Thịnh Đặng

Thịnh Đặng (Username: OTMZelus)

Once a humble Rapid rookie rated a mere 595 in early 2021, Thịnh Đặng has journeyed through ups and downs, setbacks and triumphant comebacks, proving that the 64 squares hold no mystery too great for him to conquer. Known to friends as OTMZelus, he is a player who lives, breathes, and sometimes dramatically resigns chess — but always returns to the board with renewed spirit.

Chess Odyssey

Starting with a single flawless win in his first rapid game, Thịnh quickly surged to a peak Rapid rating of 1244 by January 2023—impressive for someone who once struggled to decide if a Sicilian was a kind of pizza or an opening! His tactical awareness is no joke, boasting an eye-watering 84% comeback rate after falling behind, a testament to his fighting heart and refusal to surrender quietly.

A self-declared master of the Philidor Defense and Italian Game, he loves to keep opponents on their toes, wielding the Sicilian Defense and its many wild variations like a seasoned warrior. With a roughly even split between wins and losses (497 wins to 478 losses in Rapid), his games are rarely dull — expect drama, unexpected turns, and occasionally some questionable early resignations (around 9% of the time, hey, we all have our moments!).

Playing Style & Personality

Thịnh loves the late game, pushing matches deep into the endgame 44.6% of the time — because if life (and chess) were easy, everyone would be a grandmaster by now. His average winning game runs about 56 moves, indicating patience combined with tactical precision. Interestingly, he performs better with the white pieces (54.3% win rate) but doesn't shy away from the challenge of black with a respectable 45.7% victories, proving he's comfortable both attacking and defending.

Known for his psychological resilience, his tilt factor is a modest 14, meaning he sometimes throws a mental tantrum but usually gets back up faster than you can say "checkmate."

Notable Achievements & Fun Facts

• Longest winning streak: 9 games – quite the hot streak!
• Current winning streak: 4 games – riding the wave as of the latest records.
• Favorite Time to Play: 7 PM, when the stars align and pieces move themselves (or so he hopes).
• Unshakable at times: Has recorded wins over intriguing usernames like elon_musk21 and corbinator666 – sounds like a sci-fi chess saga.

Memorable Recent Victory

On April 12, 2025, Thịnh secured a brilliant checkmate against HarishAgarwal123 using the Philidor Defense, ending the game with a flourish after promoting a queen and delivering a cool Qh8#. For those who enjoy a good read, the full game replay is a delight to watch—a tactical playground where OTMZelus danced circles around his opponent.

Blitz & Bullet Highlights

Though primarily a Rapid aficionado, Thịnh dabbles in Blitz and Bullet chess with mixed results. His Blitz peak touched 751 in April 2021, and his lone Bullet game sits proudly at a perfect win. Whether lightning-fast or slower-burn, he brings the same fierce passion to every match.

In short: Thịnh Đặng, aka OTMZelus, is a spirited competitor who embraces the beautiful chaos of chess. With a mix of resilience, a knack for comebacks, and a lighthearted approach to setbacks, he embodies the soul of a true chess lover — endlessly engaged, unpredictably brilliant, and occasionally humble enough to laugh at his own blunders.