Yahli Sokolovsky

Nineteen-year-old grandmaster Yahli Sokolovsky claimed his first Israeli national chess title by winning the 2026 championship outright with a score of 7.5 out of 9. The event, held in Acre from January 19 to 27, featured 103 players in a nine-round Swiss tournament. Sokolovsky's victory boosted his FIDE rating and elevated his standing in the national rankings.