Gabriel Doria Medina Peñaranda - aka "Gabmando"
Gabriel, affectionately known in the chess community as Gabmando, is a player who embraces the rollercoaster nature of chess like no other. With a peak blitz rating of 807 back in 2017, he showed early flashes of tactical brilliance, albeit sometimes accompanied by the occasional “oops” moment, as evidenced by his almost equal numbers of wins and losses in blitz — like a true gladiator who never backs down.
When it comes to rapid chess, Gabmando shines brightest with a peak of 859 in early 2023. His style? A daring blend that mixes solid openings like the Queen’s Pawn Chigorin Variation with aggressive gambits, proving he’s not afraid to shake things up on the board. With a knack for comebacks (winning 57% of games where he’s ever been behind), Gabmando refuses to throw in the towel early, even if his early resignation rate is a humble 11%. Some might say he’s patient; others suspect he just likes to keep his opponents guessing.
Interestingly, Gabriel performs best in the wee hours around 6 AM — a testament to nocturnal wisdom or simply coffee-fueled brilliance. With a tilt factor of 10, he’s no stranger to emotional battles, but always manages to maintain that fighting spirit. And yes, he favors playing with the white pieces, winning just over half (51.7%) of those games, while his black pieces perform admirably at 44.9% wins.
Opening Choices and Quirks
- Queen's Pawn Opening - Chigorin Variation: His most played and trusted weapon, though sometimes results are as close as 48.98% wins to 50 losses, showing fierce battles on every square.
- Englund Gambit: Surprisingly successful for him, with a 55% win rate in blitz. Clearly, Gabmando enjoys an element of surprise and chaos.
- King's Pawn Opening - King's Knight Variation: His best scoring opening in blitz with a 75% win rate — a sweet spot of classical and tactical prowess.
Recent Highlights
In May 2025, Gabmando showed sharp form with a clean victory by resignation against xb3goat using the Queen's Pawn Chigorin Variation — a game marked by precise positional pressure and a quick end once advantage was decisive. However, his journey isn’t without setbacks; a recent loss to LoZingarino taught him harsh lessons in the Giuoco Piano, reminding us all that even the boldest warriors occasionally get outmaneuvered.
Personality on the Board
If chess were a soap opera, Gabriel would be the thrilling protagonist who stumbles but never surrenders. His average moves in wins (about 47 moves) suggest a love for the long game, grinding down opponents one move at a time. Meanwhile, a slightly shorter game average in losses reflects his willingness to dive headfirst into complex positions — a gambler at heart.
In the wild world of bullet chess, he dances on the edge with a peak of 488 but also embraces learning curves as his bullet win/loss is nearly balanced. Still, his tactical play style and penchant for the unpredictable shows he’s always ready to blunder spectacularly or checkmate unexpectedly.
In short: Gabriel Doria Medina Peñaranda, aka Gabmando, is a spirited chess adventurer who embodies the highs, lows, thrills, and spills of the royal game with a smile and warrior’s heart.
