Levon Aronian dominates Biel Chess Festival qualifying phase

Levon Aronian secured his place in the 2026 Biel International Chess Festival final after topping the Masters Triathlon qualifying phase with 25 points. The U.S. grandmaster built a four-point lead over Azerbaijan’s Aydin Suleymanli, showcasing dominance in rapid and blitz formats.

What happened in the qualifying phase?

Aronian won the rapid section with four victories and one draw, then scored 8.5 points from 10 games in the blitz competition. His consistent performance across all formats ensured his overall lead. Turkish grandmaster Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem also advanced to the four-player final.

Why this matters for Levon Aronian

The former world No. 2 has been in strong form this year, and his performance at Biel reinforces his reputation as a top contender in faster time controls. Born in Yerevan, Aronian now competes under the U.S. flag after switching federations in 2021.

What comes next?

The finalists will compete in a round-robin format from July 21 to 23, playing one classical game against each opponent. With 12 points still available, the title race remains open, though Aronian enters as the favorite.

Aronian’s success in Biel follows a string of impressive results, including victories in rapid and blitz tournaments earlier this year. His ability to adapt to different time controls makes him a formidable opponent in the final stage.