Juan Carlos Davila

Juan Carlos Davila (aka Cabu16)

Meet Juan Carlos Davila, affectionately known in the chess world as Cabu16. A player whose journey on the 64 squares has been a rollercoaster of daring sacrifices, resilient comebacks, and a healthy mix of wins and losses that make chess truly exciting.

Rating & Style

By 2025, Juan Carlos has climbed to a rapid peak rating of 932, a testament to his dedication and growing mastery. His blitz and bullet ratings, while more modest at 630 and 526 respectively, show that he’s not just a rapid player but a versatile competitor in multiple formats.

Juan Carlos’s style is a blend of patience and flair — with an average winning game stretching nearly 62 moves, he embraces the long battles, with endgames featuring in over 69% of his matches. He might take a deep breath before resigning early (only 1.5% of the time), but mostly he fights until the final rook falls.

Opening Repertoire – The Element of Surprise

When it comes to openings, Juan Carlos prefers a cloak-and-dagger approach with his top-secret arsenal – a staggering 271 games played under this mysterious banner boasting a win rate just over 50%. However, when feeling bold, he strikes with the Scandinavian Defense, enjoying a sharp 75% win rate, or goes all-in with the Italian Game Knight Attack, boasting a flawless 100% win record in his limited attempts.

Battle Record

Juan Carlos has played over 319 rapid games, achieving an admirable 168 wins versus 131 losses, with 20 draws scattered in for dramatic effect. His blitz and bullet records are smaller but nonetheless fierce, with only 2 blitz wins and a bullet record that could use some seasoning.

Psychological & Tactical Traits

He’s a tough cookie to break: when down a piece, he still wins about 44% of the time — not bad for a player who can pull some serious comebacks, with nearly 69% comeback success rate!

However, the ticking clock can sometimes be merciless. Juan Carlos has lost multiple games to time trouble, suggesting his passion sometimes outruns his timer. His “tilt factor” is a modest 6, meaning he might sigh dramatically before shaking it off and bracing for the next match.

Favorite Time & Day to Play

If you’re looking to catch him at his best, challenge Juan Carlos early in the morning — around 4 AM — or on a Friday, where his win rate peaks near 60%. Midday games, especially around 10 AM, also seem to favor him, but beware the Tuesdays and Sundays when he’s particularly dangerous with a winning performance over 56%.

Memorable Battles

One of Juan Carlos’s recent triumphs came on May 28, 2025, in a fierce rapid Italian Game Knight Attack where he brilliantly executed a tactical sequence forcing his opponent to resign. Picture this: within 14 moves, the precise strike led by a daring knight sacrifice left his rival scratching their head and tossing in the towel.

Of course, no chess career is without setbacks. Just days later, Juan Carlos faced a tough loss on the clock in a heated Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation battle, reminding us all that even the best have off days.

Opponent Highlights

He’s battled many foes, notable among them emily040496 faced 14 times with a solid 71% win rate. Sometimes Juan Carlos walks away with perfect 100% win rates against certain opponents, proving that when the stars align, his play can be downright unstoppable.

Final Thoughts

Juan Carlos Davila is not just a chess player; he’s a persistent strategist with a penchant for dramatic encounters and fascinating opening choices. The road to Grandmaster glory might still be winding, but with resilience and creativity like his, the horizon looks dazzling.

Whether you face him as Cabu16 or Juan Carlos, prepare for a battle where every pawn push might hide a secret weapon, and every endgame is a story.