Raphael Alonso NM

Raphael Alonso - National Master Extraordinaire

Known on the virtual board as FollowRivers, Raphael Alonso holds the prestigious title of National Master. A chess player whose career progression could rival the growth of a grand oak, Raphael has navigated the battlefield of 64 squares with unwavering determination and a bishop-like diagonal precision.

Since 2013, Raphael’s Blitz rating evolved like a biological organism adapting to its environment — from a sprightly 1329 to a robust peak of 2540 by 2025. Their Bullet games sprint at equally swift speeds, peaking at a zippy 2567 rating, demonstrating lightning-fast reflexes, proving that their chess instincts are anything but dormant cells.

With nearly 2,000 blitz games logged and a respectable win tally alongside a tenacious comeback rate close to 90%, Raphael’s games reveal a creature of resilience and stamina. They’ve been known for long endgames, averaging nearly 79 moves per win, a marathon runner dancing through the "mitochondria" of chess complexity, making every move count.

Raphael's style is a fascinating blend of patience and tactical awareness — rarely resigning early (less than 1%), and displaying an almost mythical 100% win rate after losing a piece (talk about cellular regeneration!). Their psychological tilt factor is low, showing steadiness under pressure, albeit with a modest notch for occasional brain fog.

A lover of the Reti Opening and Modern Defense, Raphael’s opening repertoire is as diverse as the flora in a rainforest, flourishing in both Blitz and Bullet formats. Their favorite defense strategies have proven fruitful, with win rates soaring past 60% against many variations. From the nimble Nimzowitsch Larsen to the sturdy Kings Indian Attack, they flaunt the variety of a seasoned biologist cataloging chess species.

Off the board, Raphael is as enigmatic as a deep-sea creature — quietly plotting, observing, and striking with precision. Whether sliding pawns or launching knights, their play leaves opponents feeling like electrons caught in an unpredictable orbit.

In sum, Raphael Alonso is a true chess naturalist, growing, adapting, and thriving in the competitive ecosystem of chess, always ready to evolve into the next form of mastery.