Susanna Berg Laachiri (aka Schackelina)
Title: Woman FIDE Master (WFM)
Susanna Berg Laachiri, affectionately known in the chess circuits as Schackelina, is not your average chess player. With a fearless approach to rapid games and a tactical sharpness that can turn the tides of a match faster than you can say "checkmate," Susanna embodies the spirit of the chess warrior.
Her journey is a rollercoaster of ELO swings and strategic brilliance: from the modest rapid rating of 1038 in 2020, she surged impressively to a peak rapid rating near 1922 by 2022, only to keep pushing steady in 2023 with a respectable 1697. Like a true tactician, Susanna’s comeback rate is an astonishing 73%, and she manages to win every single time after losing a piece—because who doesn’t love a good comeback story?
But beware opponents: Susanna’s longest winning streak clocks in at a staggering 10 games, a testament to her endurance and killer instinct. Despite a tilt factor of 12 (yes, even top players have their 'not today' moments), she remains a fierce competitor with a careful balance between aggressive play and psychological resilience.
Her playing style favors the endgame, with nearly 70% of her games reaching those critical final moments. A typical victory involves over 57 moves of strategic finesse, proving she’s not just about quick hacks but also deep, thoughtful play. She’s slightly better with the white pieces (winning just over 51% of those games) but certainly no pushover when playing black.
Some might say she’s a morning person in disguise – with win rates peaking in the early hours (a remarkable 69% around 7 AM and strong showings throughout the morning) – perhaps the secret ingredient to her success is morning coffee paired with queen sacrifices.
Off the board, Susanna is known for her lighthearted approach and good humor, often found joking about how she "accidentally" loses a piece just to showcase her 100% win rate after such mishaps. Chess is a battlefield, but with Susanna, it's also a stage for brilliant reversals and the occasional smile.
Whether you’re a fan, a rival, or just someone who enjoys a good underdog narrative, Susanna Berg Laachiri’s chess story is anything but ordinary. Packed with resilience, tactical acumen, and a hint of playful trickery, Schackelina continues to prove that in chess — as in life — it’s not over until the king falls.