Who is Rafael Sharon
Rafael Sharon, known online as RafaelSharon, is an International Master (IM) recognized by FIDE who has turned online chess into his personal laboratory. Beginning in late 2025, he played over 3,100 rated games and pushed his bullet rating to a stunning peak of 2863 (2026-09-15). His username and display name are the same, making him easy to find in tournaments and casual lobbies alike.
Playing Style
Rafael is a true endgame warrior. His games often stretch beyond 80 moves, and he wins or loses by grinding out small edges rather than relying on quick tactics. His comeback rate sits at an outstanding 87%, which means he frequently rescues lost positions. He is also noticeably stronger with the white pieces, winning 50.7% of those games compared to 45.7% with black. His best results come in the evening, especially around 8 PM, where his win rate climbs to nearly 59%.
Favorite Openings
When playing black, Rafael repeatedly turns to the Caro-Kann Defense, a reliable and solid shield against 1.e4. As white, he enjoys the unorthodox Amar Gambit, where his 53% win rate in bullet shows a real taste for initiative and surprise. His opening tastes are a blend of classical fundamentals and creative, offbeat aggression.
Rivalries and Records
Rafael has built an intense online rivalry with Austin Jacob Literatus, facing him 77 times across multiple time controls. Their head to head battle has been tight, with Rafael winning 28 games and losing 43. Against highvarianceyt, the story is very different: Rafael has never lost, scoring 20 wins and 2 draws in 22 games. His longest winning streak is an impressive 22 consecutive victories.
Rapid Growth
While most of his games are bullet and blitz, Rafael's preferred time control is Rapid. His rapid rating has reached 2424, and his strength adjusted win rate there is a mighty 65.1%, the highest of any time control on his profile. This suggests that when he slows down and thinks deeply, Rafael Sharon becomes even more dangerous.
Rating Journey
Rafael's bullet rating tells the story of a relentless improver. He climbed through peaks and valleys before hitting his ceiling of 2863 in September 2026. His consistency and sheer volume of games make him one of the most recognizable and active International Masters on the platform.