dave tan

Dave Tan - The Tactical Adventurer of the 64 Squares

Meet Dave Tan, better known in the chess world by his username nirvana. A chess player whose journey is as much a rollercoaster of emotions as it is a battle of wits on the checkered battlefield. Dave has been navigating the fascinating world of chess since at least 2008, steadily making moves, both figuratively and literally, that tell a story of perseverance, learning, and occasional glorious triumph.

Rising and Falling Through the Ranks

Starting with humble beginnings just shy of the 1200 rating mark in 2008, Dave soared to a peak Daily rating of 2112 in September 2009 — a meteoric rise worthy of applause! Unfortunately, chess is a humbling game, and over the years, his rating has ebbed and flowed, recently settling around the 1200s in 2024. But don't be fooled by the numbers; this player knows how to bounce back, boasting a remarkable comeback rate of nearly 78% after adverse positions.

Playing Style & Personality

If patience is a virtue, Dave's got it in spades — his average winning games last about 59 moves, indicating a fondness for deep, strategic battles. He's not the quick quitter type despite a modest early resignation rate of about 14%. Dave prefers to tango deep into the endgame, engaging in careful manuevering in over half of his matches.

Psychological warfare? Oh yes! Our friend Dave has a notorious tilt factor of 60, meaning under pressure, he sometimes throws caution (and maybe a pawn) to the wind. But the intelligent strategist strikes best around 5 PM, his prime chess hours according to his own records.

Strengths, Woes, and Stats

• Longest Winning Streak: A breathtaking 33 games, showing flashes of unstoppable brilliance.
• Longest Losing Streak: A gut-wrenching 60, reminding us all that even the best have rough patches.
• Total Daily Wins: 460 (somewhere between a chess master and a chess hero!)
• Blitz:** A respectable 48% win rate — lightning-fast fingers and sharp eyes.
• Rapid and Bullet: A bit of a mixed bag, but the tenacity shines through.