Max Tapogna

Profile Summary: Max Tapogna (aka MaximilianIV)

Meet Max Tapogna, a chess warrior known online as MaximilianIV, who commands the virtual battlefield with a mix of cunning strategy and occasional flair for the dramatic. Starting off in the Blitz jungle with humble ratings around 300 in early 2023, Max has gamely blitzed his way up to a blistering peak rating of 1090 by January 2025 — and that's no typo!

With a passion for rapid chess, Max really shines here, boasting an impressive peak Rapid rating of 1177. His games are a rollercoaster of tactical masterstrokes and fighting spirit, evidenced by a remarkable 75.77% comeback rate — proving that giving up is simply not in his playbook.

Max's opening repertoire is an intriguing mix. He seems fond of keeping secrets, with his top favorite opening labeled "Top Secret", leading to nearly half of his wins! That aside, he has a penchant for classic lines like the Italian Game and the Scandinavian Defense, winning over 70% of those battles — not bad for someone who occasionally dabbles in the mysterious arts of "Berlin Defense" and "Kings Pawn Variations."

A quick glance at his game statistics reveals Max’s true grit: over a thousand wins in Blitz games alone, almost as many losses, and a healthy sprinkle of draws. His longest winning streak is a juicy 10 games, while his resilience shows in an equally memorable losing streak of 8 — but that hasn’t dimmed his enthusiasm one bit.

True to his name, Max’s style is a delightful mix of patience and aggression. His average moves per win hover around 58, but losing games tend to drag on longer — about 70 moves — perhaps a signal of his dogged refusal to surrender without a fight.

Max’s psychological stats tell us he’s an early riser, with his best time to play at 6 AM, when the chess gods apparently smile extra brightly on him. His tilt factor is a modest 8, meaning he manages to keep his cool even when things go sideways — a rare talent among mortal chessplayers.

Notable Latest Victory

In a recent encounter, Max executed a dazzling checkmate against opponent cpb0 using the Old Steinitz Defense of the Ruy Lopez. After tactically dispatching his opponent’s defenses, he sealed the game at move 21 with a queen sacrifice that left onlookers gasping and his opponent checkmated. This game is a masterpiece of timely aggression and precise calculation.

Fun Fact

Despite his impressive stats and fierce competitive nature, Max occasionally embraces the mystery of the “Top Secret” opening — which might just be a fancy code name for "I’m making it up as I go along," but hey, whatever works to keep the opponent on edge!

In the world of online chess, where titans clash at lightning speed, Max Tapogna stands out not just for his numbers, but for his tenacious spirit and love for the game. Watch out — MaximilianIV is always ready to strike, whether it’s a lightning-fast Blitz bullet or a slow-burning Rapid duel.