Willem Schoeman - The Calculating SomewhereinAfrica
Meet Willem Schoeman, known in chess circles as SomewhereinAfrica, a rapid chess enthusiast who's been on a rollercoaster ride of ratings but refuses to resign from the battle of wits. His journey through 2025 shows a player with determination, rising from a modest rating of 567 in February to a peak rapid rating of 1224 in April.
Willem's style? Picture a tactician who loves a good comeback and isn't afraid to sacrifice when necessary — with a come back rate of nearly 75%! He's a black belt at turning the tables, winning 47% of games even after losing a piece, proving he's the kind of player who smiles in the face of adversity (or at least grimaces less than most).
Some openings bring out his best moves. For a taste of his repertoire, he dominates with the Scandinavian Defense Mieses Kotrc Variation, boasting a flawless 100% win rate in the 7 games he's wielded it. Elsewhere, the Three Knights Opening and the Four Knights Game Italian Variation have served him well, with win rates over 66%. But don't be fooled—his secret sauce, listed humorously as "Top Secret" with a modest 41.7% win rate, is where he consistently keeps opponents guessing.
His longest winning streak? A daring 8 games in a row, demonstrating that when he’s on fire, you better grab marshmallows, because this player is roasting his rivals. But like every mortal, he’s suffered an 8-game losing streak too — a humbling reminder that chess is a game of patience and perseverance.
Playing white? Willem sports a confident 57.24% win rate. Playing black, he’s still formidable with a solid 47.22%. Average game lengths hint at thoughtful play, with wins wrapping up around 55 moves on average — long enough to savor the drama, short enough to keep the adrenaline pumping.
If you want to catch him at his best, set your alarm for the wee hours of the morning; his best time of day to play is 03:00, when most of us are asleep, but Willem is wide awake plotting checkmates.
As for his recent escapades, Willem’s latest win on June 2, 2025, saw him pull off a stylish victory against "osimkhan" using Bird’s Opening Dutch Variation — a match decided by a game abandonment, but a win nonetheless! His sharp senses are also evidenced by frequent triumphs over opponents like "halimkhonov" and "michelmax22," proudly adding wins to his record with graceful resignations from his opponents.
Outside the chessboard, Willem probably enjoys quiet moments analyzing his games, occasionally throwing in an early resignation when the position gets truly dire—but only about 1.56% of the time. He’s clearly built for the struggle in the middlegame and endgame, with a healthy 59% endgame frequency.
In short, Willem Schoeman aka SomewhereinAfrica is the chess player who combines resilience, strategic depth, and a splash of mystery — a knight with a thousand faces ready to challenge, charm, and occasionally checkmate any challenger who dares face him.