Maria Jose Ramirez Gonzalez (MerryRam) - Woman FIDE Master
Meet Maria Jose Ramirez Gonzalez, affectionately known in the chess world as MerryRam. A proud holder of the Woman FIDE Master title, Maria Jose is the kind of player who doesn’t just move pieces—she orchestrates symphonies on the chessboard.
Rating Journey & Playing Style
Starting her competitive blitz journey with a modest rating in the low 1200s back in 2012, Maria Jose has demonstrated relentless determination and growth, surging past the 2000 mark by 2025! At her peak, she achieved a formidable Blitz rating of 2044, a Rapid rating of 1935, and an impressive Bullet rating peaking at 1862. While her Daily rating stakes remain modest, it’s in the faster formats where her tactical genius truly shines.
Her playing style is a mix of resilience and patience with a keen eye for the endgame—she plays roughly 63 moves per win on average, calmly pushing advantages and snatching opportunities. Despite a tilt factor of 11 (chess can be emotionally messy, even for titlists!), her comeback rate is a stellar 83.55%, proving she’s never out until the final move.
Opening Repertoire & Quirks
Dominating mostly with the Unknown Opening (which is chess-speak for "my secret weapon"), Maria Jose’s strongest known opening is the King's Indian Defense Alekhine Anti-Grunfeld Neo-Grunfeld Defense Goglidze Attack — yes, it’s a mouthful, but she’s got a perfect 100% win record in the rare games she’s played it! The Ruy Lopez Opening Fianchetto Defense is another personal favorite boasting a flawless record.
Interestingly, her win rates fluctuate by time-of-day, with early mornings around 2 AM being her golden hour — a perfect time for deep, devious maneuvers when the world is asleep. Conversely, afternoons and sharp morning hours seem a little more challenging, but every grandmaster has their quirks!
Match Records & Rivalries
Maria Jose’s blitz record proudly sports 395 wins against 346 losses with 18 draws, showing sheer grit on the fast-paced battlefield. Her bullet realm is nearly as fierce, with an almost even number of wins and losses, proving she thrives even when the clock is merciless.
She’s faced opponents from all corners, including some she’s crushed repeatedly with flawless 100% win rates (take that, chessnagar and ethanguy!), and others who’ve had her number, keeping her forever humble and hungry for improvement.
Highlight Reel
One of Maria Jose’s most recent victories was a dazzling display of the King's Indian Defense Alekhine Anti-Grunfeld Neo-Grunfeld Goglidze Attack where she forced her opponent to concede by resignation after 44 moves of calculated pressure—truly a masterclass in strategic play and psychological warfare.
Fun Facts
- Often dubbed the “Midnight Maestro” for her peak performance at odd hours.
- She has a surprisingly low Early Resignation Rate of 4.64%, meaning she fights till the very end.
- Her tactics after losing a piece are almost 50% effective, showing calm under fire.
- MerryRam’s longest winning streak is an impressive 12 games — who says titlists don’t have hot streaks?
Maria Jose Ramirez Gonzalez is chess with a dash of tenacity, a sprinkle of genius, and a hint of midnight mojo. Keep an eye out—this Woman FIDE Master might just be plotting her next dazzling combination while the rest of us dream.