Avatar of John Curtis

John Curtis FM

Username: TheMagician

Location: Sydney

Playing Since: 2009-02-12 (Active)

Wow Factor: ♟♟♟♟♟

Chess.com

Daily: 1893
143W / 25L / 16D
Rapid: 2221
1690W / 241L / 90D
Blitz: 2342
54558W / 32584L / 5579D
Bullet: 1657
30792W / 25842L / 950D

John Curtis — FIDE Master and Blitz Streamer

John Curtis is a titled chess player who earned the FIDE Master title and has built a reputation as a high‑octane Blitz competitor and engaging streamer. A steady presence since the early 2010s, John blends sharp tactical play with entertaining commentary, turning every rapid scramble into a story you don’t want to miss. His Blitz peak rose to notable heights, reflecting a career built on fast, fearless decisions and a love of the game that fans can feel in every broadcast.

Streaming and Style

On stream, John combines quick tactical flair with a playful sense of humor, making complex positions approachable for viewers at all levels. He treats every chessboard like a stage, delivering practical ideas while keeping the chat lively. Whether delivering a blistering attack or a patient maneuvering game, his streams are as much about learning as they are about entertainment.

  • Regular Blitz sessions that showcase blazing speed and precise calculation
  • Audience‑driven analysis that explains ideas in real time
  • A focus on practical, tour‑friendly openings that listeners can adopt

Opening Repertoire and Highlights

John favors a compact, fight‑for‑the‑initiative approach, with a repertoire that has proven effective in fast time controls. Notable openings in his Blitz and broader play include:

  • Scandinavian Defense — a dynamic, early‑counterstyle weapon
  • Amar Gambit — aggressive and sharp, frequently leading to imbalanced, tactical games
  • London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation — solid, resilient, and adaptable in fast time controls
  • Amazon Attack — a flexible, aggressive setup that keeps opponents guessing

Legacy and Impact

As a FIDE Master and a prolific streamer, John Curtis has shaped a bridge between competitive chess and online education. He inspires aspiring players to push their limits in Blitz, while modeling how to entertain responsibly and build a community around the game. His work underscores that mastery can be shared, not just earned, and that fast games can still teach lasting lessons.

  • Recognized as a titled player by FIDE
  • Renowned for Blitz expertise and engaging streaming presence
  • Active contributor to the chess‑streaming community, helping others learn through action and humor

🆚 Opponent Insights

Recent Opponents
niemandbinich 0W / 1L / 0D View
sanctioning 0W / 1L / 0D View
gekon3 1W / 0L / 0D View
caballohard 0W / 1L / 0D View
paulinhoxadrista 0W / 1L / 0D View
gouldconcession 0W / 1L / 0D View
tanmaygupta31 0W / 2L / 0D View
imad9498 0W / 1L / 0D View
parzzzzzzz 0W / 1L / 0D View
lg777llxz 1W / 0L / 0D View
Most Played Opponents
little_beast_mtb 1113W / 221L / 22D View Games
Sherlock Holmes 435W / 121L / 30D View Games
butcher 317W / 121L / 23D View Games
Just1AnonymousChessPlayer 155W / 177L / 13D View Games
orangindonesiarichie 259W / 25L / 1D View Games

Rating

Year Bullet Blitz Rapid Daily
2025 1709 2337 2234 1893
2024 1620 2223 2109 1980
2023 1656 2217 2089
2022 1739 2136 2147 1764
2021 1684 2203 2185 1764
2020 1674 2171 2195 1802
2019 1580 2187 1689
2018 1632 2309
2017 1775 2209 2118 1697
2016 1797 1657 1697
2015 1740 2102 2308
2014 1704 2160 2287
2013 1471 2015 2163
2012 1726 1989 1787 2233
2011 1831 2127 1764 2198
2010 1996 2180 1539 1916
2009 1200
Rating by Year2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202523371200YearRatingBulletBlitzRapidDaily

Stats by Year

Year White Black Moves
2025 2321W / 1337L / 233D 2311W / 1433L / 256D 73.0
2024 2861W / 1439L / 176D 2883W / 1642L / 184D 67.6
2023 4218W / 1779L / 316D 4349W / 1969L / 382D 68.4
2022 4508W / 2684L / 405D 4338W / 2942L / 425D 69.9
2021 4471W / 2311L / 430D 4178W / 2626L / 446D 70.7
2020 3414W / 2474L / 295D 3156W / 2756L / 297D 70.0
2019 2400W / 1715L / 209D 2241W / 1890L / 199D 69.6
2018 1812W / 1412L / 139D 1685W / 1568L / 114D 70.7
2017 3264W / 2630L / 134D 3080W / 2837L / 144D 64.2
2016 3431W / 2774L / 130D 3150W / 2990L / 168D 62.5
2015 2708W / 2127L / 144D 2490W / 2327L / 166D 67.5
2014 2274W / 1230L / 158D 2148W / 1320L / 158D 72.1
2013 2285W / 1000L / 108D 2238W / 1022L / 125D 71.7
2012 1586W / 710L / 74D 1561W / 728L / 74D 70.4
2011 3828W / 1609L / 183D 3740W / 1703L / 191D 68.9
2010 1030W / 380L / 53D 1037W / 404L / 70D 71.2
2009 0W / 1L / 0D 0W / 0L / 0D 2.0

Openings: Most Played

Bullet Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Scandinavian Defense 4381 2376 1946 59 54.2%
Amar Gambit 3304 1834 1426 44 55.5%
Australian Defense 3141 1767 1314 60 56.3%
Amazon Attack 2067 1122 910 35 54.3%
London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation 1932 989 915 28 51.2%
Barnes Defense 1846 1030 795 21 55.8%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack 1531 794 722 15 51.9%
Modern 1501 797 682 22 53.1%
Czech Defense 1374 715 637 22 52.0%
Alekhine Defense 1364 734 607 23 53.8%
Blitz Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Scandinavian Defense 4131 2640 1277 214 63.9%
London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation 2590 1584 810 196 61.2%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 2146 1302 743 101 60.7%
Amar Gambit 2049 1270 662 117 62.0%
Caro-Kann Defense 1956 1188 645 123 60.7%
Sicilian Defense 1908 1240 588 80 65.0%
Amazon Attack 1804 1133 580 91 62.8%
Czech Defense 1785 1042 663 80 58.4%
Barnes Defense 1684 1061 542 81 63.0%
Modern 1644 986 579 79 60.0%
Rapid Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Sicilian Defense 99 88 10 1 88.9%
Scandinavian Defense 90 79 7 4 87.8%
Caro-Kann Defense 88 73 12 3 83.0%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 76 62 12 2 81.6%
London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation 63 56 7 0 88.9%
Amazon Attack 60 52 5 3 86.7%
Blackburne Shilling Gambit 60 51 7 2 85.0%
Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit 56 49 6 1 87.5%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 56 51 4 1 91.1%
Amar Gambit 54 42 10 2 77.8%
Daily Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Sicilian Defense 30 27 2 1 90.0%
Amar Gambit 26 26 0 0 100.0%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 17 17 0 0 100.0%
Unknown 10 8 2 0 80.0%
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 9 8 0 1 88.9%
Scandinavian Defense 8 8 0 0 100.0%
Barnes Defense 7 5 2 0 71.4%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 6 4 1 1 66.7%
Barnes Opening: Walkerling 6 5 1 0 83.3%
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation 5 2 1 2 40.0%

🔥 Streaks

Streak Longest Current
Winning 45 0
Losing 33 2
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