Biography
Ian Harris, online persona Redbandit87, is a National Master whose chess journey blends sharp technique with entertaining storytelling. A prolific streamer, he brings clear explanations and quick thumbs to every blitz session, proving that learning can be fast, fun, and almost as thrilling as a last-minute checkmate. His national title comes from National, and he carries that credential with a smile and a toque of humor on stream.
Career Highlights
Ian thrives in fast time controls, where intuition and speed collide. His peak Blitz rating sits around the 2518 mark, earned in 2020, and his Bullet peak reached 2633 in early 2024, underscoring his aggressive yet practical style. In Rapid play, he has logged impressive results as well, with a long-running track record across many months and years.
- National Master title from National
- Peak Blitz: 2518
- Peak Bullet: 2633
- Longest documented winning streak: 30 games
- Opening repertoire includes practical choices across Ruy Lopez, Scotch Game, Four Knights Game, and Scandinavian defenses
Streaming and Community
On camera, Ian explains ideas, reviews games, and keeps things light without losing the focus needed to learn. He builds a welcoming audience that values actionable insight as much as personality. Watch his profile for more on his journey: ianharris. For a peek at his rating progression, see .
Opening Repertoire
Ian maintains a wide and practical opening shelf across time controls. Notable choices include:
- Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation [[Link|opening|Ruy Lopez]]
- Scandinavian Defense
- Scotch Game
- Four Knights Game
- London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation