![](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rafael-leitão-1987.Maio_.29-Esporte-Clube-Pinheiros.png)
I learned to play chess at the age of six and played many tournaments during my career of more than 30 years.
![](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rafael-Leitão-1991.julho_.13-VarsóviaPodio-Mundial-sub12.png)
I am currently the number 1 player in Brazil according to the FIDE rating list.
![rafael leitão xadrez campeão mundial](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1996.Nov_.02-Mundial-Menorca-1996-3.jpg)
At the age of 18 I became the youngest Brazilian to achieve the title of Grandmaster.
![rafael leitão xadrez turin itália](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2006-Olimpiada-Turim-2006-2.jpg)
My main achievements are:
![rafael leitão xadrez campeonato brasileiro](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2013.Dez-Campeonato-Brasileiro.jpg)
- World Champion U-12 in 1991
- World Champion U-18 in 1996
![rafael leitão xadrez brasileiro](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015.jan-Campeonato-Brasileiro-2014-3-Copia.jpg)
- 8 times Pan-American champion
- 7 times Brazilian Champion
- Silver medalist (3rd board) at the Chess Olympiad 2006
![rafael leitão xadrez campeonato brasileiro](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015.jan-Campeonato-Brasileiro-2014-2-Copia.jpg)
- 3rd place at the Correspondence World Championship 2012. This result granted me the title of Correspondence Grandmaster and I became one of the few players with the title of GM in both correspondence and over the board chess.
![rafael leitão xadrez olimpíadas](https://rafaelleitao.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2014.Ago_.-Olimpíada-Tromso-3.jpg)
I played for Brazil in the Chess Olympiads in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.