Elisabeth Pähtz

Elisabeth Pähtz (or Paehtz – rhymes with "Rates") is a German WGM and men's IM, currently rated 2473, making her the strongest female player in the country. Elisabeth (or Elli, or Lizzy) was trained in chess from early childhood by her father, GM Thomas Pähtz.

At the age of nine years she won her first German Championship in the under-11 age group. In 1999 she became Germany's women's chess champion. In 2002 Pähtz became the Youth World Champion in the under-18 age group, and in 2004 the U20 Junior World Champion. As one of the greatest German new-generation talents Pähtz was the subject of a large media interest when growing up. Among other things it was reported that she was likely to fail high school mathematics. Her own explanation for this is that she is an intuitive player, not a universal genius. Elisabeth holds the FIDE titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. She is an active streamer on YouTube.

Recent news

On the way to the Candidates: Nana Dzagnidze

6/29/2020 – "Nana Dzagnidze is one of my most loyal and closest companions," writes Elizabeth Pähtz, Germany's top female player. "Our paths first crossed in 1995 during the European Children's Championships in Verdun, France. I hardly remember any of my nine encounters there, but the one with Nana was so special that even today I still have to smile when I think of it." Nana is now one of the world's top ten, with excellent chances to qualify for the Candidates and maybe challenge the Women's World Champion. Portrait by Elli Pähtz.

Koneru Humpy – public and private

6/22/2020 – In 2014 she married Anvesh, in 2017 she gave birth to baby Ahana. Then, after protracted maternity leave, Indian grandmaster Humpy returned to chess with a vengeance and has risen back to second place in the world women's rankings. Now she is poised to qualify for the Candidates. Elisabeth Pähtz portrays this extraordinary player, analyzing her games and telling us how Humpy is dealing with the strict lockdown in her country.

Once upon a time on wooden boards (1)

6/16/2020 – While the abrupt and dramatic changes in the world’s lifestyle caused by the omnipresent "you know what" naturally make people rethink important existential questions, like "What is the meaning of life" or "How did this virus shrink my jeans so fast – they fitted loosely just a week ago?!", today I have a chess-specific question, less complex and painful than those other two: why can’t women, in general, play chess as well as men?

International Women's Chess Festival in Erfurt

6/6/2014 – "They are prettier, they dress better and have a much stronger fighting spirit," said GM Thomas Pähtz, when asked why he was organizing this big chess festival for women in eastern Germany in late August. For some reason he missed "photogenic". Thomas, a well-known chess trainer, is the father of the top German female, Elisabeth, who sent us this pre-tournament report.
Scroll down to reload more