Francisco Hernandez IM

Francisco Hernandez (aka ticokiller)

Francisco Hernandez, known online as ticokiller, is an accomplished International Master recognized by FIDE. A formidable tactician with a penchant for explosive plays and cunning endgames, Francisco’s chess journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride – complete with high peaks, surprising comebacks, and a healthy number of spirited battles that keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Born to challenge the 64 squares, Francisco skyrocketed from an modest blitz rating of around 1063 in 2010 to smashing over 2200 by 2017, proving that perseverance and perhaps a secret stash of coffee fuels his fire. His peak Blitz rating reached an impressive 2231, while his Bullet games touched an even more blistering 2272 – a testament to his lightning-fast thinking and nerves of steel.

When it comes to style, ticokiller favors meticulously strategic openings – often dubbed “Top Secret” – which have netted close to a 50% win rate in thousands of blitz games. His record shows an uncanny ability to turn games around, boasting a comeback rate of 66% and winning over half of the games even after losing material. A humble giant in the making, Francisco rarely admits defeat early, reflected in his 31.93% early resignation rate (a number that suggests he’s not giving up until the bitter end... or maybe just that he’s stubborn).

However, don’t let the numbers fool you: ticokiller is human after all, with tilt factor warnings activated about 37% of the time—meaning the keyboard’s occasional victim of frustration. Still, his best performances come at the stroke of midnight, when the world is quiet and his brain likely dancing with ideas only a real chess addict can conjure.

Notable Games

One of his most recent wins was a dazzling bout using the Sicilian Defense Slow Variation, ending decisively when he snatched a bishop on move 18 to force resignation — proving that even in the late 2020s, his moves stay sharp as ever. Though losses do happen—like a recent swift time-loss defeat to the player "Zeitnot593"—they only add spice to the relentless search for victory.

Trivia & Quirks

• Longest Winning Streak: 31 games — that’s a lot of opponents left pondering their life choices.
• Longest Losing Streak: 37 games — because even the best have their "off" days (or weeks).
• Favorite Time to Play: Midnight (00:00) – when most would be asleep, the mind sharpens.
• Win Rate as White: An impressive 58.53% — proving the power of the first move!
• Psychological Quirk: Can stage remarkable comebacks after losing pieces, winning nearly 52% of those fights.

Whether grinding out long daily games or blitzing opponents with rapid-fire bullet chess, Francisco Hernandez’s chess story is as rich and dynamic as the game itself. A worthy foe, a passionate competitor, and a master of both mind and mouse, ticokiller continues to inspire and entertain the chess community with every pawn pushed and king chased.