Reza Faqih (aka Rzafqh) - The Resilient Tactician of the Chessboard
Meet Reza Faqih, a chess player whose rating journey reads like a captivating novel of ambitious climbs and humbling detours. Known online as Rzafqh, Reza has battled through the ranks with a peak rapid rating soaring to 1342 and a blitz zenith of 1045 in early 2021 — a testament to his fiery competitive spirit.
Though these numbers may seem modest to the grandmasters among us, Reza's chess story is less about digits and more about pluck, perseverance, and a touch of quirky style. His blitz games reveal a love for the Queen’s Pawn Opening and the ever-challenging Scotch Game, where he boasts a solid win rate above 65%, proving he's not afraid to engage in classic, sharp battles.
Rzafqh has finely honed his tactical awareness with a striking 72.45% comeback rate when faced with adversity. In other words, never count him out after losing a piece — he might just surprise you with a sneaky win or two (or eight in a row, his longest winning streak!). His games tend to be fairly lengthy affairs, averaging nearly 59 moves per victory, showing patience and a knack for endgame endurance.
Like all mortals, Reza has faced losing streaks too — with a nine-game slide testing his resilience. But with a tilt factor of just 9%, he keeps his cool more often than not, perhaps pondering which opening trap to spring next.
Signature Style and Favorite Battles
- Opening Specialist: Reza thrives in the King’s Pawn Opening Kings Knight Variation and wielding the Scotch Game with a commendable win rate near 70% in blitz chess.
- Defensive and Counterattacking: With frequent use of Nimzowitsch and Scandinavian defenses, he enjoys putting pressure on opponents from the get-go.
- Psychological Edge: His best time to strike is at the witching hour, around midnight, when the shadows lengthen and the pawns fall.
Recent Triumph and Trials
In his most recent victory against miguelrem in June 2025, Reza demonstrated dogged determination and time management skills, winning on time after a series of calculated exchanges in a Modern Defense battle. Though his opponents have checked and mated him with regularity — remember “Rome wasn’t built in a day” — his determined spirit shines through every loss and comeback.
Win or lose, Reza’s chess journey is a humor-infused saga of growth, setbacks, and above all, passion. Whether you face him over the board or online, expect a game full of spirited exchanges, tactical surprises, and a player who never truly gives up.
Keep your bishops close, your rooks closer, and never underestimate a player with a longest winning streak of 8 and a comeback rate above 70% — that’s Rzafqh for you!
