Son Nguyen - International Master
Son Nguyen, also known to online chess circles as minamina18, is an International Master who likely spends more time unlocking secrets on the chessboard than a cryptologist decrypting ancient codes. With a blitz rating skating comfortably around 2300 since 2021, Son has mastered the art of rapid-fire chess battles—and no, that’s not just because of the caffeine.
Beginning their recorded blitz journey with a modest 1121 rating back in 2015, Son quickly zoomed up to over 2160 by 2016. By 2017, things got serious, with a peak blitz rating nearing 2400, showcasing tactical prowess and a knack for outmaneuvering opponents faster than you can say "checkmate!"
Rapid and daily formats are no slouches either: a solid 2000+ rapid rating and an impressive 2200+ streak in daily chess paint Son as a versatile player who can slow cook strategies over days or blitz through wild tactical storms in minutes.
Son’s games reveal a few amusing quirks:
- An average win in about 66 moves, meaning they’re in for the long haul—and probably enjoy a good chess novel alongside.
- A comeback rate of nearly 80%, proving that losing a piece doesn’t mean losing the fight. Don’t count Son out even if they lose a knight early—there’s always hope.
- White pieces bring a 62% win rate, Black still respectable at 57%. Clearly, Son doesn’t discriminate—both sides get a royal treatment.
When not busy dismantling opponents, Son’s win rate on certain hours like 16:00 and 18:00 suspiciously hits 84% and 100% respectively — so if you want to avoid a quick defeat, maybe don’t challenge them during their prime hours!
With over 1,200 recorded blitz games and hundreds in rapid and daily formats, Son Nguyen is a seasoned competitor—and an opponent whose games reflect a balance of patience, resilience, and a hint that they might just enjoy a clever trap or two.
One last thing: despite a fairly low tilt factor of 11 (chess players beware), when things get tense, Son manages to keep calm, turning losing positions into victorious ones with the flair of a grandmaster magician.
In the arena of black and white squares, Son Nguyen not just plays the game—they rewrite it, one move at a time.