Argentine Teen, Francisco Fiorito, Wins Andorra Open in Historic Triumph

Fifteen-year-old International Master Francisco Fiorito has etched his name into chess history by winning the 42nd Andorra International Chess Open, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. The Argentine prodigy scored an impressive 7.5 points from 9 rounds, finishing half a point ahead of a four-way tie for second place.

The tournament, held from July 18 to 26 at the Hotel Panorama in Escaldes-Engordany, featured a record-breaking field of 208 players from 33 countries, including 12 Grandmasters and 20 International Masters.

---

A Champion’s Journey: From Early Lead to Final-Round Victory

Fiorito entered the tournament as the 16th seed with a rating of 2452 and made an immediate impact, winning his first three games against Manuel Cabarcos Baulina, Laurent Bruneau, and Roee Zemach. His only setback came in round four, when he fell to Germany’s Bruno Engel — a defeat that would prove to be a turning point rather than a setback.

Rather than faltering, the young International Master responded with remarkable composure. He won his next two games against Aniruddha Deshpande and Naitik Mehta, putting himself back in contention. A draw against top seed GM Miguel Santos in round seven kept him among the leaders, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

In the final two rounds, Fiorito demonstrated his championship mettle by defeating two Grandmasters: Egor Bogdanov and Andrey Sumets — the latter being the 2023 Andorra Open champion. His victory over Sumets in the final round secured him 7.5 points, forcing Santos to win his game against GM Aleksandr Shimanov to catch him. Santos could only manage a draw, confirming Fiorito’s outright victory.

What Made This Victory Special

Fiorito’s triumph is remarkable not just for his age but for the quality of his opposition. Throughout the tournament, he defeated or drew against multiple Grandmasters and International Masters, demonstrating a level of maturity and tactical understanding far beyond his years.

His victory also continues a strong tradition of Argentine success at the Andorra Open, following in the footsteps of other prominent players from his country who have performed well in the event.

---

Record-Breaking Participation and Strong Performances

The 42nd edition of the Andorra Open set new participation records, surpassing 200 registered players for the first time. The final field of 208 players included representation from 33 different nations, with 75 FIDE-titled players competing.

Among the standout performers was WFM Lile Koridze from Georgia, who started as the 79th seed with a rating of 2109 and finished tied for second with 7 points. Her remarkable performance, which included a final-round victory over GM Julen Arizmendi, earned her an International Master norm.

Bruno Engel, the 17-year-old German who defeated Fiorito in round four, also had an outstanding tournament. He went unbeaten after that victory, recording four wins and five draws, and achieved a GM norm for his performance.

IM Marta García from Spain claimed the women’s first prize, finishing 13th overall with 6.5 points and completing the tournament without losing a single game.

---

Final Standings

Rank	Player	Title	Rating	Points
1	Francisco Fiorito	IM	2452	7.5
2	Miguel Santos Ruiz	GM	2604	7
3	Vladyslav Larkin	IM	2506	7
4	Lile Koridze	WFM	2109	7
5	Laurent Guidarelli	GM	2458	7

---

What This Means for the Chess World

Fiorito’s victory at the Andorra Open is yet another sign of the remarkable depth of talent emerging from South America, particularly Argentina. At just 15 years old, he has already demonstrated that he can compete with — and defeat — some of the world’s strongest Grandmasters.

His performance rating at the tournament exceeded 2600, well above his current rating of 2452, indicating that he is playing at a level far beyond his official ranking. If he continues this trajectory, he is almost certain to achieve the Grandmaster title in the coming years.

This result also highlights the importance of open tournaments in developing young talent. Unlike elite closed events, opens like Andorra provide opportunities for promising juniors to test themselves against experienced Grandmasters in a Swiss-system format, gaining invaluable experience and rating points along the way.

---

Quick Facts

Metric	Details
Tournament	42nd Andorra International Chess Open
Dates	July 18–26, 2026
Winner	IM Francisco Fiorito (Argentina)
Winner’s Age	15 years old
Winner’s Score	7.5/9
Total Players	208 from 33 countries
Titled Players	75 (12 GMs, 20 IMs, etc.)
Time Control	90min/40 moves + 30min + 30s increment