Alex Hogarth (misteragh)
Alex Hogarth, known to the chess world by the mysterious alias misteragh, is a player who embodies perseverance and tactical flair. His journey through the ranks reads like an epic tale filled with brilliant wins, stinging losses, and a few nail-biting draws.
Rating and Performance
Currently specializing in Rapid chess, Alex reached a peak rating of 1163 in Rapid in May 2025, proving he's a force to be reckoned with during those mid-paced battles. His Blitz games also shine, with a peak rating of 795, showing dexterity and sharpness when the clock is ticking down.
Despite occasionally facing down the barrel of tough times (longest losing streak of 10 games, anyone?), Alex bounces back with a commendable comeback rate of 75.2%. Talk about resilience!
Playing Style
Alex is a strategist who prefers to play the long game. With an average of nearly 52 moves per win and still more moves per loss, patience is clearly his virtue. Frequent endgames show his comfort navigating the complicated final stages of battle, while his early resignation rate sits relatively low at about 5%, suggesting he fights till the bitter end.
Opening Repertoire
When it comes to openings, Alex enjoys a rich and varied menu, often returning to the Queens Pawn Opening Accelerated London System, boasting a win rate of around 55% in Rapid. He’s equally comfortable deploying the Kings Pawn Opening with a 63% Rapid win rate – so beware the classics! The Englund Gambit might sound like a wild card, and indeed it is – sometimes glorious, sometimes a gamble, but always entertaining.
Notable Games & Moments
Among recent triumphs, Alex's checkmate victory against ikankrivaldi on June 5, 2025 stands out. A game full of subtle tension culminating in a gorgeous mating net involving his rook and queen.
1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 Bxc5 4. e4 Qc7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e5 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. Ng5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Nd7 13. Qf3 f6 14. Ne6 Qa5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Rf7 17. Nxg7 Kxg7 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Rac1 Rg8 20. Qd3 Rfg7 21. Qc3 Qxc3 22. Rxc3 Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 R2g4 24. Re1 Rg2 25. h3 Rxf2 26. Rcc1 Rgg2 27. Rg1 Rh2#Of course, every hero has their off days. Alex's latest hiccup was a loss on time against le_nidoiseau on June 6, 2025 - showing even the best sometimes get caught out by the clock.
Fun Facts
- Longest winning streak: 14 games - a streak where even Houdini would be impressed.
- Current losing streak: 4 games - apparently, still refusing to quit or rage quit.
- Favorite time to play: Around 6pm - Alex's brain apparently works best when the sun starts dipping... or perhaps when dinner's almost served?
- Known for clever trump cards in endgames and a persistence that often turns games around.
Whether sealing a victory by checkmate or collecting wisdom from defeat, Alex Hogarth's journey through the forty-squares is a story worth watching. Opponents beware: misteragh plays both with his mind and with flair—and a keen eye for when to drop the mother of all forks!