Ikhsan Gunawan - The Enigmatic Chess Adventurer
Known in the chess world by the mysterious moniker sans-aja, Ikhsan Gunawan is no ordinary player. With a peak Bullet rating soaring to 755, Rapid at a solid 692, and Daily triumphs peaking at 1136, Ikhsan's journey through the 64 squares is as much about flair as it is about tactics.
Playing Style & Personality
Ikhsan’s style can best be described as a cocktail of patience and unpredictability. With an Early Resignation Rate hovering close to 15%, he knows when to fold. But don’t let that fool you—his Comeback Rate is an astonishing 75.75%, proving he's no stranger to the "comeback kid" role when the tide turns against him.
His games often stretch nearly 51 moves per win, indicating a fondness for battles rather than blitzkrieg. And with a White Win Rate of 54.22%, he enjoys seizing the initiative, while the slightly lower Black Win Rate of 46.41% shows a respectful humility, letting opponents believe they have a chance… until they don’t.
Favorite Openings
Ikhsan’s repertoire is equal parts secretive and adventurous. He loves to keep his opponents guessing with his “Top Secret” plays in Bullet and Rapid games, where his win rate nudges just shy of 50%. However, when he lets visitors peek inside his opening book, you'll find a surprising affection for the Philidor Defense (64.71% win rate in Bullet!) and a rather cheeky use of the Englund Gambit (winning over 53% in Bullet).
His skill with the Italian Game is notable too, boasting a nearly 70% win rate in Bullet chess games. Clearly, when Ikhsan decides to go old-school, he means business.
Statistics with a Smile
- Total Bullet games played: 930+, with wins and losses almost neck and neck, proving every game is a nail-biter.
- Longest winning streak: 15 games – a testament to the days when the stars align.
- Longest losing streak: 13 games – because even chess heroes have "bad hair" days.
- His best time to play? Midnight! Turns out Ikhsan’s brain really wakes up when the world sleeps.
Recent Highlight
In a crafty game played on June 2, 2025, Ikhsan (playing as Black) bested bhavinsinyal by resignation after a strategic clash involving the Van't Kruijs Opening. His patience and tactical awareness forced the opponent to throw in the towel around move 14.
The Human Behind the Moves
Ikhsan is a player who balances the grind of chess statistics with the delight of the game’s drama. With close to an even number of wins and losses in Bullet and Blitz formats, and a growing reputation in Rapid and Daily games, Ikhsan embraces both victories and defeats with equal enthusiasm.
He’s proven to be a formidable force against a vast variety of opponents, hitting 100% win rates against numerous challengers (sorry folks!), yet always ready to learn from losses – as his resilience and comeback rate suggest.
In short, Ikhsan Gunawan is the kind of player who might just beat you when you least expect it, and then chuckle about it afterward. Keeps chess spicy!