Thomas Owens

Thomas Owens - aka tom61967

Meet Thomas Owens, better known in the chess world as tom61967, a Rapid and Blitz enthusiast whose rating rollercoaster could rival the most thrilling amusement park ride. With a peak Rapid rating of 246 achieved in March 2025 and a Blitz peak soaring at 360 in late 2024, Thomas is a player who knows moments of brilliance and bouts of humbling lessons equally well.

Since 2024, he has battled through over 4,000 rapid games, winning 1,921 and losing 2,230, with a sprinkling of draws (78 to be exact). His win rate tends to dip sharply when playing against stronger opponents, but hey, isn’t that part of the fun? His playing style is a curious mix – resilient comebacks with a 68.61% comeback rate but also an early resignation habit clocking around 10.71%, proving that sometimes you just gotta know when to fold 'em.

On the opening front, Thomas likes keeping secrets — literally. The "Top Secret" opening accounts for most of his rapid games (3,501), where his win rate hovers just under 46%. When he ventures into the Pirc Defense, he turns the tables with a solid 57.58% win rate, showcasing his ninja-like tactical skills.

Thomas’s psychological game is just as interesting – with a tilt factor of 15, he’s had his fair share of battles with his emotions, but his best time to play is the crack-of-dawn hour (5 AM). Clearly, the early bird catches the chessboard worm!

Favorite opponents? A mixed bag. Some opponents like zender225 and catwhoplayschess21 seem to fear Thomas with an undefeated record, while others like emanuelplds consistently outmaneuver him. It's chess life!

When it comes to actual games, Thomas’s recent victories tell stories of persistence and creativity. In a recent match against bulght, he dazzled with an unusual opening starting with 1.f3, ultimately winning by resignation after a tactical skirmish of 18 moves. When he loses, it’s often by a single slip or tactical oversight, emphasizing the razor-thin margins in his games.

Beyond the numbers, Thomas Owens is that quirky competitor who knows how to enjoy the grind: bouncing back from losses, exploring unorthodox openings, and sometimes, just puzzling opponents with a move like 1.f3. Whether it’s at dawn or dusk, rapid or blitz, this player’s journey is a tale of tenacity, strategic surprises, and the relentless pursuit of that perfect checkmate.

"In the end, chess is not just about winning — it’s about the stories in every move."