Joe Witiw

Joe Witiw (thehawks14)

Meet Joe Witiw, better known in the online chess world as thehawks14 — a player with a distinct blend of determination, occasional blunders, and a knack for surprising opponents. Joe has been battling over the 64 squares since at least 2021, steadily climbing and sometimes tumbling through the ranks, always with a cup of coffee and a mischievous glint in his eye.

Rating Rollercoaster

Joe’s peak Daily rating peaked at a modest 777 in early 2021, reminding us all that even superheroes have humble beginnings. By 2025, he’s pushed that Daily rating to over 610, showing that persistence pays off. In Rapid chess, Joe soared higher, touching a personal best of 1013 in 2021. Blitz remains his quirky little side quest, with a single recorded game rated 100 — an indication either of a late-night dabble or a cautious approach to speed chess.

Playing Style & Quirks

Known for not giving up easily, Joe has an impressive comeback rate of nearly 47%, proving he’s the sort who fights tooth and nail even when the chips are down. His games average about 29 moves for wins but drag out to over 42 moves for losses, suggesting he likes to prolong his battles — whether savoring victory or lingering in defeat.

His early resignation rate is a humble 11%, so don’t expect Joe to throw in the towel without a good fight. Interestingly, Joe's best chess hours are the wee hours around 3 AM – obviously when the mind is sharpest or the caffeine is strongest.

Signature Openings

Joe favors classic and tricky lines:

• King's Pawn Opening – King's Knight Variation: A reliable choice with over 50% wins.
• Italian Game: Joe’s bread and butter with a strong 62.5% success rate, probably because it makes his opponents hungry for revenge.
• Queen's Pawn Opening: A surprising powerhouse for Joe, yielding an impressive 80% win rate – apparently, he plays well under pressure when facing queenside strategems.
• Less fortunate in the “Top Secret” opening where Joe has yet to break a win, but hey, everyone has their mysterious kryptonite.

Battle Tales

Joe’s most recent games read like a cinematic trilogy:

1. Victory by game abandonment against "tageoskar" with a clever use of the Van't Kruijs Opening, ending in a decisive position in just 15 moves.
2. A smooth checkmate finish with a Bishops Opening Berlin Defense against "iamrealkkd".
3. Another checkmate triumph over "franciscoingles05gmailc" wielding a Queen's Pawn Opening like a stealthy ninja.

Of course, no hero's journey is without losses. Joe recently got outfoxed in a King’s Pawn battle that concluded with a swift queen sacrifice and a checkmate, and another game ended in resignation - reminding us that even thehawks14 sometimes meets their match.

Psychology & Performance

Joe’s tilt factor is relatively low at 11%, which means frustration hits but rarely knocks him off his game. Also, Joe tends to win more often when playing as White (about 50%) and stays reasonably competitive with Black at 46%. He thrives best on Tuesdays and maintains a fairly balanced win rate across most days, except Sundays, which seem to bring out his inner couch potato.

In Summary

Joe Witiw is the kind of player who reminds us that chess isn’t just about titles or ratings; it’s about grit, adaptation, and the joy of the game. His journey through tactical ups and downs, a few quirky openings, and a surprise affinity for late-night play make him a delightful character in the chess community. Whether he’s cornering foes with Italian delicacies or unleashing the “Top Secret” with less success, Joe keeps the spirit of the game alive — one move at a time.