Yanis Larbi (aka Cheb-Larbi)
Born to shake up the chessboard in style, Yanis Larbi is a rapid specialist whose games are as unpredictable as his enigmatic opening, simply dubbed "Top Secret." In 2025, Yanis battled through 101 rapid games, achieving a respectable peak rating of 216 before settling around 105—proof that even secret agents sometimes get caught.
Though victory dances have been spotted only occasionally (with a longest winning streak of 5), Yanis remains a formidable opponent with a stubborn endgame approach, reaching it in over half the matches. Opponents beware: while things may start slow, Yanis’s comeback rate clocks in at an impressive 46%, and lose a piece? No problem—every time Yanis was down material, victory was snatched back 100% of the time.
His playing style might be described as a rollercoaster—with an early resignation rate of just over 6%, this player prefers to grind it out, averaging 43 moves for wins but getting embroiled deeper by losses with nearly 56 moves. White pieces bring slightly better luck (37.5% wins) than black (35.19%), so pick wisely!
On the psychological front, Yanis keeps cool with a low tilt factor of 5, maintaining focus despite setbacks. Although the daily games arena seems less kind (a solitary game at a consistent 400 rating but an unfortunate loss), the rapid scene is where the legend brews.
Against friends and foes alike, Yanis has developed some interesting "rivals"—notably a perfect 100% win rate against "wildrose1111" and a few others, proving no secret is too deep to conquer. Yet, certain opponents keep beating him down; take heart, Cheb-Larbi, every chess hero has a nemesis!
When does he shine? Early mornings at 8 AM or midnight duels—win rates spike dramatically, indicating the night owl and early bird combo might be the secret behind those stunning comeback victories.
Whether you're facing Yanis Larbi over the board or stealthily plotting your next online clash, remember: the "Top Secret" opening might be the least mysterious thing about this cunning competitor.