Fier edges out Grigoryan on tiebreak in Lorca

Both GMs scored 7.5 points

Congratulations to grandmasters Alexander Fier and Karen Grigoryan for their 7.5 points (from 9 games) at this year’s Lorca International.  The Brazilian narrowly edged out the Armenian in the tiebreak, Grigoryan having lost early on in the tournament against an outsider.

This year’s tournament attracted 160 players from 25 countries, and included 10 gms and 21 ims. There were 17 women players amongst the top 100 players, a clear indication that the recent success of The Queen’s Gambit is having a positive effect.

The Key Game

The Indian grandmaster P. Iniyan was leading the tournament by half a point going into the final round of play, forcing both Fier and Grigoryan to play for wins.

They both did so. Grigoryan’s victory over Iniyan was quite impressive. He strove to create imbalance right from the opening and the middle game featured opposite side castling and a mutual pawn storm.  Grigoryan’s attack was stronger…

gm Grigoryan,K – gm Iniyan,P
Lorca 30.12.2021
1-0

Black hesitated in a position where he had to throw everything forward.  Grigoryan deserves credit for his ‘sangue froid’ as well as his accurate play at the finish.