Nathan Phil aka POWERTHAN
When Nathan Phil, known online as POWERTHAN, sits down for a chess match, he's not just playing pieces—he’s narrating a story of resilience, tactical flair, and some wild moves that make his opponents either sweat or chuckle (sometimes both!).
Rating Rollercoaster & Style
Starting from humble beginnings with rapid ratings barely scraping 200 in early 2024, Nathan took the chess world by storm, rocketing to over 600 points in rapid and blitz by mid-2025. His rapid peak rating of 607 in May 2025 and blitz peak of 607 a month earlier showcases a player who's no stranger to climbing ladders... or sometimes scrambling back down them!
Though his black pieces wield slightly less win magic than white (46.7% vs 49.3%), his hallmark is an impressive 75% comeback rate after setbacks and a mean streak of average 63 moves per game—clearly indicating marathon battles, where he outlasts his foes in endgames almost 65% of the time.
Opening Ambitions
Whether he’s a king’s pawn fanatic (his favored opening category), a blitz master of the Italian Game, or a bullet speedster pulling off 100% success with the Philidor Defense, Nathan’s opening repertoire is as versatile as it is crowd-pleasing. Sicilian Defense enthusiasts beware: with a 75% win rate here, POWERTHAN is quick to strike with precision.
Streaks, Strengths & Quirks
- Longest Winning Streak: 9 games (because why stop when you’re on fire?)
- Longest Losing Streak: 6 games (even legends have off days)
- Favorite Playtime: Early evenings around 6 PM, where his win rate peaks at over 63%
- Resignation Rate: A humble 3.46%, showing he fights until the (blitz) curtain rises.
Noteworthy Match Highlights
Recent victories testify to his grit: for example, he won on time in an intense Italian Game blitz duel where his opponent was mid-mate but POW! The clock triumphed. In another battle using the tricky Three Knights Opening, Nathan sealed a checkmate with style, showing no mercy.
Losses? Sure, a few. But always with dignity—his toughest defeat recently came against the Scandinavian Defense, where he resigned gracefully after a clever trap.
Social Chess Persona
Opponents with names like "shan3m", "anatolepa", and "ahmetemin3" can attest: facing POWERTHAN is full of surprises. His win rates against many players hit 100%, but he’s also got a humble respect for the few who’ve bested him—after all, every loss is just a puzzle to solve next time.
A Final Word
Nathan Phil may not be storming the world's top grandmaster charts... yet. But with a growth curve sharper than a bishop’s diagonal and a nickname like POWERTHAN, he’s a chess force worth watching. Perhaps more importantly: he proves chess is not just a game of kings and queens, but also of persistence, humor, and the occasional lucky time win.
