Johnny Burn (aka Soapopular)
Johnny Burn is a chess enthusiast with a flair for the dramatic and an affinity for tricky gambits. Known online as Soapopular, Johnny's journey through the rating ranks reads like a chess thriller — filled with brilliant victories, humbling defeats, and a sprinkle of tactical surprises.
Chess Career Highlights
Starting out at a modest Blitz rating of just above 1000 in late 2013, Johnny quickly escalated to a solid 2000+ rating by 2014, showcasing impressive persistence on the 3-minute battlefield. Blitz is where Johnny truly shines, reaching a peak of 2066 in March 2018, and consistently playing over a thousand games with more wins than one might expect for someone who occasionally resigns early (about 5.58% of the time — because who doesn’t want to save time for snacks?).
In Bullet games, Johnny's aggression and speed result in a peak rating of 1910 in late 2017, playing hundreds of intense games often decided in rapid-fire exchanges. The fiery Budapest Gambit (one of Johnny’s favorite weapons) led to a memorable recent checkmate victory where Johnny's opponent didn't even see the knight’s deadly sting.
Opening Repertoire and Style
Johnny loves to mess with opponents’ heads by diving into the tricky waters of the Ponziani Opening Jaenisch Counterattack and has a soft spot for the Sicilian Defense’s less conventional lines like the Bowdler Attack — where he boasts a respectable 64% win rate in Blitz.
On the flip side, Johnny sometimes ventures down less successful paths, like the Philidor Defense, which nearly makes him want to quit chess (okay, win rate ~27% there, but hey, we all have our off days!). Otherwise, Johnny's style is a mix of tactical fireworks and stubborn defense, with an impressive comeback rate of 81.87% — clearly a fighter who doesn’t give up without a punch.
Personality & Psychological Traits
Our Soapopular is both a strategist and a human, juggling the ups and downs of chess with a tilt factor of 18, which means when things go sideways, a few metaphorical pieces might fly off the board. Yet, Johnny’s endurance is notable, averaging about 61 moves to victory, proving patience is a virtue — or at least something to brag about.
Interestingly, Johnny’s best time to play is around 11 AM, right before a well-deserved lunch break — a true morning warrior who performs best after breakfast but before email overload sets in.
Recent Memorable Games
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Last victory: A stunning checkmate with the Black pieces in the Budapest Gambit against Light_SpeedL in December 2023. The final blow? A sneaky knight delivering a checkmate on move 9 — quick and ruthless, just like Johnny’s coffee intake.
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Last setback: Taking a loss against Khodiuk_Maksym in a Sicilian Defense battle, where the game was abandoned amid fierce struggle. Even the best warriors don’t win every fight — Johnny included.
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Fun Facts
- Johnny's longest winning streak is an admirable 17 games — more than enough to convince you that maybe, just maybe, the chessboard is his kingdom.
- Conversely, the longest losing streak is a humbling 18 games — because even heroes need a dramatic comeback story.
- He has played the most with “throbbing_rob” (45 games). Maybe a chess rivalry in the making?
In sum, Johnny Burn is a fighting chess spirit who combines tactical ingenuity with a willingness to learn from every game. Whether dazzling with a cheeky counterattack or wrestling through a tough loss, Soapopular continues to entertain and challenge opponents across the digital boards of Chess.com.