Rafal Szyszylo (aka RCone)
Meet Rafal Szyszylo, a Candidate Master titled chess player who combines tactical prowess with a battle-hardened experience on the 64 squares. Known in gaming circles as RCone, Rafal has navigated the tricky waters of blitz, bullet, and rapid chess with a relentless spirit and a love for complex openings like the Modern Defense and Pirc Defense.
Born to torment pawns and slice through defenses, Rafal’s blitz peak rating soared impressively to 2507 in June 2022, while his bullet skills reached a fiery 2465 as recently as April 2025. And don't let the speed fool you: his rapid rating also touched a remarkable 2505 that same year. These numbers are like a roller coaster ride—but mostly up!
Rafal's playing style is a mix of patience and surprise, with an average of 81 moves per win and a strategic love for endgames, showing that he’s just as comfortable wearing down opponents in a marathon as sprinting through swarms of threats. With an 88.7% comeback rate, he doesn't mind being the underdog—mostly because he’s secretly great at turning tides and snatching wins from near defeat.
If you ever catch Rafal online, be prepared for a duel of deep strategies peppered with classic openings like the Modern Defense (where he boasts a win rate near 45%) or the Pirc Defense. But sometimes, he’s known to just throw a funky Modern Rat Defense variation your way—because why not keep the opponent guessing?
Beware, though—Rafal’s psychological tilt factor is modest, but his opponents may find themselves shaking after facing his sneaky traps and tactical fireworks, especially if the game extends past the early hours when his winning chances unusually peak (early mornings seem to be his chess golden hour).
Off the board, Rafal's sense of humor is as sharp as his chess moves, often joking that losing a piece is just part of his grand plan to confuse opponents. But his stats don’t lie: with over 8,500 blitz wins and a spirit that refuses to surrender easily, Rafal remains a formidable competitor and a respected figure in the online chess community.
Most Recent Victory Highlights
Just recently, on April 9, 2025, Rafal (playing as RCone) showcased his mastery in a thrilling game against MaurusPrimo. Utilizing a clever French Defense Advance, he compelled his opponent to resign under intense pressure. Another swift win saw him abandon the game after building a dominant attack in a Kings Indian Defense scenario. If this doesn’t scream tactical genius, nothing does!
For a taste of Rafal’s play, check his victory against fellow aficionados on Chess.com, where precision and nerves of steel clinched the deal in a complex endgame.
Whether you’re facing him at the board or just spectating online, Rafal Szyszylo is a name to remember—one who plays sharp, thinks deep, and maybe, just maybe, bluffs with a grin!