Raoul Van Ketel FM

Raoul Van Ketel (aka Kappa71)

FIDE Master & Tactical Wizard

Meet Raoul Van Ketel, a FIDE Master who doesn’t just play chess – they practically dance with it. Known in the online chess world as Kappa71, Raoul commands the board with a mix of solid opening knowledge and a killer endgame style that would make even the toughest grandmasters nervous.

Raoul’s journey through the chess ranks is a rollercoaster of fighter spirit and tactical brilliance. With a peak rapid rating of 2307 and blitz rating topping out at an impressive 2311, this player demonstrates both speed and strategic depth. Raoul thrives on the classics with favorites like the Queens Gambit Declined Exchange and French Defense Classical Steinitz Variation, boasting win rates over 80% in some lines. Clearly, Raoul knows how to make those openings work – and work well.

This player’s win record is nothing to scoff at: over 400 wins across rapid and blitz combined, and a knack for clawing back after tough moments with a comeback rate above 84%. If you manage to snatch a piece from Raoul, don’t celebrate too soon – there’s a 51% chance they’ll turn it all around! The only true weakness? Raoul’s not big on early resignations – they keep fighting 'til the end, with average winning games lasting around 73 moves.

Timing is key for Raoul – apparently 10 PM is peak brilliance hour, where one can almost hear the chess pieces whispering secrets. Raoul shines particularly well on Wednesdays and Sundays and has a special flair for blitz, racking up hundreds of games and an 81% winning rate with the Queens Gambit Declined Exchange in fast games.

When not plotting checkmates online, Raoul’s biggest rivals include players like mastersonnevanck23 and slim_fit, whom they’ve faced over a dozen times with fiery battles on record. Every loss teaches a lesson—though Raoul’s longest losing streak was a painful 7 games, it’s clear they’ve bounced back stronger every time.

For an aficionado of positional play mixed with tactical sparks, Raoul Van Ketel is a grandmaster-in-the-making… or at least a master of making their opponents question their life choices one move at a time.