Harikrishnan victorious at 4th Pafos International 2026
GM Harikrishnan A Ra scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to win 4th Pafos International Tournament Group A (>1800) 2026. GM Evgeny Postny (ISR) scored sole 7/9 to secure second place. GM Vladimir Hamitevici (MDA), FM Antonios Gkavardinas (GRE) and FM Rafail Antoniou (CYP) scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed third to fifth respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was €5100. The top three prizes were €1000, €600 and €400 along with a trophy each.
Harikrishnan’s first tournament triumph of the year
GM Harikrishnan A Ra was the sole leader 6.5/8, heading into the final round. GM Evgeny Postny (ISR), WGM Andreea Navrotescu (FRA), FM Rodolfos Stamatiou (GRE) and GM Gevorg Harutjunyan (ARM) were trailing by a half point at 6/8 each. Gevorg lost to Harikrishnan and the latter became the champion. Postny defeated Stamatiou to be placed second. GM Vladimir Hamitevici (MDA) defeated WFM Anna Khachatryan (ARM) to claim third position.
The tournament witnessed the total participation of 185 players – 78 in Group A (>1800), 85 in Group B (<1900) and 22 in Group C.
Champion in Group A – GM Harikrishnan A Ra 7.5/9 | Photo: Chess Club and Pafos Chess Academy
Top three in Group A (L to R): 3rd GM Vladimir Hamitevici (MDA) 6.5/9, 1st GM Harikrishnan A Ra 7.5/9 and 2nd GM Evgeny Postny (ISR) 7/9 | Photo: Chess Club and Pafos Chess Academy
Top 3 Women (L to R): 3rd WFM Anna Khachatryan (ARM) 5.5/9, 1st WGM Andreea Navrotescu (FRA) 6/9 and 2nd IM Miaoyi Lu (CHN) 6/9 | Photo: Chess Club and Pafos Chess Academy
Harikrishnan – Hamitevici, Round 8
Position after 18…e5?
GM Vladimir Hamitevici (MDA, 2434) blundered 18…e5? GM Harikrishnan A Ra (2515) had no trouble finding the correct continuation 19.Rfd1 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bd5+ Kh8 22.Rxd4 Qa4 23.Be7 Re8 24.Bf7 Bh3 25.Bxe8 Rxe8 and Black never managed to recover the exchange. White won the game comfortably. This win put Harikrishnan in the sole lead 6.5/8. He won the final round game also to become a clear champion.
GM Harikrishnan A Ra getting in the zone before one his games | Photo: Chess Club and Pafos Chess Academy
GM Harikrishnan A Ra scored an unbeaten 7.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 10.7 Elo rating points
Players in action | Photo: Chess Club and Pafos Chess Academy
The tournament hall at Center for Mediterranean Architecture – The Great Arsenal in Chania, Greece | Photo: Official site
Replay all available Group A games
A total of 78 players including six GMs, seven IMs and a WGM took part from 26 countries across the world in Group A (>1800). The seven-day nine-round Rating tournament was organized by Pafos Municipality and Pafos Chess Club at Attikon & Palia Ilektriki Multiculture Spaces – Pafos in Pafos, Cyprus from 13th to 19th April 2026. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 15 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Final standings in Group A
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