Adel Alizadeh: The Eternal Grinder
Adel Alizadeh, known online as qocaqartal, has been a Lichess fixture since 2011. If you have ever queued up for a blitz game at 3am, you have probably crossed paths with him. He has played more than 38,000 games, which is a lot of clicking and a lot of coffee. His preferred time control is blitz,and he has turned it into both a playground and a battlefield.
Style and Repertoire
Alizadeh plays with the confidence of someone who has seen every possible time scramble. His opening tastes are both sharp and practical:
- As Black, he is a loyal disciple of the Sicilian Defense, especially its sharpest branch, the Najdorf Variation, where he has amassed more than 1,100 blitz games.
- As White, he frequently steers into the Closed Sicilian,and he also enjoys the exchange lines of the Caro-Kann Defense.
- His blitz rating soared to a peak of 2654 (2026-08-09), making him a formidable opponent for anyone chasing rating points.
Rivalries and Rematches
No biography would be complete without mentioning his most stubborn rival: mehdi_mechanic, against whom he has played 129 games across time controls. Adel holds a plus score in that feud,winning 73 times while losing 47. It is the kind of rivalry that defines online chess: rematches until someone blinks,and often both refuse to blink.
The Streaks of a Serial Grinder
Alizadeh's career contains both glorious peaks and terrifying valleys. He once won 19 consecutive games, which is the kind of heater that makes opponents question their life choices. On the flip side, he endured a 70 game losing streak,which is the kind of statistical scar that would make most players uninstall the app. Instead, he kept playing,proving that his true superpower is resilience. He even wins after losing a piece about 46% of the time,so never count him out.
A Living Legend of the Queue
With tens of thousands of games under his belt, Adel Alizadeh has earned his place among the most recognizable grinders in online chess. He has held his own against stronger opposition,winning about 30% of games against players rated above him,and he shows a willingness to battle anyone. As one of Lichess's true veterans, he remains a reminder that online chess is not just about talent, but also about showing up, clicking play,and embracing the chaos.