Hannu Lahtinen (aka "ryssat")
Meet Hannu Lahtinen, a chess player who could easily be described as the Swiss Army knife of the online chess world—versatile, persistent, and unpredictably tactical. Known by the username ryssat, Hannu has been grinding ladders since at least 2014, steadily climbing and finessing his skills across multiple time controls: rapid, blitz, bullet, and even daily games.
Strengths and Style
Hannu boasts a peak Rapid rating of 1840, achieved back in September 2020, with an average rating around the 1600s for recent years. Quick enough to strike in blitz (peak 1592) and bullet games (just over 1100), he prioritizes lengthy, strategic battles—his games often lasting over 70 moves when victorious, and even longer when losing (average loss games were nearly 79 moves). Considering the average player resigns at the first sign of trouble, Hannu's low early resignation rate of 0.61% signals a stubborn warrior who fights till the bitter end.
Blessed with an astounding 87.5% comeback rate after facing adversity, Hannu rarely throws in the towel. His "tilt factor" is impressively low, meaning he keeps his cool better than most when the board gets hot. Notably, Hannu has a knack for making the most out of tough situations, even getting around 44.76% wins after losing a piece—a clear sign of resilient tactical vision.
Opening Repertoire
Hannu's opening choices border on mysterious, with a sign-off as "Top Secret" for nearly 22,000 games. But for the discerning chess fan, he favors solid and classical systems such as the Ponziani Opening, the Scandinavian Defense, and the Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation—mirroring the grandmasters' style, with a unique twist of perseverance.
Playing Times
Contrary to popular belief, Hannu is a night owl. His best playing time is surprisingly early at 4:00 AM —maybe his brain loves the quiet while the world is snoozing. His highest winning odds per hour are between 4 AM and 5 AM, so perhaps those odd hours fuel his inner chess warrior.
Recent Battles
Most recent games show Hannu engaging in classic battles across popular openings. A recent rapid game on June 2nd, 2025, displays his mastery over the Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation (view game), ending with a brilliant checkmate after a tense 65 moves. But even the best have their tough days—Hannu’s recent loss came from a beautiful final assault in an English Opening setting (view game).
Fun Facts
- Utilizes over 21579 rapid games logged – that’s a lot of caffeine-fueled sessions!
- Holds a current win count over 10,000 in rapid play and nearly 17,000 in blitz – sheer dedication!
- Remarkably swimsuit-worthy endurance with average 70+ move wins, proving chess is truly a marathon, not a sprint.
- Loses nearly as many as he wins at the same rating level, but the high draw count indicates battles aren’t given up easily.
- Almost half of his wins come when playing white, but he manages a respectable 45% win rate even on black.
Hannu “ryssat” Lahtinen is a true journeyer through the chess cosmos, balancing stubborn resolve and tenacious tactics with a pinch of midnight madness. Whether it’s carpe diem or carpe chess, one thing is clear: don’t count him out just because the hour is weird or the position looks lost — he's already plotting a comeback.