Rafael Leitao: Grandmaster and Blitz Streamer
Rafael Leitao is a chess Grandmaster who blends high-level competition with engaging streaming. A titled player who earned the Grandmaster title from FIDE, Rafael also makes his mark as a popular streamer under the handle GMRafpig, sharing insights, humor, and a love for fast-paced chess with a global audience.
Career highlights
Rafael has built a storied Blitz career, with a peak Blitz rating of 2873 in 2025. His journey features impressive streaks and steady growth across the years, including a longest winning streak of 46 games and a current strong run. He remains a vibrant force in top-level Blitz play through 2025, balancing competition with content creation for fans who crave sharper, quicker battles on the board.
Opening repertoire and playstyle
In Blitz, Rafael favors a balanced mix of solid structure and sharp ideas, with notable strengths in several systems. Highlights from his opening performance include:
- Caro-Kann Defense: 62 games, 56.45% win rate
- English Opening: 109 games, 60.55% win rate
- Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation: 29 games, 75.86% win rate
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: 40 games, 67.5% win rate
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation: 27 games, 66.67% win rate
Streaming and community
A devoted content creator, Rafael streams his games, explains his reasoning live, and interacts with a growing community of chess enthusiasts. For a glimpse into his profile, explore Rafael Leitao.
Career snapshot
Preferred time control appears to be Blitz. His career features a remarkable Blitz peak and a pattern of strong results across the 2020s, underscored by a long winning streak and continuous activity.