My name is Arno Middelkoop and I live in the Netherlands. I'm currently 27, and I've been playing this wonderful game from the age of seven.

In that year, 1995, I joined the local chessclub here in Zoetermeer, Botwinnik. I enjoyed playing with fellow novice yooth players, and I intended to become a better player than most of them and did that. Even so, in the six years to come I probably only reached an official rating ~1500, not being active in any external competition.

As of November 2015, my KNSB rating is 1793. In the last two years my chess progression has been stagnant, now I'm trying to improve openings and getting a solid tactical vision. I started playing on Chess.com under the name Qoko, yet I'm still somewhat rusty in Blitz (only ~1550).

Me outsidei of chess: I'm a graduated Biomedical Scientist at the University of Leiden, with a speciality in epidemiology, still looking for a PhD. I'm a Japanese RPG, Anime and Manga fan, although it has been less and less occupying the last years: I enjoy the franchise more than actually being an addict. I (still) have a general addiction for World of Warcraft yet I have been playing much less the last year.

Where you find me here: I am almost always occupied on the daily puzzle, although I do not post as often lately.