Paulina Carreras (aka Pauloba)
Woman FIDE Master
Meet Paulina Carreras, a chess warrior crowned Woman FIDE Master, who's been quietly conquering online arenas and puzzle boards alike. Known in gaming circles as Pauloba, she’s not just your average player—she’s a strategist who turns pawns into legends and checkmates into art.
Since 2011, Paulina’s journey has been full of twists and turns, climbing from humble daily ratings of around 1300 to blitz peaks beyond 2000 and rapid ratings flirting near 1930. Her rapid games tell a story of resilience and precision, boasting an impressive long winning streak of 16 games and a knack for drawing even the toughest matches—11 solid draws in 42 rapid encounters to be exact.
In blitz, things get lightning fast—and occasionally dicey. With a blistering peak rating of 2062 and the ability to move at warp speed, Paulina’s style is a cocktail of tactical prowess and occasional wild swings (hello, 34 losses!), showcasing her fearless approach to the clock. She’s also a champion of returning from adversity, with a comeback rate north of 64%. In other words: if you think you’ve got her cornered, think again.
Pauloba’s favorite battlefield? The late evening, precisely around 9 PM, when her win rate hits a clean 100%. So if you want to catch her at her best, plan your challenge post-dinner—just don’t underestimate her sly time control tactic, as several opponents have lost to time pressure.
Her opening repertoire remains a well-kept secret ("Top Secret"), which apparently has a respectable 52% win rate in rapid and an admirable 35% in blitz. But don’t let the calm statistics fool you—once the board heats up, Paulina's moves are a dance of endgame wizardry, averaging 52 moves to win, proving patience is truly a virtue.
Fun fact: despite a tilt factor of 7—meaning she might grimace at a loss now and then—Paulina’s psychological resilience shines through, balancing serious competition with a flair that keeps the game enjoyable for all.
Recent Glories & Defeats
One of her finest moments was a swift, poetic checkmate against AeroLizard in July 2023, closing the game with a flourish on the Sicilian Defense (Closed Sicilian, traditional line). Her tactical strikes kept the opponent reeling from early on, culminating in a decisive endgame.
But not every battle ends in victory — Paulina also experiences the humble side of chess, like her timed loss in a patient daily game in May 2023. After all, every grandmaster was once a beginner who lost on time!
Whether she’s dismantling an opponent or learning from a tough loss, Paulina Carreras embodies the enduring passion and humor that make chess more than just a game—it’s a lifelong adventure.