Nicholas Xie: The Chess Virtuoso Behind "playchessnownick"
Meet Nicholas Xie, better known in the chess cosmos as playchessnownick. A player who’s proven that patience and persistence often outmatch raw talent—except when his talent is off the charts! From early days flirting with beginner ratings to reaching the dizzying heights of a 2752 blitz rating by the end of 2024, Nicholas’ journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster... with more wins than the front row at a rock concert.
His blitz battles are legendary: over 16,427 wins and a near-titanic fight with 15,950 losses, peppered with nearly 3,000 draws, showcasing stamina and a relentless will to outmaneuver foes faster than most can say "checkmate." When lightning-fast games are called for, Nicholas doesn’t just play — he reigns supreme, boasting a peak bullet rating north of 2429, with rapid and daily play equally respectable and fierce.
Nicholas is not just a numbers guy; he’s a tactician whose comeback rate of 81.7% reveals a tenacity that could give Rocky Balboa a run for his money. Blessed (and sometimes cursed) with a tilt factor of 26, he’s the human embodiment of resilience — bouncing back from blunders and turning the tide when least expected.
His favorite weapons of choice? Many, but secretly he loves the mysterious allure of the Openings Performance: "Top Secret" category—nothing like keeping opponents guessing! Yet, he’s also shown love (and some heartbreak) with variations like the French Defense Exchange and Sicilian Dragon, wielding them with a mixed bag of success and fun.
Off the board, Nicholas enjoys dissecting his games move-by-move (average win moves hover around 74 moves — yep, he’s a marathoner, not a sprinter) and uncovering the psychology behind each game — which is great, because figuring out why he resigned that one time takes a grandmaster’s insight (and a good laugh).
If you ever wonder when is the best time to challenge him, look no further than the wee hours around 1 AM — that’s when he’s at his sharpest, ready to outwit and outlast.
So next time you see playchessnownick in your opponent list, prepare for a battle of wits sprinkled with some humor, a dash of unpredictability, and a promise that your king better be ready to dance.