Samuel Oakes

Samuel Oakes (soakes) - Chess Adventurer Extraordinaire

Meet Samuel Oakes, better known in the chess world as soakes, a determined chess player who boldly embraces the rollercoaster ride of the 64 squares. From blitz battles that swing like wild pendulums to ponderous daily duels, Samuel’s chess journey reads like an epic saga of grit, resilience, and occasional chaos.

Rating Chronicles & Style

Samuel’s peak blitz rating soared to an energetic 801 in May 2018, a dizzy height achieved through fiery games full of surprises. More recently, he's been shining in rapid chess, with a peak rating pushing an impressive 736 in mid-2025. Daily chess? His calm and steady approach earned him a sterling peak of 902 in spring 2024 — a testament to his strategic patience and stubbornness to outplay opponents over days!

His bullet attempts might be fewer and less dazzling, but hey, every maestro has their niche.

Opening Moves & Tactical Quirks

When it comes to openings, Samuel is a bit of a renaissance player: he thrives with the Queen’s Pawn Openings (especially the Zukertort and Chigorin variations), amassing win rates north of 60% in rapid games. At the same time, he dares to tango with the quirky Scandinavian Defense, showing stubborn persistence even when the odds aren’t always in his favor.

Friendly tip: don't underestimate his penchant for aggressive lines like the Bishop's Opening, which might just spring a checkmate out of nowhere.

Victory, Defeat, and the Chess Mind

Winning streaks? Samuel has ridden a wave of 12 consecutive wins before—proof that sometimes the stars align perfectly over the board. Yet, like any mortal, the longest losing streak reminds us he’s human: 10 straight losses to keep his humility sharp.

Resignations are low, and he tends to linger into complex endgames (about 55% of his games see a drawn or played-out endgame), savoring the thoroughness of chess rather than quick quits.

His psychological resilience stands out—he boasts a robust comeback rate near 67% and keeps tilt low at just 10%. He’s the kind of player who can lose a piece and calmly fight back, often making opponents sweat.

Win Rates & Opponents

Samuel sports a solid overall rapid win record, edging above 50% in nearly every metric. His successes against longtime rivals like signesroomie and 5anddime4250 (100% win rates!) reveal a knack for exploiting familiar foes' weaknesses, while some opponents have proven pesky, reminding us that chess is never predictable.

Highlight: The Most Recent Glorious Checkmate

On June 2, 2025, during a thrilling Live Chess game, Samuel displayed his tactical prowess to perfection. Facing SignesRoomie, he orchestrated a stunning checkmate in just 8 moves using the Bishop's Opening Berlin Defense. The final act involving a decisive Qf2# brought the crowd to their feet—and probably made his opponent double-check their opening choice!

Watch the Game

The Grand Chess Tale

Samuel Oakes is not just your average chess player. He’s an enthusiast who embraces every game as a story—full of drama, ups and downs, victories snatched from the jaws of defeat, and losses that teach wisdom. Whether wielding a queen’s gambit with grace or battling rapid clock pressure, he keeps the spirit of chess alive: curious, enterprising, and unapologetically human.