TIRUMALAKONDA HARIKRISHNA

Tirumalakonda Harikrishna (rauntsk) - The Rapid Dynamo

Meet Tirumalakonda Harikrishna, better known to the chess realm as rauntsk, a rapid-fire tactician whose games unfold faster than you can say "checkmate!" Starting with a modest rapid rating of 123 in mid-2024, Harikrishna turbo-charged his way to an impressive peak rating of 440 by April 2025 — a climb akin to a knight sprinting across the board, masterfully dodging pitfalls and losses.

Playing Style & Personality

With an average game length of about 47 moves for a win, Harikrishna’s games are neither lightning blunders nor marathon struggles; they're the Goldilocks zone of chess battles — just right for tactical fireworks and psychological warfare. Known for a 56.43% comeback rate, this is a player who doesn’t just play to win but plays to never give up. The tilt factor might hit around 8, suggesting that sometimes the chess gods spark a little chaos, but with a best time to play at 11 PM, maybe his magic hour includes late-night snacks and caffeine-fueled brilliance.

Favorite Openings (aka “Home Court Advantage”)

• Nimzowitsch Defense Kennedy Linksspringer Variation - A stunning 75% win rate (6W-2L), because apparently threatening your opponent’s pieces is just too much fun.
• Queens Pawn Opening Chigorin Variation - A reliable 70% win rate, proving that Harikrishna can mix old school with modern sass.
• Scandinavian Defense Closed - Dominating with a 61.54% success rate, showing his prowess in keeping enemies on the defensive.
• Kings Pawn Opening Kings Knight Variation - Holds a solid 66.67% win ratio, indicating sharp attacking instincts with the king’s knight.

Record Against Recent Opponents

Harikrishna is no stranger to fierce rivalries: he boasts flawless wins against tcheme, arreyneel, and marhindou, maintaining a perfect track record there. Though every champion has their kryptonite, it seems 8wey and inzihq have managed to sneak past his defenses — but it’s only a matter of time before rauntsk scripts sweet revenge!

Fun Facts & Stats

• Longest winning streak: 7 games — a week’s worth of kings crushed!
• Longest losing streak: 8 games — even grandmasters have "off" days (or weeks).
• Resignation-happy? 76 wins and 92 losses ended by resignation; some opponents clearly prefer to save face early rather than face his juggernaut-style play.
• When playing White, Harikrishna wins about 56% of the time; Black? Still respectable at 48%.
• Favorite hourly times to strike: 23:00 and 20:00 hour boast a 100% win rate — clearly, nighttime is when the stars align for this warrior.

Recent Highlight Reel

Here’s a taste of Harikrishna’s recent games that showed his cunning and flair:

• Victory by checkmate in an elegant Alekhine's Defense showdown against arreyneel featuring classic knight maneuvers and queen checks.
• Resignation win against marhindou after a surgical attack in the Three Knights Opening — the kind of game that makes you wanna flip the board (if you’re on the losing side).
• A tough loss by resignation against 8wey, reminding us all that even heroes stumble.

Looking Ahead

With rapid ratings steadily climbing and a penchant for both strategic depth and tactical bombshells, Tirumalakonda Harikrishna is one to watch. Maybe next time you face rauntsk, you’ll witness a whirlwind of knight forks and queen sacrifices that'll leave you speechless — or just hopelessly checkmated. Either way, it’s sure to be entertaining!

Who says chess can’t be fun? Harikrishna surely proves it one move at a time.