Tariq .

Player Profile: Tariq (Username: vkokai)

Meet Tariq, a passionate rapid chess player who maneuvers the board with a curious mix of tactical flair and occasional brutal honesty—sometimes to his own detriment. With a peak rating of 258 achieved in June 2024, Tariq has shown he can punch well above his weight in the rapid format, blending aggressive openings with a penchant for entertaining, if not always flawless, ends.

Chess Journey & Playing Style

Tariq's journey across the 64 squares is marked by a rollercoaster ride of victories and lessons. His Rapid rating rose from a humble 118 at the start of June 2024 to a thrilling 251 by the end of the month, showing resilience when facing tough opponents. Though equally matched with a 33 wins and 33 losses record, Tariq’s longest winning streak hit 5 games—proof that when he’s on, he’s really on.

Not one to shy away from bold openings, Tariq excels in variations like the Queen's Pawn Opening - Chigorin Variation and seems to hold a personal grudge against simplicity, boasting a 100% win rate in both these and the Van't Kruijs Opening. He enjoys making opponents sweat with aggressive gambits, proving that subtlety isn’t always his style (nor should it be—where’s the fun in that?).

Strengths & Quirks

• Opening Specialist: Wins 100% of games in three different openings - a confidence boost likely fueled by meticulous preparatory work or just sheer luck.
• Comeback Kid: Tariq has a comeback rate of 45.45%, the kind of player who never throws in the towel before the drama unfolds.
• Endgame Enthusiast: Nearly 41% of his games reach endgame territory, indicating his patience and persistence shine late into the match.
• Early Resignation Rate: Around 12%—sometimes tactical, sometimes tactical surrender when the coffee goes cold.
• Best Time to Play: At 3 PM, Tariq’s brain seems turbo-charged. Forget the morning chess buzz; this is prime checkmate o’clock.

Funny Fact

Tariq’s psychological tilt factor is a moderate 5—which means he might tilt, but only enough to keep games interesting without throwing his laptop out the window. Also, his preference for resignations when losing (having won and resigned 16 times and lost 19 times by resignation) suggests he's a fan of dramatic exits rather than slow, painful defeats.

Recent Highlights

On May 13, 2025, Tariq crushed his opponent cruzup in a tactical masterpiece using the French Defense - Queen's Knight Variation leading to a beautiful checkmate:

Prepare to face Tariq if you dare—he’s a player who mixes strategic mischief, occasional blunders, and yes, some brilliant victories that remind you why chess is the ultimate battlefield.

At a Glance

Tip for challengers: Watch out around 3 PM — Tariq is at his sharpest, and his favorite openings might just checkmate your queens off the board!