About Seyed Mehrab Khoshkalam (Mehraaab)
Seyed Mehrab Khoshkalam, known online as Mehraaab, is a FIDE Master who made a name for himself on fast time controls. A natural blitz specialist, Mehrab mixes tactical fireworks with an appetite for sharp opening choices. He is as comfortable attacking in the Najdorf as he is steering quiet Four Knights positions when the mood calls for calm calculation.
Playing profile
- Title: FIDE Master
- Preferred time control: Blitz - this is where Mehraaab shines and plays most often
- Peak blitz rating: 2590 (2025-05-06)
- Style: tactical, high endgame frequency, willing to grind long decisive games
- Notable psychological traits: strong comeback ability, a modest tilt factor, and a surprising best time of day to play
Search engines should find this page when looking for keywords like chess, FIDE Master, blitz chess, Najdorf, Sicilian, and openings performance.
Signature openings and trends
Mehrab has a clear taste for fighting openings. He favors dynamic systems and has put particularly impressive numbers into a few favorite lines.
- Sicilian Defense - Najdorf Variation: a top weapon for both attack and counterplay. Favorite as Black and often yields sharp tactical battles
- French Defense - reliable and successful in both blitz and bullet play
- Four Knights Game - a surprisingly reliable choice when playing White, with a strong win rate in shorter events
- Colle System and Amar Gambit show up in bullet games as creative, aggressive tries
Openings to explore further: Sicilian_Najdorf and French_Defense.
Notable rivals and records
Mehrab has faced a number of repeat opponents online, building rivalries that sharpen his play.
- Most played opponent: Ali Rastbod - long series of tense encounters
- Frequent rival: Armin Mušović - a near-even running battle
- Other regulars: kirish770, aryaomidi, sunnilee
He has a strong record versus some rivals and a work-in-progress rivalry with others. For example, a long run of games against ali_rastbod produced many lessons and memorable moments.
Memorable game sample
Here is a short PGN you can study to get a feel for Mehrab's sharp Najdorf style and blitz instincts. Use the viewer to step through tactics and ideas.
If you prefer watching a single game, try this recent clash: Exciting Najdorf.
Statistics highlights
- Strong blitz performer with consistent wins in sharp openings
- High endgame frequency and long average decisive game length - players get a full match against him
- Excellent comeback rate and resilience after tactical setbacks
For a quick visual of rating progress in the blitz arena, see this mini chart placeholder:
.Fun facts
- Nickname online: Mehraaab
- Favorite tactic: turning Najdorf complications into practical chances
- Quirk: long decisive games average in the 70 move range, so prepare for marathons
- Humorous note: will sometimes celebrate a clean tactical finish as if he had invented chess
Want to follow or study more?
Check out some repeated opponents and study the Najdorf and French Defense for a deep dive into Mehrab's typical battlegrounds. Example resources embedded above make for a good study plan - open the PGN viewer, replay the game, and try the lines yourself.
Quick links: Ali Rastbod - rival profile, Sicilian_Defense - opening notes.