Niklesha Tharushi WCM

Niklesha Tharushi: Woman Candidate Master & Rising Chess Dynamo

Meet Niklesha Tharushi, a formidable Woman Candidate Master in the world of chess — or as some jokingly call her, the "Checkmate Whisperer." Known online as SpongeBob_03, Niklesha has battled pawns, knights, and kings with a razor-sharp mind and an uncanny knack for comeback victories, boasting an impressive 85% comeback rate after setbacks. If laughter were a chess piece, she'd have it crowned.

Since her first recorded blitz rating of 1739 in late 2021, Niklesha's journey has been anything but a boring slow grind. With a peak blitz rating soaring to a whopping 2531 in early 2025, she’s proven her prowess time and again against opponents — some who she’s undefeated against (looking at you, junjicol and marszach123), and others who just can’t seem to crack her clever tactics.

Blitz chess is where Niklesha really shakes the board. With over 900 games played and a win count approaching 360, she might resign sometimes (a humble 18% early resignation rate), but her average game moves hover around 79 to 82 moves — enough to build suspense, drama, and occasionally to pull out a jaw-dropping final checkmate. Speaking of checkmate, one of her recent victories was a dazzling finish in just 30 moves—evidence she’s no stranger to theatrical flair.

Ever wondered what kind of openings a Woman Candidate Master prefers? Niklesha’s favorite seems to be the “Unknown Opening,” a mysterious strategy that keeps her opponents guessing — and often losing — with a win rate of 37.5% in blitz games. Her “Top Secret” opening? Well, it’s a secret indeed, but netting nearly 30% wins there means she’s always cooking up something spicy.

Outside the heat of battle, Niklesha has a quirky psychological tilt factor of 17 — which is fair, considering humans aren’t machines. Fortunately, she shines brightest in the dead of night, with midnight being her strategic magic hour; so if you want to beat her, maybe try at dawn (but good luck then either!).

Besides her fierce win-loss record, Niklesha’s style is marked by methodical endgames (over 83% frequency), a tricky comeback ability, and an average win move count that says she doesn’t rush a victory — she savors it. With frequent rated vs casual differences, she takes each game seriously, whether online or in tournaments.

In summary, Niklesha Tharushi is a charming chess whirlwind: a tactical artist, a midnight gladiator, and a Woman Candidate Master who transforms 64 squares into a stage of wit, will, and occasional whimsy. Keep an eye on her—you never know when she’ll spring the next brilliant trap or make the crowd roar with a stunning checkmate!

“Chess is life,” she might say, “and I’m here to make my moves count — preferably with a dash of style and a pinch of humor.”