaning when things look grim, he’s not the first to throw in the towel. However, his charming tilt factor of 6 suggests that even he sometimes talks to his pieces after a tough loss.
Record and Rivalries
With an overall Rapid record of 31 wins and 31 losses (exactly balanced — just like a good chess position), and slightly less success in Blitz and Bullet, Hédi embraces every game with the enthusiasm of a true competitor.
His arch-nemesis? The elusive romanee15, against whom he holds an impressive 88% win rate. Though he struggles against some others (looking at you, pro_ff-zone with 0% win rate), he never gives up the fight. Opponents beware, because Mano-6969 thrives most on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with a peak performance hour around 9 PM — the perfect time for a late-night blitz binge.
Fun Facts & Notable Moments
- Longest winning streak: 5 games (proving he can catch fire when the stars align).
- Longest losing streak: 6 games (and yes, Hédi survived it with style).
- Favorite termination? Winning on time-out seven times, because sometimes just making the opponent sweat the clock is victory enough.
- His most recent victory was on May 22, 2025, won on time against Romanee15, showcasing that patience and pressure win the day.
In sum, Hédi Ayoub is a rapidly growing chess enthusiast, blending strategic grit, occasional tactical madness, and a splash of humor that keeps the chessboard lively. Whether you meet Mano-6969 online or encounter those legendary last-minute clock scrambles, one thing’s certain: underestimating this player is the real blunder!
