Long nguyen van

Long Nguyen Van - The Strategic Sunblack

Known in the online chess realm as Thesunblack, Long Nguyen Van is a rapid chess enthusiast who dances on the 64 squares with a flair that’s as unpredictable as his next move. From a modest Rapid starting rating of 558 in late 2022, Long has climbed and wavered through the ranks, peaking at an impressive 1213 in May 2023 – a testament to his dedication and a pinch of stubborn grit.

With a total of over 1,000 rapid games under his belt, Long sports a record of 534 wins, 501 losses, and 51 draws, showing that he’s just as comfortable tasting victory as he is learning from defeat. His longest winning streak hit a solid 10 games, which, considering his longest losing streak of 11, suggests a rollercoaster ride of thrilling highs and humbling lows. But hey, no great artist ever painted without some smudges.

Long’s style leans towards a strategic and patient endgame approach, with a hefty 71.8% frequency in endgames, averaging over 67 moves per win – clearly no one’s rushing to clock out early when Long is on the board! Interestingly, his win rate when playing White just edges Black (52.4% vs 46%), confirming he prefers starting with a little initiative, though he is by no means afraid of the dark squares.

Among his favored weapons of choice are the Top Secret openings, where he maintains a win rate just over 51%. Whether it’s a sneaky fianchetto defense or an aggressive gambit, Thesunblack adapts and fights with cunning. Plus, his comeback rate is a staggering 86.33%, suggesting he either keeps calm under pressure or just refuses to accept defeat—probably both.

Fun fact: Long’s best time to strike on the clock isn’t during daylight hours but at 22:00, when the moon is high and the stars align for tactical brilliance. Though he has a tilt factor of 11 (meaning the occasional emotional rollercoaster), it doesn’t hold him back for long. Playing against opponents rated above him can be tricky—he’s won just a third of those battles—but against lower-rated rivals, Long shines with nearly a 62% win rate.

The most recent victory came in a classic battle of nerves in April 2025, where black pieces and some timely patience scored him a win on time after a tense confrontation in a Ruy Lopez Fianchetto Defense. Yet, even the best stumble sometimes as shown by his latest defeat by checkmate the same day, proving that the game is as much about humility as it is about glory.

Whether you face Thesunblack online or just read about him here, one thing’s certain: Long Nguyen Van is a chess player who combines persistence, a dash of mystery, and a love for the long game—ready to turn any match into an epic saga.