Overview
Craig Faber (username Pizzetti) is an energetic National Master known for deep rapid play and a taste for complicated positions. A prolific online competitor across the last decade, Craig favors Rapid time controls and has built a reputation as a comeback specialist who thrives in long fights and technical endgames.
Quick highlights: National Master title, a knack for recovery, and an affinity for offbeat openings that keep opponents guessing.
- Preferred time control: Rapid
- Title: National Master
- Noted strengths: tactical resilience, endgame technique, long average game length
- Peak rapid recognition: 2171 (2021-08-29)
Playing Style and Strengths
Craig plays much like someone who enjoys the marathon rather than the sprint. His games often stretch beyond the opening into rich middlegames and technical endgames. Key characteristics include:
- Endgame focus - high endgame frequency and an average decisive length that skews long.
- Tactical resilience - an excellent comeback rate and solid win rate after material losses.
- Patient decision making - average moves per win about 83, indicating long, grinding victories.
- Psychology-aware - a modest tilt factor but a clear preferred playing hour around 01:00 UTC.
Career Highlights
Over many years of online tournaments and rated events Craig developed into a reliable Rapid specialist. Select career moments and trends:
- Consistent Rapid activity and strong seasonal peaks, earning him recognition among titled amateurs and professionals.
- Remarkable comeback rate around 85 percent, showing his ability to fight back from difficult positions.
- Long winning streaks and a competitive presence against many frequent opponents.
See Craig's recent rating progress for Rapid play:
Opening Repertoire
Craig mixes mainstream systems with unconventional choices to create practical chances and complex middlegames. He is comfortable playing both sides of the board:
- As Black: Scandinavian Defense is a staple - aggressive, blunt, and tested in many blitz and rapid battles. Scandinavian Defense
- As White: London System lines and the Amazon Attack family appear frequently, often with sharp tactical sub-variations. London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation Amazon Attack
- Other favorites: Dory Defense, Australian Defense, and various Dutch Defense setups to surprise opponents. Dory Defense Australian Defense Dutch Defense
At-a-glance win-rate trends by opening:
Notable Opponents and Records
Craig has a handful of frequent rivals online. Matchups against these players form a large part of his competitive history:
- henrythecat - many encounters, a strong positive record. HenrytheCat
- yurypoltavets - a classic rivalry with mixed results. yurypoltavets
- greenhorg and ardito1 - regular opponents who have produced memorable games. gree nhorg Ardito1
- motaz - one of the matchups where Craig shows a clear edge. motaz
For deeper study, check recent head-to-head games and sample wins and losses.
Fun Facts and Quirks
Craig's profile is full of personality. Expect a mix of serious study and playful creativity:
- Average first capture occurs late, usually around move seven, which hints at slow-burning strategic battles.
- Huge endgame appetite - many wins arrive after long exchanges and technical maneuvering.
- He sometimes opens with d4 and chooses rare sideline replies to avoid mainstream book preparation.
- He keeps opponents on their toes with the occasional "Amazon Attack" surprise.
Sample position and recent illustrative game:
Quick Profile Snapshot
- Name: Craig Faber (Pizzetti)
- Title: National Master
- Preferred time control: Rapid
- Style: Tactical resilience, long games, endgame specialist
- Placeholders included for interactive views: rating charts, opening win rates, and sample PGN
Extras for Fans and Analysts
Want to dive into Craig's games or explore his opening success rates? Use the embedded widgets above. For opponent pages try the quick links included in the Notable Opponents section. If you are studying his style, focus on endgames and transitions from balanced middlegames into technical wins.