Raphael Prüfer (aka ILikeDoner)
Raphael Prüfer, known in the online chess realm as ILikeDoner, is a tenacious and spirited competitor with an unconventional approach to the 64 squares. Despite not being a grandmaster (yet!), Raphael’s persistence and fighting spirit shine through an eclectic rating journey across Daily, Rapid, Blitz, and Bullet chess formats.
Playing Style & Personality
With a quirky mix of solid openings like the Four Knights Game and sneaky variations like the French Defense Advance Nimzowitsch System, Raphael enjoys keeping opponents guessing — sometimes to their detriment, sometimes to his own! He’s no stranger to thrilling comebacks, boasting an impressive 70.67% comeback rate. Raphael's psychological toughness is palpable, although he admits to a modest tilt factor of 10. Not bad for a player whose best hour to play is a sleep-deprived 3 AM, when the rest of the world sleeps but the king–knight dance heats up.
Rating Highlights
- Peak Daily Rating: 1154 (May 2025)
- Peak Rapid Rating: 635 (June 2025)
- Peak Blitz Rating: 425 (Feb 2025)
- Peak Bullet Rating: 617 (Feb 2025)
Raphael is a chess chameleon with ratings shifting across formats. His blitz and bullet ratings reveal a penchant for speedy tactical skirmishes, while his daily chess shows a more strategic patience.
Recent Triumph & Challenges
One of Raphael’s freshest victories came in a Rapid game against taticano23 using the Scandinavian Defense (Mieses-Kotrc Variation), where he showcased tactical prowess and won decisively in a hard-fought encounter. Not every day is a win though; the last few weeks saw some bitter defeats, including a notable checkmate loss in an Accelerated London System game that reminds Rafael to keep his guard up!
Opening Arsenal
Whether it’s the timeless Italian Game or the tricky Philidor Defense, Raphael’s opening repertoire is diverse and unpredictable. His best win rates appear in the Four Knights Game Italian Variation (over 75% wins in Rapid and Blitz), hinting at favorite battlegrounds for strategic melee. On the downside, the Philidor Defense can be a tough nut to crack, where his win rate dips below 30% in Blitz, but hey, nobody’s perfect!
Statistical Snapshot
| Format |
Games Played |
Win % |
Loss % |
Draw % |
| Daily |
17 |
59% |
35% |
6% |
| Rapid |
195 |
50.4% |
49.2% |
4.1% |
| Blitz |
286 |
51.3% |
47.3% |
4.5% |
| Bullet |
476 |
51.4% |
48.1% |
0.4% |
Fun Facts
- Raphael wins more often on Thursdays (almost 56%) – chess superstition or fresh coffee day?
- His sharpest focus and best results come at ridiculous times, especially around 3 AM – night owl or chess ninja?
- Longest winning streak clocked at 10 games – now that’s doner-worthy!
- Known for averaging just under 48 moves per win, Raphael doesn’t rush victory but savors the battle.
In short, Raphael Prüfer is the everyman’s chess hero: a mix of grit, humor, and passion for this ancient game. Whether he’s outfoxing opponents in bullet time or grinding out wins in daily games, you can bet he’s playing with a slice of doner kebab in one hand and a chess clock in the other.
Keep an eye on ILikeDoner – the doner never disappoints!
