Rafał Antoniewski GM

Rafał Antoniewski - Grandmaster of the Board

Meet Rafał Antoniewski, known in the digital chess arenas as GMBellicose, a formidable Grandmaster whose strategic mind can make pawns dance and queens bow. Awarded the prestigious Grandmaster title by FIDE, Rafał has proven time and again that patience, tactics, and a pinch of cheeky audacity win the day.

Rating & Streaks

Rafał's blitz rating peaked recently at an eye-popping 2648 in December 2024, showing his lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp calculations. Bullet chess isn't far behind, with a personal best of 2521. And if you thought Rafał only ruled the fast formats, think again — his rapid rating soared to 2633 in mid-2023.

With a current winning streak of 12 games on the board, Rafał isn’t just riding a hot streak; he’s practically setting the board on fire. His longest winning streak is an impressive 12 games, while his longest losing streak is a modest 5 — proof that even Grandmasters stumble, but rarely stay down.

Playing Style & Performance

Rafał favors the long game — averaging over 75 moves per win — and has an exceptional 80% chance of smoothly navigating into an endgame. Both playing White and Black, his win rates huddle comfortably over 60%, but don’t be fooled: his comeback rate after losing material is a dazzling 82% — resilience is his secret weapon.

He’s not quick to resign either, bowing out prematurely only about 2.7% of the time. Though known for his grit, Rafał is a merciful terminator who often secures victories by resignation, checkmate, or even timeout, showing his opponents there’s no easy way out.

Opening Enigma

A chess mystery wrapped in an enigma, Rafał’s precise opening moves are classified as Top Secret — but his win rates in blitz (61.6%), bullet (61.2%), rapid (91.7%), and daily (100%) formats imply he’s mastered the art of surprising his adversaries early on.

Famous Opponents & Quirks

Amongst the many opponents Rafał has bested with remarkable win rates are aaronliquor (85.7%) and mir_lumina (90.9%), though some players have managed to give him a tougher time (looking at you, pwbxy and ukigumo).

Fun fact: Rafał’s best time to play is around 9 PM, when the stars align, his mind sharpens, and his opponents mysteriously lose their keys to victory. Also, Friday and Tuesday are his lucky days with a stellar win rate above 70%, just in case you want to challenge him then!

Memorable Games

Rafał’s latest known conquest was a thrilling Caro-Kann Defense victory in blitz, where his opponent resigned after a masterful sequence of moves. A true artist making masterpieces in 48 moves!

Even in defeat, Rafał shows grace. His last loss in 2019 against NguyenXi was a tough battle fought on multiple fronts with nerves tested and tactics flying.

In a Nutshell

Rafał Antoniewski is not just a chess player—he is a blaze of brilliance, a Grandmaster who keeps opponents guessing and fans entertained. Whether blitzing through battles or calmly conquering in daily games, Rafał’s journey on 64 squares is a fascinating saga of skill, spirit, and a touch of chessboard mischief.