Ilya Smirin wins Israeli blitz chess title after dramatic tiebreak finish
The 58-year-old grandmaster finished level on 10 points with Avital Boruchovsky and Michael Klenburg but took the title on tiebreak; Noga Orian won the women’s crown, while 14-year-old Eliran Shilon Rahav was named under-18 champion
Grandmaster Ilya Smirin of the Ashdod Chess Club has been crowned the Israeli blitz chess champion after a thrilling tournament in Afula. The 12-round championship was decided only in the final round and ultimately on a tiebreak. Smirin, 58, finished the tournament with 10 points, just like Grandmasters Avital Boruchovsky and Michael Klenburg.
Despite the intense competition, Smirin remained composed as he accepted his well-deserved victory. Smirin has won the Israeli chess championship three times before, in 1992, 2002, and 2023. He is also a member of Israel's national team, set to travel to Uzbekistan for the Chess Olympiad in two weeks. Smirin expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating that it was not easy, being a grueling 12 rounds of intense play.
He emphasized that while lifting the trophy was always a joy, his focus was now on the national team, wishing the other competitors in the squad the best of luck. The tournament also saw a surprise performance from 14-year-old Eliran Shilon Rahav of the Afula Chess Excellence Club, who finished fifth overall. Shilon Rahav, who previously won the under-10 world championship, scored 9.5 points and claimed the Israeli under-18 championship title.
The Israel Chess Federation is already gearing up for its next major event, the Israeli rapid chess championship, set to take place in Holon on September 3 and 4. The event, held at Ariel Sharon School in collaboration with the Israel Chess Federation and Holon Municipality, will feature many of Israel's top players and a public chess festival designed for families, children, and chess enthusiasts.
Dr. Zvika Barkai, chairman of the Israel Chess Federation, praised the tournament as an excellent demonstration of the strong momentum of Israeli chess. He congratulated the winners and thanked Afula Municipality for hosting the championship, adding that the city takes pride in hosting the Israeli blitz championship for the second consecutive year.
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