William Yen NM

William Yen: The National Master Behind the Username RETURNOFTHELAGGER

Meet William Yen, a chess player who has gracefully earned the prestigious title of National Master. Known widely by the username RETURNOFTHELAGGER, William has a flair for making pieces dance on the board while leaving opponents pondering, “Wait... did I just lose to a lag?”

Since 2019, William has blitzed through over 34,950 games, winning nearly half with nearly 17,445 victories and a near-equal number of losses. When it comes to bullet chess—because sometimes 60 seconds is just too long—he has showcased his lightning-fast tactics in over 14,129 battles, maintaining an impressive win rate close to 48%. If chess were a sprint, William would be Usain Bolt; if chess were a marathon, well, he’s been running those too, albeit with a more modest daily and rapid play frequency.

William’s peak blitz rating hit a staggering 2723 in March 2021, and his bullet peak wasn’t far behind at 2721 in June 2023—both ratings whispering, “Grandmaster, watch out!” His rapid games also saw a high of 2548, showing versatility across all time formats.

But don’t let the stats fool you—William is a complex opponent with a 92% early resignation rate, which translates to either an impressively sharp tactical sense or a ravenous dislike for losing long-winded duels. His games typically last around 8 moves per win, proving he prefers to strike quickly—like a chess ninja sneaking in a surprise move when you least expect it.

Ever the strategist, William's come-back rate against odds hovers near 9%, turning losing positions into “Wait, what just happened?” moments for his foes. He’s also more likely to win games when playing white, with a win rate just shy of 50%, but black pieces never feel like a suit of armor either, with a strong ~49% win rate.

Beyond ratings and numbers, William plays mostly with the mysterious “Top Secret” opening repertoire—clearly he’s not one to reveal his secret sauce easily. Opponents like nochewycandy and marvelanddcforlife have faced him most, but he hasn’t shied away from challenging hundreds of others.

The most recent games speak volumes: a dazzling checkmate victory achieved just recently by William (or should we say RETURNOFTHELAGGER?), confirming he’s as dangerous as ever. Despite facing occasional time losses, he swings back with tactical punches and keeps the rage factor (tilt factor) at a modest 60%, which for chess is about average—plenty of passion, but not quite ready to flip the board.

When is William best to play, you ask? Around 5 pm (17:00) is when his brain really clicks into gear—just in time for your evening coffee and his next checkmate.

In summary, William Yen is a bright star in the chess galaxy, combining serious skill with just enough unpredictability and a dash of humor (revealed through his cheeky username). Whether he’s crushing it in blitz, ruling bullet battles or casually schooling opponents in rapid games, this National Master is one to watch—unless, of course, you’re his next victim.