Maria Palma WFM

Maria Palma - Woman FIDE Master (pal_mar)

Maria Palma, widely known online as pal_mar, is no ordinary chess player. She proudly holds the title of Woman FIDE Master, a testament to her sharp tactical mind and unwavering dedication to the royal game. With a peak blitz rating soaring up to 2232 in late 2021 and a rapid rating that flirted close to 2200, Maria has firmly cemented her position as a formidable competitor in fast-paced formats.

The Journey & Style

Diving into thousands of blitz battles (over 650 games in her most played opening alone!), Maria demonstrates a gritty, tenacious style — never afraid to dance on the edge with tricky gambits and "Top Secret" weaponry (her go-to enigmatic opening is so secret even the chess gods are guessing!). Her playing style features an impressive 80.2% comeback rate, proving she’s the kind of player who dusts herself off and comes back stronger... unless she’s low on coffee, then all bets are off.

Strengths & Quirks

• White pieces win rate: 56.58% – Maria knows how to make the first move count and keep the pressure on.
• Black pieces win rate: 49.46% – She’s not just a gracious challenger; she strikes effectively even on the defensive side.
• Endgames: A whopping 75.5% frequency in endgame play highlights her patience and precision when the real battles often start.
• Early resignation rate: Just under 1% – Maria prefers to fight to the death, except when she’s utterly convinced the king’s toast. Who can blame her?
• Longest winning streak: 8 games – A hot streak that would make even the chess engines sweat.
• Favorite battle hours: Primetime chess happens at 8 PM and 9 PM (with win rates over 75%) — the brain firing on all cylinders, or maybe just better lighting for spotting forks?

Notable Performances

Maria’s recent victories showcase her versatility. In May 2025, she triumphed in a thrilling Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation battle, winning on time with cool composure against a strong opponent. Just days earlier, she executed a slick checkmate using the English Opening Kings English Variation that left spectators breathless. The wins are numerous, but Maria’s losses often come with learning curves rather than defeat, reflecting a player continuously evolving.

Personality Snapshot

If chess were a personality, Maria would be the cunning strategist who sometimes reminds us that even grandmasters need their fairy tales — and the occasional lucky blunder from the opponent helps, too. With a tilt factor modestly rated at 7, she handles the emotional rollercoasters of competitive play with grace... or at least a polite sigh and a reset to the board.

From navigating nearly 700 blitz games to wielding rapid tactics and occasional flirtations with bullet, Maria Palma’s chess journey is one of passion, resilience, and a touch of mystery — because after all, some openings remain Top Secret.

Keep an eye on pal_mar; her next move might just be checkmate.