Konstantin Lerner

Who was Konstantin Lerner?

Konstantin Zaivelevich Lerner was a Ukrainian chess grandmaster. In 1978 and 1982, he was Ukrainian Champion.

He played in several Soviet Union championships, and his best achievement was second place, behind Andrei Sokolov, at Lvov in 1984.

Lerner won or shared first place in many tournaments, among others at Polanica Zdrój 1985 and 1986, Tallinn 1986, Moscow 1986, Genova 1989, Copenhagen 1990, Gausdal 1992, Nikolaev 1995, Berlin 1997, Graz 1997, Recklinghausen 1999, Bad Wörishofen 2000, Tel Aviv 2001 and 2002, Rishon Le Zion 2004, Giv'atayim 2005, and Herzlia 2005.

In 2004, he tied for third-fourth at the Israeli open championships in Ramat Aviv. He was awarded the GM title in 1986.

He arrived in Israel in 2001 and lived there for 10 years, playing for Kefar-Saba chess club, until his death in 2011. In his last days he suffered from several health problems. He died in Herzlia, Israel in 2011, aged 61.