Nicholas Xie: The Relentless Online Chess Gunslinger
Nicholas Xie, known online as playchessnownick, is a player who turns online chess into an endurance sport. With more than 43,000 rated games, a peak 2888 (2026-07-15) that reaches elite territory, and a bullet rating that has soared past 2700, Nicholas has become one of the most active and dangerous grinders on the platform.
From 1300 to Heavyweight
Nicholas started modestly in the early 2010s, hovering around 1300 in blitz and just over 1000 in bullet. The climb was not a straight line. He grinded through countless late night rematches, survived a 26 game losing streak, and eventually produced a stunning 41 game winning streak that showed what he can do when he is fully dialed in.
His blitz curve is a study in persistence. Each year pushed the ceiling higher, and by 2026 he was routinely playing above 2700, with a peak rating that places him in rare air.
Sharp Openings and the Sicilian Love Affair
Open the database and one thing becomes obvious: Nicholas loves the Sicilian Defense. He has played thousands of Sicilian games, and his favorite battleground is the Dragon Variation, especially the razor sharp Yugoslav Attack. He has also logged deep mileage in the French Defense Exchange Variation and the Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation.
A typical Nicholas game is far from a quiet draw. He wins games that run nearly 80 moves on average, and he reaches an endgame in more than 80% of his contests. Opponents who expect a short evening often find themselves grinding into a complex ending.
One of his favorite Dragon patterns starts like this:
A Familiar Rivalry
No account has crossed paths with Nicholas more often than Magnum Chadsen. They have played over 1,000 rated games, a rivalry built on mutual familiarity and endless rematches. Nicholas has owned the series, winning 945 of those encounters. It is the kind of head to head record that defines a player's competitive identity.
Built for Bullet and Late Nights
While blitz gives Nicholas his highest rating, his preferred time control is bullet. His bullet peak of 2703 came after years of fast paced experimentation, and his strongest hours are around 1 a.m., when the clock and the click of pieces are the only sounds. He is a player who thrives in chaos but also knows when to slow down and convert.
The numbers also reveal a fierce fighter. He wins a huge share of games after falling behind, and he rarely gifts opponents an easy win. For Nicholas, the game is not over until the clock hits zero.
A Legacy of Volume and Grit
Nicholas Xie may not have one signature tournament moment, but his legacy is written across tens of thousands of games. He is a player who shows up, plays sharp chess, and never stops improving. For playchessnownick, every game is another chapter in a very long, very entertaining career.