Samuel Girodon (aka ptidgi)
Meet Samuel Girodon, a chess enthusiast affectionately known online as ptidgi. Samuel isn’t just another player moving pawns around a board—he’s a Blitz and Bullet aficionado with a rollercoaster rating history and a penchant for some of the most classical yet deadly openings in chess.
Playing Journey & Style
Starting out with a respectable Daily rating of around 1150 in 2010, Samuel has climbed the ranks and has had notable peaks of 1424 in Daily (2021), 1362 in Blitz (2019), and a solid 1048 in Bullet (2022). His current Blitz rating hovers in the high 800s, with a Bullet rating comfortably in the mid-500s as of 2024.
With a 52% win rate when playing White and a slightly more tempered 48% playing Black, Samuel prefers to extend the fight with an average of 45 moves per win but is willing to endure a longer battle with losses averaging 52 moves.
His psychological resilience shines through with a 62.6% comeback rate after losing material — proof that Samuel is not one to give up, even if he’s lost a bishop or pawn (or, in extreme cases, his queen… but don’t tell him we said that).
Opening Repertoire
Samuel leans heavily on solid and classical openings like the Accelerated London System in the Queen’s Pawn Opening and the Caro-Kann Defense across both Blitz and Bullet formats. The Accelerated London appears to be his go-to, netting him a respectable 52% win rate over hundreds of games. The Caro-Kann also sees action, showcasing solid and positional understanding.
Interestingly, his win rate dips below 40% in the Queen's Pawn Zukertort Variation, suggesting he's either experimenting with tricky lines or occasionally channeling his inner chess rebel.
Recent Battles
Samuel’s most recent recorded victory was a swift 22-move telling-off of patriciogonzalez7, employing his trusty Accelerated London System. The game ended in a classic textbook finish—with a final flourish that left his opponent admiring the graceful checkmate.
On the flip side, even the greats stumble: his latest loss was a brutal encounter with HemanthMuppa, where time was not on Samuel’s side. But as seasoned Blitz warriors know, the clock is an opponent as tricky as any grandmaster!
The Man Behind the Pawns
Beyond the numbers and move sequences, Samuel carries a Tilt Factor of 14—which means when games aren’t going his way, there might be some silent mumbling, subtle desk taps, or strategic blunders—as is tradition in the life of every chess player.
He shines brightest early to mid-afternoon, with a peak playing time around 2 PM, so if you want to see him at his best, set your clocks accordingly.
Fun Fact
Samuel never rushes a win. His average move count per victory is nearly 45 moves, showing that patience is indeed one of his chess virtues. In losses, the games linger even longer – maybe he’s plotting a sneaky revenge already!
In short: Samuel Girodon is a tenacious, thoughtful player with a charming mix of classical positional mastery and the blitz-speed fight of a scrappy warrior. Whether you’re a fan of the Accelerated London System or just curious to see how many comeback attempts one player can cram into a session, Samuel is a grandmaster of heart (and a student of the game) worth following.