Avatar of Rizal Rifai

Rizal Rifai

rizal-rifai Indonesia Since 2023 (Active) Chess.com ♟♟♟
53.9%- 42.5%- 3.6%
Bullet 2175
6165W 4928L 366D
Blitz 2254
1413W 1055L 136D
Rapid 2000
2W 0L 0D

Rizal Rifai (rizal-rifai) — Chess profile

Rizal Rifai is a prolific online chess player known for a fast, tactical approach and a clear preference for the chaos of short time controls. A habitual 1-minute and 2-minute battler, rizal-rifai has racked up thousands of games across Bullet and Blitz, favoring sharp, asymmetrical positions and tricky opening sidelines. Expect quick instincts, bold pawn storms, and a wry sense of humour at the board — Rizal once joked that he treats the clock like a second opponent that must be humiliated.

Preferred time control: Bullet (frequent play, high activity). Career milestones include notable peaks in both Bullet and Blitz — a testament to speed and tactical flair.

Bullet Rating226422022140207820152023: 20352024: 20572025: 20382026: 22442023202420252026

Playing style & strengths

Rizal combines endurance with speed: long decisive games are common, but so are quick tactical finishes. Here are signature traits drawn from match history and play patterns.

  • Preferred time control: Bullet — thrives under severe time pressure.
  • Endgame-focused: high endgame frequency (plays through to the end more often than many Bullet specialists).
  • Resilience: strong comeback rate and often wins after losing material — a knack for tactical swindles.
  • Psychology: tilt factor is present (a reminder that even speed-chess gladiators have off days); best time of day to play: ~11:00.
  • Typical game length: long for online play — average decisive game often runs 70+ moves (so don’t assume Bullet = 10 moves).
  • Key metrics (for quick reference): Avg moves per win ~72, comeback rate high, win-after-losing-piece ~52%.

Openings & repertoire

Rizal favors flexible, English-like systems and surprise gambits when he wants to unbalance the opponent. He uses both flank openings and sharp gambits to steer games into unfamiliar territory.

  • Top choices as White: English Opening, including the Drill Variation and Agincourt Defense; the Amar Gambit shows up as an aggressive weapon.
  • Common Black replies: Australian Defense and the Caro-Kann Defense in many lines — solid but with chances to complicate the position.
  • Notable specialties: Drill Variation and Anglo-Indian setups (very strong win rates when used as White).

Representative openings (Bullet) — high-volume favorites: English Opening (Drill, Agincourt), Amar Gambit, Australian Defense, Caro-Kann. Learn more about each: English Opening: Drill Variation • Amar Gambit • Australian Defense

Career highlights & memorable stats

Rizal’s profile is built on relentless volume and a strong win record in fast games. Rather than a quiet steady climb, the trajectory shows bursts of very high performance and active play.

  • Bullet wins: 5,918; Blitz wins: 1,416; Rapid wins: 2 — heavy emphasis on Bullet/Blitz.
  • Longest winning streak: 20 games; longest losing streak: 10 games; currently on a short winning streak (2).
  • Peak achievements (selected): 2371 (2026-02-15) • 2472 (2025-02-06)
  • Most-played opponents include: ACHMAD SUHERI (86 games), sahovnica1992 (60), vacumming (54), sbigyo (53).
  • Notable match example: Epic Bullet Game

Head-to-head & rivalries

Rizal has several frequent opponents — some rivalries favor him, others remain even battles. These repeat matchups have shaped his opening choices and practical over-the-board instincts.

  • achmad_suheri: 53 wins / 32 losses / 1 draw — a favorable head-to-head.
  • sahovnica1992: 23 wins / 28 losses / 9 draws — a close rivalry with many tight games.
  • vacumming and sbigyo: both positive records overall, reflecting Rizal’s edge in speed-chess tactics.
  • Full list of top rivals: ACHMAD SUHERI, sahovnica1992, vacumming, sbigyo, Jungba Lkr

Sample game (play-through)

Here’s a short illustrative opening sequence you might see from rizal-rifai. Use it to get a feel for his tempo and piece play.

Quick demo (PGN viewer):

Fun facts & personality

  • Likes to open with flank moves — c4 shows up far more than e4 in many seasons (a signature).
  • Humor: claims to “blitz the coffee” before important matches and blames the cat for any mouse slips.
  • Plays long Bullet games — don’t be surprised if a 1|0 game turns into a 60-move slugfest.
  • Always testing new sidelines — if you see an odd move on move 2, expect Rizal to know the tricks.

Want to follow rizal-rifai?

Check frequent updates and game lists via the in-app profile link: Rizal Rifai. For opening study, start with the English Opening and Amar Gambit.

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