Congratulations to Svyatoslav Lisenkov on his brilliant result in Azerbaijan!
In the round-robin grandmaster tournament, Svyatoslav took second place without losing a single game –a true demonstration of the highest level of play
The final round was especially dramatic: a victory would have secured a grandmaster norm, but his opponent was a worthy rival, and the game ended in a draw after a long and hard-fought battle. Nevertheless, there is every reason to be proud: Svyatoslav completed his IM norm.
We are now awaiting the official confirmation of his International Master title!
It is worth noting that this performance came against the backdrop of tremendous fatigue. Svyatoslav spent the entire summer competing in tournaments and training camps: Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, the Spartakiad, and the team championship – with no days off. To achieve such a consistent result under these circumstances is truly remarkable.
Svyatoslav – well done ! This season has laid a powerful foundation for the future. Get some rest and regain your strength – we will be cheering for you on your journey toward the grandmaster title!
Other bright performances at the tournament
Alongside the grandmaster round-robin, another round-robin tournament was held for players seeking to achieve an International Master norm.
Leonid Varankin also delivered a highly impressive performance, gaining 100.4 FIDE rating points. Leonid defeated an FM rated 2202 and even an IM rated 2503—an outstanding achievement! He scored 4.5 points out of 9 and finished in sixth place.
The norm has not been achieved this time, but with such progress and a fighting spirit, it is surely only a matter of time. Leonid, we are proud of your performance and believe that new heights lie ahead!
