Prepare against Watu Kobese
IM · ZAF · World #6,409 classical · FIDE ID 14300141
When preparing against Watu Kobese, expect 1.e4 in 96% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e5 (65% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (60%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: English Opening as Black, 22.2% over 18 games.
Our database contains 771 games by Watu Kobese, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Watu Kobese's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Watu Kobese before a game. You can open the same data in the free interactive preparation workstation, which builds a move-by-move opening tree from every game.
Ratings
| Time control | Current | Peak | Peak date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 2,237 | 2,419 | Jan 2005 |
| Rapid | 2,315 | 2,344 | Dec 2018 |
| Blitz | 2,296 | 2,343 | Jul 2013 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 771 | 335 | 223 | 213 | 43.5% |
| As White | 381 | 195 | 97 | 89 | 51.2% |
| As Black | 390 | 140 | 126 | 124 | 35.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Watu Kobese's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Watu Kobese's side.
First moves as White (381 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 364 | 95.5% | 63.3% |
| d4 | 10 | 2.6% | 70.0% |
| Nf3 | 6 | 1.6% | 83.3% |
| a3 | 1 | 0.3% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 96% of White games, 63.3% score
- …c5 (47% of these games) — Kobese usually continues Nf3 (62.4% score)
- …e5 (21% of these games) — Kobese usually continues Nf3 (68.4% score)
- …e6 (12% of these games) — Kobese usually continues d4 (69.7% score)
- 1.d4 — 3% of White games, 70.0% score
- …Nf6 (100% of these games) — Kobese usually continues c4 (75.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (189 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e5 | 122 | 64.6% | 52.5% |
| c5 | 49 | 25.9% | 65.3% |
| e6 | 9 | 4.8% | 55.6% |
| d6 | 5 | 2.6% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 3 | 1.6% | 66.7% |
| c6 | 1 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (125 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 75 | 60.0% | 54.0% |
| d5 | 26 | 20.8% | 40.4% |
| f5 | 15 | 12.0% | 36.7% |
| e6 | 5 | 4.0% | 60.0% |
| d6 | 3 | 2.4% | 66.7% |
| Na6 | 1 | 0.8% | 50.0% |
Watu Kobese's chess games
All 771 games by Watu Kobese in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Jul 2026) are free to browse, search and replay: filter by opening, opponent, event or date on the player page, or step through any game on the analysis board. Record: 335 wins, 223 draws, 213 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B43 | Sicilian | 60 | 27/13/20 | 45.0% |
| B86 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 34 | 17/10/7 | 50.0% |
| C92 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 25 | 14/8/3 | 56.0% |
| C19 | French: Winawer Variation | 19 | 10/6/3 | 52.6% |
| B38 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | 17 | 7/7/3 | 41.2% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 16 | 8/6/2 | 50.0% |
| B70 | Sicilian: Dragon | 16 | 9/3/4 | 56.3% |
| B08 | Modern Defense | 15 | 6/3/6 | 40.0% |
| C00 | French Defense | 15 | 9/1/5 | 60.0% |
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 12 | 9/1/2 | 75.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C97 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 43 | 14/17/12 | 32.6% |
| C56 | Italian Game | 25 | 10/8/7 | 40.0% |
| B33 | Sicilian | 25 | 15/6/4 | 60.0% |
| A13 | English Opening | 18 | 4/6/8 | 22.2% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 16 | 5/3/8 | 31.3% |
| E97 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 15 | 7/4/4 | 46.7% |
| D34 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 13 | 6/1/6 | 46.2% |
| D02 | Réti Opening | 13 | 4/4/5 | 30.8% |
| E11 | Bogo-Indian Defense | 13 | 7/4/2 | 53.8% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 12 | 5/3/4 | 41.7% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2001 | Peter Leko | 2,739 | FIDE-Wch k.o. | B10 |
| Sep 2012 | Kiril Georgiev | 2,682 | Olympiad-40 | B02 |
| Oct 1998 | Judit Polgar | 2,665 | Cap d'Agde A | C97 |
| Oct 2002 | Alex Yermolinsky | 2,575 | FIDE World Cup-B | D15 |
| Jan 1998 | Kevin Spraggett | 2,565 | 5th Linares Anibal Open | B08 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-RSA | 2024 | 101 | 63.5 | 2,306 |
| ch-Africa | 2009 | 45 | 29 | 2,457 |
| South African Open | 2022 | 41 | 30.5 | 2,295 |
| Titled Tuesday | 2020 | 23 | 12 | 2,204 |
| Gibraltar Masters | 2006 | 20 | 10.5 | 2,382 |
| ch-Wuerttemberg | 1993 | 18 | 8 | 2,233 |
| RSA Open | 1996 | 15 | 10.5 | 2,483 |
| Olympiad-36 | 2004 | 13 | 8 | 2,476 |
Frequent opponents
Head-to-head records: Daniel Cawdery (17 games) · Calvin John Klaasen (16 games) · Kenneth Terence Solomon (13 games)
Interactive opening tree from all 771 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Watu Kobese's chess games?
771 games by Watu Kobese, from Apr 2003 to Jul 2026, are free to browse and replay move by move — no signup needed. The preparation view groups them into an opening tree showing every line Watu Kobese has played.
What does Watu Kobese play on the first move as White?
Across 381 games with White in our database, Watu Kobese opens with 1.e4 (96% of games), 1.d4 (3% of games), 1.Nf3 (2% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Watu Kobese answers 1...e5 (65% of games), 1...c5 (26% of games), 1...e6 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (60% of games), 1...d5 (21% of games), 1...f5 (12% of games).
What openings does Watu Kobese play as White?
As White, Watu Kobese's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (60 games, 45.0% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (34 games, 50.0% win rate); Ruy Lopez: Closed (25 games, 56.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 381 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Watu Kobese play as Black?
As Black, Watu Kobese most often plays: Ruy Lopez: Closed (43 games, 32.6% win rate); Italian Game (25 games, 40.0% win rate); Sicilian (25 games, 60.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 390 games.
What is Watu Kobese's FIDE rating?
Watu Kobese is currently rated 2,237 in classical chess, 2,315 in rapid and 2,296 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,419 (Jan 2005).
How many games has Watu Kobese played?
Our database contains 771 games by Watu Kobese, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 335 wins, 223 draws, 213 losses (43.5% win rate).
How do I prepare against Watu Kobese?
771 games by Watu Kobese reveal their opening repertoire, most-played lines, and the variations where they score worst — the raw material for targeted preparation. The interactive opening tree lets you walk every line to any depth.