Grigoryan, Karen

Karen Grigoryan, a 72-year-old Turkmen International Master, is rated 2185 and ranked 15th among Turkmen players, and in the top 4% worldwide. He has slipped back 51 Elo over the past 12 months. 38 rated games in the past year (≈9/year long-term). Recent standard appearances include Turkmenistan Team Championship, Turkmenistan Open Chess Championship-2026 (Premier League), and Turkmenistan Open Championship 2026 (1 liga). Also played 1 rapid (including Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup 2025 Rapid (group A)) and 1 blitz events (including Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup 2025 Blitz (group A)) recently. He had 5 career breaks: 23 months (2006–2008), 19 months (2009–2010), 68 months (2010–2016), 59 months (2018–2023, COVID-19 included) and 22 months (2023–2025). His peak of 2431 was reached at age 48 (Jan 2002); he also reached Turkmen #4 in Jul 2002 and spent 87 months in Turkmen top 10, with a longest streak of 5 consecutive years.

Awarded IM in 2004 (age 50) and FM in 2001 (age 47).