Mathias Van Der Veer

Mathias Van Der Veer: The Chessboard Conqueror

Meet Mathias Van Der Veer, also known in the digital arenas as MathiasVDV, a passionate chess enthusiast whose journey through the ranks resembles a rollercoaster with more peaks than dips. Since 2020, Mathias has been steadily sharpening his skills, tirelessly battling opponents across all time controls—Rapid, Blitz, Bullet, and Daily—often leaving a trail of bewildered rivals in his wake.

Rating and Performance Highlights

Starting with a rapid rating of around 568 in 2020, Mathias swiftly boosted his game to touch a modern peak of 1249 in Rapid chess by 2025. While his Blitz and Bullet ratings haven’t quite raced to grandmaster territory, peaking at 731 and 716 respectively, his love for the game shines through every move. The Daily format reveals a patient side of Mathias, gradually creeping up to a respectable 934 rating, proving good things come to those who wait—like a slow-building, unexpected tactical masterpiece.

The Openings Gambit

Mathias is not one to shy away from adventurous openings. The Englund Gambit stands out as his trusty old friend, boasting a win rate just north of 51% across 268 games—proof that sometimes, taking risks can pay off. Other favorite openings like the Queen’s Pawn Zukertort Variation and the Queen’s Pawn Horwitz Defense underline his a strategic flair, often turning ordinary positions into subtle traps.

Playing Style & Tactical Wizardry

Mathias’s style can be best described as patient and resilient, favoring longer battles with an average of 66 moves per win. He's not the quitter type—a mere 6.4% early resignation rate means he’s in it till the final checkmate, or until the clock mocks him. Impressively, his comeback rate is a remarkable 76%, proving that when the chips are down, Mathias does not just throw in the towel; he reinvents it into a crown.

The Psychology of Play

Like any grand chess artist, Mathias has his quirks. His tilt factor sits at 12, so sometimes those losses sting, but he bounces back stronger. With a solid edge in rated games over casual ones (7.2% better win-rate), it’s clear that Mathias thrives under pressure—unless it’s 4 AM, when his 33.33% win-rate at that hour suggests coffee and chess don’t always mix well.

Opponents Beware!

MathiasVDV has tangled with thousands of opponents, most notably facing hper4gon 33 times and others like janhoeree and senneboonen multiple times. Word on the street is that beating him requires not just skill, but also a little luck—and maybe a good luck charm or two.

Fun Fact

Despite all the stats and stats and more stats, Mathias’s real secret weapon might just be his sense of humor and chessboard charm. After all, who else could take the Englund Gambit seriously and still come out smiling?

In the grand game of life and chess, Mathias Van Der Veer is someone who never stops moving, always thinking, and occasionally blundering spectacularly. But isn’t that the true beauty of the game?