Giovanna Arbunic Castro WIM

Giovanna Arbunic Castro (aka Boudicca64)

Woman International Master - The Blitz Warrior

Giovanna Arbunic Castro is no ordinary chess player; she’s a Woman International Master who dances gracefully across the 64 squares, wielding her pieces like a seasoned magician wanders her spells. Known online as Boudicca64, Giovanna is a fierce competitor with a flair for rapid and blitz chess—where quick wits meet lightning-fast fingers.

Her peak ratings tell their own tale: a Blitz rating soaring to 2104 in April 2020, a Bullet peak at 1927 around mid-2020, and an impressive Rapid maximum rating of 2178 as recently as December 2022. Although her blitz battles are often stormy—she has faced challenges with a win rate hovering around 24.5%—her rapid games tell a tale of triumph with a solid 61% win rate. The rapid format clearly suits her strategic depth and tactical nose.

When Giovanna plays blitz, it’s a rollercoaster: win streaks can reach up to 8 games, but watch out! Losing streaks climb to 17, reminding us even titans occasionally stumble. Such is the life of a serious chess gladiator! And speaking of time, her best chess-hour is early, with a distinctive edge blossoming around 6 a.m.—clearly proving that dawn is the perfect time to conquer foes online. Also, 8 a.m., 6 a.m., and even 4 a.m. deliver sweet stats—she’s probably sipping coffee and crushing pawns simultaneously.

Giovanna has an impressive knack for comebacks, boasting an 83% comeback rate after facing setbacks. Her chess style is patient and long-term: with average winning games lasting 58 moves, she’s not one for quick tricks but rather slow, strategic squeezes. Endgames? She loves them—over 70% of her games wind down to these delicate battles, where precision reigns supreme.

Her opening repertoire is something of a "top secret," but Boudicca64’s reliable bread and butter opening choice has been tested over 700 times in blitz. She might be mysterious about it, but the results are clear: she accepts the battle with modest but steady success.

Fun Facts & Quirks

• Known for timely victories, Giovanna often wins on timeouts (65 wins this way!), a sly reminder that time management can be as lethal as a queen’s fork.
• Despite the ups and downs, her early resignation rate is low at just 2.23%—a testament to her fighting spirit and refusal to quit.
• White pieces bring her a slightly better edge, winning approximately 29% of games compared to 23% with Black pieces.
• Her resilience shines especially when facing higher-rated opponents, with a spirited 15.65% win rate against them — enough to inspire other underdogs everywhere.

Latest Triumph

On March 11, 2025, playing as black against dDobravcan, Giovanna clinched a victory on time in a tense, finely balanced blitz game featuring the Torre Attack, showcasing her nerves of steel and fast fingers. You can relive the excitement here.

Whether crushing opponents with strategic finesse or thrilling the crowd with epic comebacks, Giovanna Arbunic Castro remains a shining star in the world of chess with a personality as vibrant as her nickname Boudicca64 — a fitting tribute to a queen of the battlefield.