Ilya Smirin wins Israeli blitz chess title

Grandmaster Ilya Smirin, 58, representing the Ashdod Chess Club, secured the Israeli blitz chess championship title in Afula after finishing the 12-round tournament with 10 points. Smirin claimed the top spot following a tiebreak calculation, edging out Grandmaster Avital Boruchovsky and International Master Michael Klenburg, who finished second and third respectively. Smirin, a three-time former national champion, viewed the tournament as a final preparation for the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. In the women’s category, Noga Orian of the Haifa club took the title with 8.5 points. The tournament also highlighted emerging talent, with 14-year-old Eliran Shilon Rahav finishing fifth overall and winning the under-18 championship. Dr. Zvika Barkai, chairman of the Israel Chess Federation, praised the event for showcasing the momentum of the sport and the successful integration of veteran players with rising young stars.