About Franz Robert Grafil
Franz Robert Grafil, known online as elfranco, is a National Master from National and a seasoned online competitor with a taste for rapid encounters. Part strategist, part endgame craftsman, Franz combines long middlegame fights with stubborn endgame technique. He prefers Rapid time control and often grinds opponents down over many moves rather than hunting cheap tactics.
Career highlights
- Title: National Master (National)
- Preferred time control: Rapid - often seeks classical structure even when the clock is ticking
- Peak blitz and rapid form have been impressive - see peak stats: 2696 (2023-07-20) and 2459 (2023-10-13)
- Notable online encounter example: View Game
- Rating trend snapshot for Rapid:
Playing style and strengths
Franz is the kind of player who loves long struggles. His metrics tell the story.
- Endgame-oriented approach - high endgame frequency and long average game length
- Very patient - average decisive game length near 75 moves, whether winning or losing
- Strong comeback instincts - high comeback rate and resilience after material loss
- Moderate early resignation rate, so expect fights that actually finish on the board
- Plays solidly with White and finds counterplay with Black
Openings and repertoire
Franz has a broad, flexible repertoire. He is comfortable in many lines and shows recurring preferences.
- As Black: French Defense is a staple, with solid results in Exchange and Advance lines
- As White: enjoys systems leading into the Catalan Opening and Reti-like structures
- Also plays and meets exotic lines such as the Diemer-Duhm Gambit
- Interactive overview:
Rivals, streaks and fun facts
- Most played opponents include chesscoachua, humblespaceman, tacticaljesus and gmjoey1
- Longest winning streak recorded: 13 games
- Longest losing streak recorded: 14 games - even masters have rough patches
- Sample PGN to explore typical play:
- Want to study a peer or opponent profile? Try: Rogelio Jr Antonio
Why follow Franz
For fans of well-crafted middlegames and slow-burning endgame victories, Franz Robert Grafil is a delight. He is a National Master with deep experience across bullet, blitz and rapid formats. If you like long technical fights, study his Catalan and French Defense games and enjoy the subtleties.