Dean Bates - aka Sugarbu
Meet Dean Bates, the rapid-fire chess battler who proves that perseverance sometimes means hanging in there through a brutal balance of wins and losses. With a max rapid rating hitting a sizzling 751 in November 2023, Dean's journey is a rollercoaster decorated with strategy, resilience, and a dash of sheer stubbornness.
Chess Career Highlights:
- Peak Rapid Rating: 751 (Nov 2023)
- Peak Blitz Rating: 636 (Mar 2025)
- Peak Bullet Rating: 537 (Apr 2025)
- Peak Daily Rating: 777 (Jun 2021)
Playing Style
Dean favors the Queens Pawn Opening with a respectable win rate of about 51% in rapid games, so if you face him on that, prepare for a thoughtful battle. He’s known to be a braver-than-average player, engaging endgames nearly 70% of the time and demonstrating impressive tenacity.
His tactics are nothing to sneeze at either — boasting a comeback rate of over 92%! Yes, if Dean loses a piece, don’t count him out just yet, as his win rate after losing material is a solid 46%. On the downside, his "tilt factor" edges just enough to remind us even the best hunters occasionally drop their concentration — around 12% tilt, a mildly mischievous chess mood swing.
Recent Triumph
In June 2025, Sugarbu elegantly checkmated opponent idkxyzidk, showcasing relentless pressure in a Queen's Pawn opening variation. The creative pawn pushes and precise timing across 23 moves were a masterclass in chess antics!
Fun Facts:
- Dean's white pieces win marginally more often than black – 49% vs 46% – clearly a "white is the new black" advocate.
- His favorite time to play? 4 PM, when his win rate peaks around 53%, even if his moves per game stretch to almost 60.
- Monday and Tuesday are his luckiest days, winning nearly half of his matches played then.
A Balanced Record
After thousands of rapid games, Dean has practically an equal split of wins and losses, underscoring his competitive spirit. With over 4,000 wins and a similar number of losses, he’s the chess equivalent of a thrill-seeker who isn’t afraid to attempt daring strategies. Draws are rare enough to remind you this warrior plays to win — or at least to finish decisively.
Whether blasting through blitz or methodically grinding daily chess, Sugarbu’s love for the game is evident, always ready to test new openings — from the Scandinavian Defense to the beloved Englund Gambit, which he edges with a 51.7% rapid win rate. He even occasionally ventures into the more exotic Bird's Opening or Blackmar Gambit, proving that Dean’s chess repertoire is as eclectic as it is entertaining.
So next time you see ‘Sugarbu’ on the board, beware — a clever, stubborn, and occasionally wild strategist awaits, ready to either mount a stunning comeback or boldly sacrifice into glory. Dean Bates epitomizes chess passion: sometimes brilliant, sometimes beastly, but always unforgettable.
