Lenaerts Lennert: The Joker of the 64 Squares
Lenaerts Lennert, better known online as thedjoker98, is a FIDE Master who plays chess like a stand-up comedian: always ready with a surprise. His career spans from a 1364 Blitz rating in 2015 to a monstrous 2771 (2026-08-10) peak, and he did it while having the time of his life.
The Early Days
Lennert first appeared on the online ladder in November 2015 with a 1364 Blitz rating. Within months he had jumped to 2260. By late 2018 his Blitz rating was bouncing around 2500, and in 2020 he crossed 2600. A 34 game winning streak during his career shows he can go on absolute tears. His peak Daily rating of 2016 (2020-07-02) also proves he is patient when the clock is not running.
The Rapid Maestro
While his Blitz numbers are absurd, Rapid is his true home. He holds a Rapid peak of 2437 (2023-04-24) and plays with a healthy mix of aggression and caution. In Rapid he has 94 wins, 39 losses and 47 draws, a solid record that reflects his preference for thinking over flagging.
Playing Style
Lennert is a nightmare to put away. He has a comeback rate of 81.88%, meaning when he is down, he is not out. His win rate after losing a piece is 54.96%, which is essentially a middle finger to chess principles. With White he wins 60.17% of games, and with Black 55.31%. He also has an endgame frequency of 78.36%, so bring your endgame technique if you face him.
Opening Repertoire
As White, Lennert is a devoted 1.d4 player, leading to battles in the Nimzo-Indian Defense and Slav Defense. As Black he is a Ruy Lopez connoisseur, with over 180 games in the Spanish torture. His lighter side appears in the Amar Gambit and the Blackburne Shilling Gambit, where he happily plays moves that make grandmasters sigh.
Rivalries
No biography is complete without rivals. His most played opponent is Warre De Waele, against whom he has 204 games. Lennert leads 109 wins to 68 losses. Against Rebecca Selkirk he is nearly untouchable with 60 wins in 63 games. He also has ongoing rivalries with Lara Janzelj and ivana111. These players have helped shape the joker into a serious force.
Records and Quirks
- Peak Blitz rating: 2771 (2026-08-10)
- Peak Bullet rating: 2720 (2020-11-08)
- Longest winning streak: 34 games
- Best day to play: Sunday, with a 62.04% win rate
- Best hour to play: 5 AM, when normal people sleep
Final Verdict
Lenaerts Lennert is proof that you can be a joker and a FIDE Master at the same time. Whether he is slinging pawns in the Amar Gambit or grinding endgames in the Ruy Lopez, thedjoker98 always brings entertainment. Just do not wake him at 5 AM unless you are ready to lose.