Valerie Delannoy

Valerie Delannoy (Username: valdln) - The Chess Adventurer

Meet Valerie Delannoy, affectionately known in the chess world as valdln, a relentless rapid player who treats the 64 squares like a playground of possibilities—and occasional pitfalls. With a career full of ups, downs, and sideways dances, Valerie’s journey is a testament to resilience, strategic creativity, and an impressive ability to come back after losing pieces (a solid 66.5% comeback rate, no less!).

Early Days and Rating Rollercoaster

Starting at a rapid rating just around 1000 in early 2021, Valerie experienced the thrills of a true battler: highs and lows that only the bravest chess warriors know. Despite a bumpy ride (hello, longest losing streak of 8!), Valerie never gave up, steadily climbing to a peak rapid rating hovering near 600 in mid-2023. That’s like climbing a mountain while juggling pawns!

Playing Style: A Blend of Tenacity and Tactical Wit

Valerie's chess style is a mixed bag of patience and surprises. Known for an impressive endgame frequency of nearly 45% and an average of over 45 moves per win, valdln loves to grind it out until the bitter end. With early resignation rates sitting at a modest 9%, Valerie fights to the last pawn and beyond—unless the opponent’s tactical fireworks demand a bow out.

But don’t mistake tenacity for recklessness; Valerie’s tactical awareness shines through, especially when clawing back from material deficits. After losing a piece, vandln still wins close to 40% of the time—crushing hopes and dreams one comeback at a time.

Opening Choices: Queens Pawn Fanatic and More

Valerie has a soft spot for the Queen’s Pawn Opening, boasting nearly 170 games with it and a win rate edging near 49%. The Accelerated London System stands out as a favorite subvariation, proving the power of solid development mixed with subtle pressure (54% win rate here, thank you very much). The King’s Pawn Opening is also frequently tested, though opponents seem a bit tougher here, with a win rate just over 45%.

There's also a fondness for the daring Englund Gambit—played 49 times with a near-even score—as well as dabbling in French Defense, Philidor, and other chess-theatrics.

The Psychological Game and Quirks

Valerie's psychological resilience is notable: the infamous “tilt factor” is kept quite low at 8%, indicating a calm and collected mindset even when the pawns turn traitorous. Intriguingly, the best time to catch valdln at peak play is 2 AM, so if you want to see pure brilliance (or maybe some wild, sleep-deprived brilliance), that’s the hour to challenge.

Recent Battles and Memorable Games

As of June 2025, valdln is still actively slugging it out online, recently defeating opponents like aliasghar2121 and mrspooderchess with clever moves and gritty determination. One recent triumph featured a sharp Center Game where Valerie converted a series of tactical shots into a resignation victory—because sometimes, giving up is the only honorable exit.

Fun Facts and Trivia

• Longest Winning Streak: 7 games. That’s a full week of chess domination!
• Most Played Opponents: A friendly quartet including rodolfoperu87 and kai12c, with whom fierce battles have been waged.
• Win Rate Against Equal Opponents: Exactly 50%—talk about balanced drama!
• Favorite Time Control: Rapid, where the speed and pressure seem to fuel their creativity.

In the end, Valerie Delannoy isn’t just a chess player—they are a saga of perseverance across a battlefield of black and white squares, a tactical wizard with a dash of humor, and a reminder that in chess, as in life, it’s all about the journey (and maybe that one lucky blitz move).