Elisabeth Pähtz has carved a niche for herself from a young age, influenced heavily by her father, Thomas Pähtz, a chess grandmaster himself. Elisabeth clinched the German championship title in the under-11 category when she was just nine and progressed to win the German women's title in 1999. Her playing style, characterised by aggressive tactics and deep strategic understanding, reflects her intensive training and chess upbringing.

Elisabeth's international career is studded with achievements. She grabbed the World Youth Champion title in the girls' under-18 category in 2002 and followed it up three years later by winning the World Junior Girls Championship. Her prowess in rapid chess was demonstrated when she won the 2018 European Women's Championship in rapid chess. Elisabeth also excelled in team events, representing Germany in numerous Women's Chess Olympiads and securing a bronze medal on board one at the 2007 Women's World Team Chess Championship.

In recent times, her form has been impressive, maintaining a FIDE rating of 2455 as of September 2024. The landmark moment in her career came when she was officially awarded the title of Grandmaster in December 2022, after a protracted decision-making process by FIDE. This achievement marked her as the first German woman to hold the Grandmaster title.