thurgalvao

Arthur: The Master of Top Secret Openings

Arthur, known online by the elusive username thurgalvao, is a chess player whose style might best be described as "cautiously mysterious" – especially since all his openings are Top Secret. With over 1100 rapid games in this enigmatic repertoire, Arthur boasts a near 50% win rate, proving that sometimes keeping your cards close to the chest pays off.

Climbing the Ladder

Since 2023, Arthur has steadily improved, hitting a peak rapid rating of 1097 in 2024 before settling just shy of 950 in 2025. His average rapid rating hovers around a respectable 900-1000 range, an area where many strategists are still trying to crack the code. For bullet and blitz, ratings have fluctuated more dramatically – with bullet ranging from 566 up to a max of 879 and blitz climbing up to 530, but all played under the banner of top secrecy.

Wins, Losses, and Draws

Playing mainly rapid games, Arthur has logged an impressive record of 562 wins, 511 losses, and 59 draws — quite the battle-hardened résumé. Despite a modest bullet sample size, the blitz record is promising with a winning percentage just above 53%, suggesting he can both hold his own and strike quickly when the clock ticks low.

The Comeback Kid

This player does not give up easily. Arthur has a comeback rate of 74.45%, and remarkably, when down a piece, he still wins 100% of the time. Not bad for someone who resigns early only about 4% of the time — proving he either fights hard or calls it quits before the coffee gets cold.

Playing Style and Preferences

• Average moves per win: ~61
• Plays a high number of endgames (59.21%)—clearly enjoys the poetic finale of chess battles.
• White win rate is notably better than black (52.65% vs. 46.67%), but hey, who doesn’t like having the first move?

Psychological Tidbits

Arthur’s tilt factor is 9, so be mindful: a few blunders might bring out some colorful language or dramatic sighs. However, a small win rate bump capped with a strategic mindset means he’s often learning and adapting. Also, playing chess at 8 AM? Perfect score. A 10 out of 10 timing to perhaps distract opponents while the rest of the world sips their coffee.

Opponent Highlights

Arthur has faced some foes multiple times, with mixed success. For example, against beasouzaz, he's won 40% of his battles, but against brdouglas, he’s undefeated! It’s always interesting to see who cracks under pressure and who wields the top secret moves best.

Fun Facts

Longest winning streak? A solid 8 games — enough to make even Magnus blink. Arthur’s known to torch it up in rapid, dabble in blitz, and occasionally try bullet (don't ask about that 1 win in 5 games record, it’s experimental).

"In chess, as in life, it’s less about the pieces you lose and more about how you come back to conquer." - Probably Arthur