Valerio Pancotti

Valerio Pancotti (valeriop99)

Meet Valerio Pancotti, the tactical whirlwind with a penchant for turning blitz games into thrilling rollercoaster rides! Some call him a blitz fanatic, others a bullet blitzer — but one thing’s for sure: Valerio plays fast and sometimes furious with a peak bullet rating over 300 and blitz highs just shy of 250. Not bad for a player whose average blitz rating dances around 186, proving consistency isn’t the goal — excitement is!

Valerio’s style is a curious blend of daring and grit. With a comeback rate soaring above 75%, he’s the king of “Wait, what? I was losing?” moments. Even after losing material, his not-so-secret weapon is perseverance, clinching wins nearly 40% of the time after dropping a piece. But be warned: his tilt factor of 8 means when the chips are down, things might get spicy.

On an opening expedition, Valerio enjoys shaking things up. His favorite battleground? The Queen's Pawn Opening, with a special fondness for the Chigorin Variation — boasting a 60% win rate there. He’s also not shy about engaging the daring Englund Gambit where he maintains another respectable 60% win rate in blitz games. Defence fans beware! Valerio’s Alekhine’s Defense in rapid games is a force to reckon with, registering an 80% win rate.

While his rapid rating might be a bit modest around 184 lately, don’t let that fool you — rapid opens doors for some experimental chess and occasional heartbreaks (his longest losing streak once hit eight!). Yet he always bounces back, often locking in wins on Fridays and Sundays — perfect for weekend warriors and casual games. And the best time to catch Valerio plotting his next move? Apparently 4 AM — yes, the early-morning genius who loves the witching hour gaming sessions.

Whether it’s securing victory by resignation with a sly move or winning on time, Valerio’s recent games tell tales of tactical smarts and quick thinking. His current winning streak of 2 is just the appetizer; watch for his next inspired game that might send opponents like “ashypenguin” and “tweezel” packing.

Fun fact: Valerio averages 58 moves per win, which means he savors the fight till the bitter end — a true chess gladiator who could probably write a book titled "How to Lose Gracefully and Win Brilliantly."

In a nutshell: Valerio Pancotti, aka valeriop99, is a chess adventure seeker with a flair for quick games, a knack for comebacks, and a heart full of daring gambits. Not just playing chess – living it!

Check out Valerio's profile and games on Chess.com