Eric Hon: The Indefatigable Microbear
Profile
Eric Hon, known across the chess board as microbear, is a National Master who has turned online bullet chess into a full contact sport. He may carry a small username, but his appetite for games is enormous. With tens of thousands of bullet battles under his belt, Eric has become one of the most persistent and recognizable players in the fast lane of online chess.
His journey began modestly in 2013 with a bullet rating below 1500, but the bear kept climbing. By June 2026 he reached a blistering bullet peak of 2732 (2026-06-15). That sort of growth over more than a decade is proof that patience and speed can coexist.
The Bullet Bear
Make no mistake, Eric's preferred time control is bullet. His rating history reads like a love letter to the one minute increment. When the clock is low and the pieces are flying, microbear is at his most dangerous. He has played thousands of bullet games in a single month and still comes back for more.
The chart above only tells part of the story. His overall bullet record includes more than 22,000 wins and a winning streak of 30 games. He has also survived a 21 game losing streak, which means he knows how to keep logging in after the bear has been poked.
Opening Repertoire
Eric's opening choices are wonderfully unconventional. His most played opening is the Amar Gambit, a rare beast that has appeared in over 7,000 of his bullet games. He also leans heavily on the Sicilian Defense and has a soft spot for the Bird Opening, Dutch Variation and the Czech Defense. He is not afraid to play the sort of moves that make opening books sigh.
His results with the Sicilian are particularly strong in rapid and blitz, where he wins more often than he loses. He also thrives in the French Defense, especially the Exchange and Advance variations, which suggests he enjoys taking the fight to the center before his opponent has finished sipping coffee.
Rivals and Friends
No player becomes a legend without opponents. Eric has faced thechesschannel 150 times and zumpili 144 times, making those names as familiar as his own username. He has also had particular success against antoniopadron, where his record is a dominant 63 wins against only 8 losses.
- Mike Ellenbogen: a familiar face across 150 games
- Dr. Norbert Barth: a worthy rival met 144 times
- Antonio Padron: a friendly matchup with a very happy ending for Eric
These recurring battles give his online career the feel of a long running sports drama, complete with rematches, revenge games and the occasional handshake.
Style and Quirks
Eric's playing style is built on persistence. He reaches the endgame in nearly 79 percent of his games and averages about 85 moves in his wins. He does not give up easily, with a comeback rate of nearly 85 percent. Even after losing a piece, he continues to fight and wins almost 47 percent of those games.
He is also a creature of habit. His best time of day to play is 6:00 in the morning, which suggests he likes to start the day by calmly outlasting opponents. His tilt factor is a modest 21, so even when things go wrong, the bear rarely goes full rampage.
If you meet microbear on the bullet ladder, bring your fastest fingers and your calmest nerves. He will probably be waiting in the endgame, ready to outlast you with a smile.