Tareq Mistarehi

Profile: Tareq Mistarehi (aka Pops_O)

Meet Tareq Mistarehi, a chess enthusiast whose journey is a rollercoaster ride filled with brilliant wins, hard-fought losses, and plenty of lessons learned. Often battling under the username Pops_O, Tareq’s chess career is a testament to persistence, humor, and occasional brilliance—especially when wielding the trusty Caro-Kann Defense or embarking on the Four Knights Game.

Rating Highlights & Style

• Peak Rapid Rating: 875 (October 2023) – a high point that surely inspired some celebratory snacks!
• Top Bullet Rating: 300 (April 2025)
• Strongest Blitz peak at 353 (April 2025), showing quick reflexes and faster thinking.
• Daily chess peak hit a decent 800, proving Tareq can also take time to ponder without rushing.

Playing Strengths & Quirks

Tareq has a notable comeback rate of about 75%! When things look grim, don’t count them out—they’re likely plotting a sneaky comeback. Winning 41% of games even after losing a piece shows Tareq’s stubborn tactical spirit.

They tend to prefer fighting till the very end, with an endgame frequency of over 50%, which is either a sign of supreme patience or just a knack for turning the tides late in the game.

Despite a tilt factor of 8 (translation: sometimes the pressure gets to them), Tareq’s favorite time to play is at the crack of dawn around 6 AM, a perfect excuse to call themselves an early bird or a caffeine-powered chess warrior.

Favorite Openings

Tareq’s repertoire is impressively diverse:

• Rapid: Skilled with the Caro-Kann Defense boasting a 75% win rate and the solid Philidor Defense at nearly 67% wins.
• Blitz: Dominates with the Kings Pawn Opening Kings Knight variation, winning two-thirds of the time, and an almost flawless 100% record in the Four Knights Game (although only played a few games, but hey, perfection counts!)
• Bullet: Prefers the trusted Kings Pawn Opening and Bishops Opening, showing decent to solid results despite the lightning-fast pace.

Performance Snapshot

Over their career so far, Tareq has recorded roughly as many wins as losses across various time controls:

• Rapid: 69 wins vs. 88 losses (with 11 draws)
• Blitz: A respectable 62 wins against 54 losses
• Bullet: A perfectly balanced 30 wins and 40 losses
• Daily: Played few, but snatched a win once!

They’ve faced a wide range of opponents—from those they’ve crushed with 100% win rates to some who have taught Tareq a lesson or two (looking at you, x_nayl08 and friends with 0% victories).

Memorable Moments

Recent victory tales: Using the Caro-Kann and Four Knights openings, Tareq triumphed with a well-deserved checkmate and even won on time, showing both tactical smarts and time management skills.

But like any true chess warrior, Tareq’s been on the losing end too. Battles against strong opponents ended in close calls, including a dramatic game abandoned loss and an intense time struggle. It’s these ups and downs that fuel the growth of a player who refuses to quit.

Final Word

Whether you find Tareq Mistarehi opening with a King's Pawn or defending patiently with the Caro-Kann, one thing is clear: this is a player who approaches chess with heart, humor, and a dash of tactical paddling. If you ever face Pops_O, be prepared for a fight that might last till the very last move — or till both players lose track of the clock!