Michelle Michelle Flores

Chess Player Profile: Michelle Flores (melaneta)

Meet Michelle Flores, known on the battlefield of 64 squares as melaneta, a daring Rapid specialist whose chess journey is sprinkled with both dramatic victories and humbling defeats. With a peak Rapid rating of 226 achieved in May 2025, Michelle’s games are nothing short of a roller coaster ride—full of suspense, surprise, and a hint of mischief.

Michelle's style is a whirlwind: quick to enter the fray with unusual openings like the Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack and the ever-elusive Undefined category where she boasts a perfect 100% win record. She’s also tried her luck with a wide variety of openings from the Pirc Defense to the enigmatic Clemenz Opening, though some have proved tougher battles than expected (we're looking at you, Clemens and Saragossa!).

A strategy enthusiast with an early resignation rate of 11.11%, Michelle’s games tend to be either lightning victories or epic struggles lasting close to 30 moves on average. When she wins, watch out—she’s typically wrapping up in just 8.5 moves on average, which speaks volumes about her ability to catch opponents off guard and force resignations early. Conversely, losses can drag on with a lot of hope and heartbreak along the way.

Michelle shines brightest around midnight, boasting a notable come back rate of 50%, proving she fights fiercely even when the position isn’t in her favor. However, her win rate after losing a piece sits at a modest 12.5%, indicating that once material is lost, it’s sometimes tough to claw back. Her psychological tilt factor is relatively low (4), so she’s more likely to learn rather than rage quit after a tough loss.

Despite a challenging overall Rapid record of 2 wins against 9 losses, Michelle’s determination is undeniable. Highlights include memorable wins against kiandra27 and snoopdooooooooog, both secured by resignation—a classic signature of melaneta’s intimidating tactical threats.

Michelle prefers to play the white pieces where she’s managed to snag all her victories so far, with a respectable 33% win rate, compared to a tough run as Black. Her favorite first moves reveal a colorful opening repertoire, ranging from h3 and b3 flank pushes to trusty c3 and e3 pawn mechanics. She clearly appreciates the element of surprise!

Fun Fact

Michelle’s games often begin with unusual opening moves, but end up telling a very dramatic story—sometimes culminating in quick resignations by the opponent, other times in lengthy, sweat-inducing battles that test every bit of her resolve.

Recent Triumph

One of her latest wins came on June 6, 2025, against kiandra27, where she brilliantly clinched the game by resignation after a daring but efficient fight.

Current Challenges

With a longest losing streak of 4 games, Michelle is on a determined quest to improve her Rapid form. But if you want a game full of surprises, creative openings, and early resignations, she’s definitely the opponent to watch!

Rating and Performance Overview

• Peak Rapid Rating: 226 (May 2025)
• Total Rapid Games: 11 (2 Wins, 9 Losses)
• Average Game Length: ~26 moves
• Longest Winning Streak: 1 game
• Longest Losing Streak: 4 games

Weekly & Daily Performance Highlights

Best days to challenge melaneta? Tuesday and Friday, where she’s scored her highest win rates of 25% and 20% respectively. Most dangerous hour: just as the clock strikes midnight, where she plays her best chess under the stars.