Yoseph Theolifus Taher IM

Yoseph Theolifus Taher - International Master Extraordinaire

Meet Yoseph Theolifus Taher, affectionately known in online chess circles as yosephtaher, a formidable International Master who has been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) storming the chessboard since the dawn of the 2010s. Clad with an official FIDE title, Yoseph is the kind of player who treats the 64 squares like a playground and the clock as a mere suggestion.

Career & Journey

Starting from modest blitz ratings in the early 2010s, Yoseph's rating graph looks like it was scribbled by a caffeinated artist — upward with fascinating stamina and few dips. By 2025, hitting a scorching blitz peak rating of 3066 and a bullet high of 3147, Yoseph’s tactics and speed on the board are nothing short of wizardry. And with a rapid peak at 2518, there’s no aspect of the quick-fire game that escapes this player's keen eye.

Playing Style & Strengths

Known for a strategic endgame prowess—Yoseph enjoys complex battlefields, boasting an endgame frequency of nearly 65%. Winning with white nearly 75% of the time (no pressure on Black here), the player favors maneuvers that leave opponents scratching their heads and questioning reality. Tactical genius achieves a comeback rate of over 82%, proving that even when down a piece, resignation isn’t on the menu.

With an acute psychological resilience (tilt factor of 20 – possibly due to a secret stash of anti-tilt chocolate, we can only assume), Yoseph’s best hours to pounce on the competition are sunny afternoons around 2 PM, where the win rate blossoms to an astonishing 86.84%.

Opening Repertoire Highlights

• Blitz: Dominates with the 'Top Secret' opening, boasting an astonishing nearly 71% win rate across over 5000 games – a true mystery for opponents!
• Sicilian Defense Hyperaccelerated Dragon Fianchetto Variation: Perfect score with 100% wins in 8 games. Talk about intimidation!
• Closed Sicilian Defense Grand Prix Attack: A strong weapon with an 83.33% win rate. Opponents beware the Sicilian storm!

Record & Rivals

With well over 3,800 blitz wins and 9,200 bullet victories, Yoseph's playbook must be massive, and the trophy shelf legendary. The current winning streak stands at an impressive 1, proving that every game is a fresh battle in the relentless quest for checkmate.

Notable opponents include “rile-man” and “gmbenjaminbok”, among whom Yoseph maintains a competitive edge. With a fascinating history of opponent-specific win rates ranging from 29% against some to a perfect 100% against others, it’s clear every rival is studied and respected—or mercilessly punted off the board.

Recent Battles

Fresh off a dramatic victory against rile-man in the Old Benoni Defense, Yoseph secured a win on time after a tactical marathon lasting nearly an hour. Showing versatility, recent games against opponents like Jospem and GODLIKEHERE ended triumphantly, highlighting Yoseph’s ability to force resignations through relentless positional pressure and rapid-fire calculation.

Not all knights and rooks march to victory though—Yoseph's most recent losses remind us that even grandmasters have off days, falling to calculated attacks by competitors like FaustinoOro and GMBenjaminBok. But fear not, as this IM bounces back quickly to keep the games spicy and the fans entertained.

Fun Fact

If games were movies, Yoseph's would be titled "The Comeback Kid: Crushing Pawns and Dreams Since 2011." And if you ever face this player, remember: playing quickly is smart, but playing like Yoseph is legendary.