Juan Pablo Hobaica (aka Yanhob)
Meet Juan Pablo Hobaica, a chess aficionado with the esteemed International Master title from FIDE – a badge that proves he’s no mere mortal on 64 squares!
Known online as Yanhob, Juan Pablo’s blitz rating has experienced a rollercoaster ride worthy of a thriller novel. Starting humbly around 1300 in 2020, he rocketed to a peak blitz rating over 2700 in 2024 — a performance so dazzling it would make Magnus Carlsen nod approvingly. His bullet rating isn’t far behind, soaring to nearly 2600, while his rapid and daily games are represented by a solid and consistent 1500+ and perfect 400 respectively — shows he’s got stamina, speed, and finesse.
With over 3,000 blitz games logged (mostly under the mysterious "Top Secret" opening), Juan Pablo wins roughly 52% of the time, proving he's both resilient and aggressive. He uniquely combines strategic patience and tactical leaps, with a remarkable 87% comeback rate after losing material – proving he’s the Houdini of chess!
His style? Oh, he loves the dance to the bitter end, averaging over 74 moves per win and a sturdy endgame frequency above 82%. Also, when he’s got the white pieces, expect him to strike with a slightly better 55% win rate versus a respectable 48% when playing black. Fun fact: He resigns only about 0.72% of games early, which means he rarely throws in the towel — and if he does, it’s probably due to a tragic spilled coffee incident rather than the chess position.
Off the board, Juan Pablo faces his ups and downs with dignity. His psychological tilt factor (a modest 8) hints that even when the chess gods frown, he keeps a cool head — except perhaps at dawn, when rating dips suggest the morning brain fog catches him off guard. Still, his best hour to play? 9 AM sharp, so if you want a challenge, don't keep him waiting!
Amongst his favorite openings, the Closed Sicilian Defense Fianchetto Variation is a playground where he scores nearly 46% wins, while other lines like the Kings Pawn Opening show even more promise with a striking 66% success rate — clearly, Juan Pablo enjoys mixing classical and secret weapon lines, often leaving opponents scratching their heads and wondering if there's a secret sauce he’s hiding.
His recent blitz showdowns exemplify his sharp tactical prowess, as seen in a triumphant game where he forced resignation after a relentless attack… and if he loses, well, it’s by the narrowest of margins (with his longest losing streak capped at 8 games) – surely a testament to his resilience and perseverance.
To challenge Juan Pablo is to enter a strategic battlefield filled with surprises, formidable defense, and a touch of mind-games — all seasoned with a dash of humor and an international master’s touch. Just don’t be surprised if he gently resigns after spotting an inevitable checkmate… with a smirk.
Chess.com profile link: Yanhob