Shamaiyah Israel – The Chess Journeyman
Meet Shamaiyah, a relentless warrior of the 64 squares with a flair for unexpected openings and an unyielding spirit that refuses to quit—even when the position looks grim. Known for their affinity toward the Van't Kruijs Opening, Shamaiyah has battled opponents with over 13,000 games using this quirky choice, mastering the art of c5 and queen sorties before most have had their morning coffee.
Rating Rollercoaster & Style
Starting with a Bullet rating peak of 966 back in 2022, Shamaiyah steadily climbed the ranks, reaching a respectable Decent Daily rating of over 1200 and a solid Rapid top speed at 1327. Their Blitz games have seen highs near 968, proving they're no stranger to fast-paced action. Over the years, the journey has been filled with highs, lows, and almost every misstep imaginable—from longest losing streaks of 41 games (ouch!) to triumphant winning streaks of 15 matches. But hey, even the best tumble, and Shamaiyah bounces back with the tactical resilience of a cat with nine lives.
Playing Personality
Shamaiyah's style is a delightful mix of cautious early resignations (only around 2.2%) and a fondness for endgames, appearing in nearly 30% of their matches. With an impressive average of 38 moves per victory and nearly 46 moves per loss, they savor every moment of the battle—whether slinking into positional traps or launching daring comebacks. A true psychological warrior, Shamaiyah fights tilt with a tilt factor of 41 and knows the best time to strike is promptly at 8 AM when the mind is sharpest and the coffee is probably just kicked in.
Favorite Battles & Openings
The opening repertoire of Shamaiyah reads like the tale of a chess adventurer:
- Van't Kruijs Opening: Over 13,000 games with a winning rate near 52%, this is Shamaiyah’s signature move — where queens dance early and pawns get restless.
- King's Pawn Opening: A classic favorite, wielded in almost 3,000 games with a respectable success rate.
- Scandinavian Defense Variations: Not the most comfortable, but a battleground where Shamaiyah's grit shines.
- Old Benoni & Alekhine's Defense: Testing waters others might avoid, Shamaiyah thrives in the unconventional chaos.
Recent Highlights
In a recent bullet bout, Shamaiyah crushed opponent davodkh5 in a swift victory using the Van't Kruijs Opening, winning on time with precise queen maneuvers and clever knight support. Proving the importance of timing and nerve, Shamaiyah's tactical awareness often turns games around right when opponents think they've sealed the fate—reminding all that in chess, as in life, it's not over until the king is bowled over.
Quirks & Fun Facts
- Though the ratings have danced all over the place—like a knight on the board—Shamaiyah’s dedication remains unshakable.
- Has a slightly better record when playing with the white pieces, winning around 51% of the time—a true overachiever who politely goes first!
- Handles wins by timeout better than most, stacking nearly 9,500 wins where opponents ran out of time. If patience was a virtue in rapid games, Shamaiyah would be a saint.
Whether grinding through bullet or savoring daily slow burns, Shamaiyah Israel embodies the spirit of a true chess enthusiast: learning from losses, relishing wins, and always ready for the next game—even if it's 3 AM and the coffee's cold.
