Rafael Baltazar: The Rapid-Fire International Master
Rafael Baltazar, an International Master (IM) recognized by FIDE, competes online as Baltazar1958. The username hints at a 1958 vintage, and the stats suggest a player who has seen every fad in chess come and go. Since 2020 he has played nearly 4,100 rated games, making him a true volume shooter of the digital board.
Home Turf: Rapid Chess
While Rafael has logged thousands of blitz battles, his preferred habitat is the rapid time control. He has racked up 716 rapid wins against only 178 losses, a record that would make most tournament players blush. His rapid rating history shows a player who learns, adjusts, and comes back stronger.
A 1.d4 Loyalist
Rafael does not waste time with flashy king pawn openings. As White, he steers the game into the Colle System or the London System, and his Poisoned Pawn Variation has been devastating in rapid play. As Black, he favors the Modern Defense, happily letting opponents overextend before he strikes.
Favorite Rivals
Every online career needs rivals, and Rafael has a full cast. He owns raulmartinez62 with 32 wins and no losses, and he has feasted on richardbarski-1961 with 79 wins in 87 meetings. nick_manley2016 has also felt the heat, with Rafael winning 40 of their encounters. But every hero has a nemesis: immichaelbrooks holds the head-to-head edge, proving that even an International Master can have a bogeyman.
Never Count Him Out
- Comeback rate: 86.17 percent
- Win rate after losing a piece: 54.45 percent
- One-sided loss rate: just 3 percent
- Longest winning streak: 20 games
- Longest losing streak: 8 games, followed by a bounce back
Rafael plays long endgames, averages over 78 moves in decisive games, and almost never resigns early. If you beat him, you will earn it. And if you face him at 11:00 AM, the data suggests you should just resign now.