Rafael Figueiredo de Paula FM

Rafael Figueiredo de Paula (rafaelfiggo)

Meet Rafael Figueiredo de Paula, a FIDE Master who commands the chessboard like a seasoned conductor orchestrating symphonies of checkmates and tactical fireworks. Hailing from the world of online chess battlegrounds, Rafael's blitz rating skyrocketed to an impressive peak of 2650 in late 2024, a place where the pawns fear to tread and knights dance with impunity.

Rafael's chess journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride—starting modestly with ratings near beginner territory but quickly ascending with a style that combines resilience and creativity. With an astonishing longest winning streak of 15 and an equally daring longest losing streak of 15, this player knows the rollercoaster of emotions well, proving that even the brightest stars occasionally stumble before lighting the sky again.

Known for a playing style that favors the endgame (engaged in over 80% of his games!) and an average of about 75 moves per game, Rafael battles long and hard. He’s the kind of opponent who only resigns early about 1.17% of the time—which basically means he’s in for the thrill of a long, strategic war. And with a tactical comeback rate of nearly 78%, he’s the chess equivalent of a plot twist extraordinaire.

A chess warrior of sharp psychological insight, Rafael’s best time to battle foes is bright and early at 6 AM—perhaps the dawn mist is where his brain’s tactical cogs turn quickest. He fares slightly better with white pieces, winning 51.32% of those clashes, while black pieces see him holding nearly 48% victories. Even when the chips are down (and when he’s lost a piece), he keeps fighting with a 46.76% win rate after such setbacks.

Rafael’s games are peppered with dramatic finishes, often winning by resignation as opponents quit in despair (7325 victories this way!), or sealing the deal with the mighty checkmate (over 2800 wins). Timeout victories suggest he can wear down adversaries not only on the board but also on the clock, while drawing the occasional epic battle remains part of his balanced style.

Recent Highlight

His latest victory came on April 12, 2025, with a clean win via resignation in a Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Exchange. In that game, Rafael skillfully converted a sharp opening into a commanding endgame, forcing his opponent to concede after tough back-and-forth tussles.

Fun Facts

• Rafael has played over 16,000 blitz games with close to a 50% win rate—talk about stamina!
• His longest streaks—whether winning or losing—are both 15 games. A true emotional rollercoaster player.
• Rated rapid? He’s undefeated with a perfect three-game track record.
• If he ever tilts, it’s only about 15 out of 100—slightly above average, but he always bounces back.

Whether you're a casual chess fan or a fellow gladiator of the 64 squares, Rafael Figueiredo de Paula is a name that resounds with grit, tactical brilliance, and the sheer love of the game. Keep an eye on rafaelfiggo—he might just blitz your king off the board next!