Rafael Figueiredo de Paula (rafaelfiggo)
Rafael Figueiredo de Paula, better known online as rafaelfiggo, is a FIDE Master who treats the online chessboard like a second home. His preferred time control is blitz, and the rating charts prove it: he has pushed his blitz rating to a peak of 2754 (2754 (2026-09-14)) while piling up tens of thousands of games. If you have ever queued for a blitz match at an odd hour, there is a decent chance rafaelfiggo was the opponent waiting on the other side.
Career Highlights
Rafael's online journey took off in 2018, when he was already hovering near 2100 blitz. From there he embarked on one of the most impressive grinds in online chess, playing thousands of games per year and steadily climbing. By late 2020 he crossed 2500, and in 2026 he reached a career best of 2754. His bullet rating also surpassed 2700 (2708 (2026-09-09)), showing that the man has no fear of the clock.
The chart below tells the story of his blitz ascent:
Playing Style
Rafael is a fighter who rarely waves the white flag. His average decisive game stretches past 76 moves, and his comeback rate sits at a remarkable 78.37%. Even after losing a piece, he still wins 45.99% of the time, a nightmare for anyone who relaxes too early. He reaches the opponent's king first in 57% of games, and when he checks, it is usually with a rook, his favorite checking piece by a wide margin. He scores 50.55% with the white pieces and 47.12% with black.
Signature Openings
As white, Rafael leans on the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, his most played opening with nearly 1,000 blitz games, followed closely by the Amazon Attack and the Amar Gambit. As black he is equally adventurous, defending with the Caro-Kann Defense, the Sicilian Defense, and a variety of offbeat setups. His willingness to play unusual lines keeps opponents guessing and often drags them into deep, double edged battles.
Rivalries and Records
Every online warrior needs rivals, and Rafael has collected a few. His most frequent dance partner is Daniel Rangel, who has faced him 80 times, with Rafael clinging to a narrow 38 to 37 lead. The tables turn against Daniel Lowinger, where Rafael has only 15 wins in 50 meetings. Meanwhile he holds a healthy 28 to 20 edge over billy_da_butcher in their 51 game series.
Fun Facts
- His longest winning streak and longest losing streak are both exactly 15 games, perfect symmetry.
- His best time of day to play is 06:00, which suggests he either wakes up very early or never goes to sleep.
- He has played more than 34,000 analyzed online games, delivering nearly 94,000 checks along the way.
- Despite the fireworks, his early resignation rate is just 1.02%. He will make you earn the point.