Chris Flaming: The Chess Journey of R_Flaming
Meet Chris Flaming, known in the online chess world as R_Flaming, a player whose ratings tell a tale of perseverance, bravery, and occasional flames on the board. Starting way back in 2018 with a promising rapid rating hovering around 1200, Chris showed early sparks of potential. Since then, the rating rollercoaster has been no less than a thrilling, if sometimes wild, ride.
Chris's rapid rating took some dramatic dips and fiery comebacks—from a peak of 1201 in 2018 to a valley near 300+ rating points in mid-2023, only to rise again steadily to around 690 by mid-2025. Clearly, this player isn't afraid to tango with chess chaos but always clawing back with grit.
Blitz and bullet formats? Chris has dived into those frozen time arenas as well. With peaks of 838 in blitz and 917 in bullet from 2018, the pace of play may have cooled somewhat since then, but the fighting spirit remains intact. The win rates across different formats show Chris as a fighter who wins almost as many games as lost, with a noticeable knack for recovery—boasting a comeback rate of nearly 60%! Who says giving up early is an option? Not Chris.
Style and Strategy
Chris tends to dive into long battles, averaging 48 moves per win. Losses, however, end faster—averaging just over 33 moves—maybe hinting that when flames catch too hot, sometimes retreat is necessary. A slightly better success rate with White pieces (49%) over Black (45%) points to a hopeful opening repertoire, though there’s no shortage of experimentation with openings like the Top Secret approach (which is anything but), the Italian Game, and the dangerously named Englund Gambit.
Psychological Warfare and Timing
Chris's tilt factor of 13 might suggest that even the most tempered chess warriors sometimes show their frustration. Yet, there’s an intriguing sweet spot in the early morning hours (around 1 AM) when Chris’s tactical awareness seems sharpest, likely fueled by caffeine and existential dread.
Notable Recent Battles
The freshest win on record came on June 1, 2025, against the cunning MaVeRiCK_253, where Chris sacrificed a bishop early (remember the daring 10. Bxf7+ move?) and orchestrated a poetic checkmate well before time ran out. Unfortunately, the same day saw a tough loss to anton4500, reminding us all that in chess—as in life—both victory and defeat are just one move away.
Final Thoughts
Whether battling in minutes or hours, Chris Flaming is a player who embraces the flames of competition with a dash of humor and an iron will. Not the top grandmaster yet, but every game played adds a new chapter to a story of relentless passion, growth, and a sparkling presence on the chessboard. So next time you fire up the game, beware: R_Flaming just might light up your opponent’s king—and your heart.
