Romain Picard IM

Romain Picard - International Master of the Chessboard

Known in the realm of 64 squares as Romain Picard, this International Master has been quietly, yet fiercely, carving out a niche in the competitive world of chess. With a FIDE title that speaks volumes, Romain’s chess journey is anything but ordinary – it's a fascinating blend of tactical brilliance, psychological warfare, and a dash of humor.

Starting from humble beginnings with Blitz ratings in the low 1300s back in 2015, Romain's dedication and strategic prowess skyrocketed. By mid-2019, he hit a peak Blitz rating of an impressive 2359, demonstrating speed and accuracy that could make even Magnus Carlsen check his moves twice. Bullet chess also saw Romain sharpening his reflexes, achieving a peak of 2251 in 2021 – fast enough to blunder less often than your average coffee-fueled grandpa on a smartphone app.

Romain’s style is as resilient as a knight trapped on the rim, refusing to resign early, with less than 1% early resignations. The true mark of a fighter, boasting a remarkable 83.5% comeback rate after losing a piece, proving that throwing punches (or pawns) back is his specialty. He’s no stranger to endgames either, venturing into the final phases in nearly 79% of his games, often clutching victory with an average of 68 moves per win.

Psychologically, Romain knows when to strike: his best time to play is around 5 PM, right when most players start dreaming about dinner. His win rate peaks in the evenings and late nights, proving he’s a nocturnal tactician, thriving while others snooze.

On the battlefield, Romain isn't shy about mixing it up – with multiple openings guarded as "top secret" (because who wants to reveal all their tricks?). Over a whopping 2,200 Blitz games, he holds a solid winning rate just over 50%, and his Bullet games? Even stronger, with a win rate surpassing 56%.

When not busy shaking the chess cosmos, Romain has a sense of humor about his streaks; a longest winning streak of 24 games (because who’s counting?) and a longest losing streak of 13 games (ouch, but hey, it happens). Always bouncing back, because quitting early is so not in his playbook.

Recent Highlight:

On December 24, 2023, in a classic exchange from the Philidor Defense, Romain (using the username TristanCalistri) masterfully wore down the opponent, pressing until victory by resignation. A real "chesssgiving" gift to himself!

Whether strategizing at sunday brunch or dropping bombs past midnight, Romain Picard is a relentless chess warrior – one who proves that in the game of kings and queens, sometimes it’s the knights who really know how to party.