Drazen Gacilan

Drazen Gacilan (aka Masilab343)

Meet Drazen Gacilan, widely known in the chess world by the mysterious username Masilab343. A rapid chess warrior navigating the rollercoaster of 2025’s rating scene, Drazen’s journey is a thrilling saga of highs, lows, and some hilarious blunders in between.

With a peak rapid rating of 649 achieved in January 2025, Drazen is no stranger to rapid-fire battles, amassing nearly 200 wins and almost as many losses in the frenetic fast-paced format. This player’s style? An intriguing mix of fighting spirit and resilience—boasting a comeback rate north of 67%, proving that giving up is not in Drazen’s vocabulary, even when the chips are down.

Specialist in openings like the Petrov's Defense Classical Variation (with a cool 71% win rate) and the King's Pawn Opening (61%), Drazen clearly knows how to spring a surprise—except maybe against the King’s Knight Variation, which tends to cause some headaches with just a 23% win rate. It’s a classic “love-hate” relationship with the board, where every win tastes sweet and every loss sparks a new vow to come back stronger.

Drazen’s games are longer affairs, averaging about 54 moves per battle—no quick checkmates here! Whether fighting with white or black, wins hover at nearly 50%, but the slight edge with Black pieces suggests some sneaky counterattacking prowess. Psychological battles are fierce too, though the infamous “tilt factor” of 7 hints that even Drazen has those moments when the brain locks up and the queen mysteriously wandered off.

When is Drazen at their best? Night owls take note: the magic hour is 7 PM, clocking in a perfect 100% win rate at that time of day. Whether it’s the thrill of the dark or the extra coffee kicking in, this is the time to watch out.

Loyal opponents beware: Drazen’s recent victories include decisive wins by resignation and sharp tactical plays in rapid time controls, with battles often ending before the clock runs out but after the moves have truly counted. Not afraid to mix classic defenses with aggressive knight moves, Drazen’s games are both educational and entertaining—sometimes even for spectators who love to see a dramatic king hunt or a sneaky knight fork.

Off the board, Drazen might be pondering the mysteries of why the King’s Knight Variation always manages to rain on the parade or toasting the glory of the Petrov’s Defense. In any case, this rising player and their avatar Masilab343 continue to prove that chess is not just a game—it's an adventure filled with passion, strategy, and the occasional lost rook that turns the tide.

Stay tuned for more moves, more wins, and undoubtedly some more laughs from the unpredictable but lovable Drazen Gacilan.

“Chess is 99% tactics, and 1% trying not to flip the board.” – Probably Drazen, after a particularly wild rapid game.