Alain Otero Marino IM

Alain Otero Marino – The Secret Maestro of Blitz

Meet Alain Otero Marino, a chess warrior who proudly wears the badge of International Master bestowed by FIDE. Known in some circles by the enigmatic username Smoking_Crow, Alain is a force to be reckoned with on the 64 squares, especially when the clock ticks down.

Alain’s journey through the rapid-fire blitz battlefield is nothing short of legendary. From a humble 1770 blitz rating at the start of 2023, they rocketed to an eye-watering peak of 2843 in 2024, maintaining a dazzling average above 2600 across several years. With an impressive 316 wins out of 676 blitz games played under the alias Top Secret openings, Alain proves that secrecy isn’t just for spies—it's for chess strategies too.

When the bullet clock is buzzing, Alain’s fingers dance with deadly precision, achieving a top rating over 2500 and nailing a win nearly half the time. Rapid games reveal a more refined tactician, boasting a respectable 63% win rate and demonstrating that speed and style can indeed coexist.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Alain’s comeback rate is an astounding 92%, and they famously turn losing positions into victories with a flawless 100% win rate after losing material. In fact, the only thing quicker than Alain’s moves might be their ability to shrug off adversity.

The average game length hovers around 80 moves—proof that Alain’s style isn't about rushing to checkmate but rather a marathon of deep thought, subtle maneuvering, and occasional psychological warfare (don't tell the opponents, but the tilt factor is a cool 7). White pieces enjoy a slight edge with Alain, boasting a 51% win rate, while the black pieces don’t lag far behind.

Fruition of friendly rivalries is key in Alain’s world: frequent opponents like alexrustemov and vserguei get to test their mettle repeatedly, though victories against foes like microbear and pinelone have been downright flawless. Alain’s open secret? Persistence, patience, and a pinch of cheeky humor.

Whether it’s Tuesday afternoon or a late-night blitz spree at 5 AM (with a perfect 100% win rate at that hour), Alain’s days and nights are dominated by chess, strategy, and the occasional celebratory coffee spill—because let’s face it, passion sometimes comes with caffeine-induced clumsiness.

In summary: Alain Otero Marino is the human embodiment of the phrase “calm, collected, and cunning” with a dash of mystery. If you see a crow silently watching from the shadows of the chessboard, that’s probably Alain plotting the next secret opening.