Overview
Andreas van Elst is a FIDE Master and an energetic competitive player known for fast, practical chess and an appetite for sharp battles. Preferred time control: Rapid. On the online battlefield Andreas has shown a long, steady climb in blitz play and a habit of turning chaotic positions into wins.
- Title: FIDE Master
- Preferred time control: Rapid
- Notable peak achievements: 2308 (2025-07-31) and a long history of strong daily performances
Career highlights
From early online streaks to high peak performances, Andreas has collected memorable runs and tidy records. He mixes tournament seriousness with a playful approach to openings and tactical skirmishes.
- Earned the FIDE Master title and kept a fierce online presence.
- Impressive daily peak and many high-volume blitz seasons that show consistency and adaptability.
- Longest recorded winning streak: 56 games, with a current winning streak in recent play.
Playing style and strengths
Andreas plays like someone who enjoys the fight. He prefers dynamic positions, is comfortable in complications, and often pushes for long, decisive games rather than quick draws.
- Tactical edge and resilience - strong comeback ability and a high win rate after material setbacks.
- Endgame frequency is high - many games go deep and are resolved by technique.
- Average decisive game length tends to be long - expect 50+ moves in his wins.
- Best time of day to catch Andreas at full strength: early morning around 08:00.
Favorite openings and repertoire
Whether playing White or Black, Andreas enjoys systems that create imbalance and tactical chances. Below are frequent and successful choices you will see in his games.
- As Black: Alekhine Defense - a signature choice that yields strong practical results.
- As Black: Scandinavian Defense and Caro-Kann Defense - rock-solid but with counterplay.
- Sharp lines and gambits: Amar Gambit and various Alapin approaches against the Sicilian.
- As White: energetic choices that lead to long tactical games.
Notable streaks and opponents
Andreas has both marathon wins and a selection of frequent rivals. He tends to perform consistently against many opponents and has clear head-to-head stories with a few frequent adversaries.
- Longest winning run recorded: 56 games.
- Current winning streak: 3 games.
- Most played opponent: bata_bg with 73 games - a rivalry full of ups and downs for both sides.
- Other frequently seen opponents include alnitak2 and llerpo.
Sample game and study
Want a quick taste of Andreas in action? Here is a short excerpt you can load in a viewer for study.
See a profile page for frequent opponents or terms used above: alnitak2 and Alekhine Defense.
Fun facts
- Andreas is unafraid to invite chaos - gambits like the Amar Gambit are treated like party invitations.
- He prefers decisive results - draws are comparatively rare in his recorded games.
- If you want to catch him at peak performance online, try to play around his favorite hours such as 11:00 or 18:00 which show very strong win rates.
Curious to explore more games or follow his evolving repertoire? Use the embedded placeholders above to jump into charts and sample games.