Varuzhan Akobian

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Varuzhan Akobian
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Varuzhan Akobian
Full name Varuzhan Akobian
Country Flag of Armenia Armenia
Born November 19, 1983 (1983-11-19) (age 24)
Yerevan, Armenia
Title Grandmaster
FIDE rating 2585
(October 2007 FIDE ratings list)
Peak rating 2600 (January, 06)

Varuzhan Akobian (born November 19, 1983) is an American grandmaster of chess, originally from Armenia, who now resides in Los Angeles. He began playing chess at age 5 when his family moved to Mongolia. Due to the inordinately harsh weather conditions there, "Var" and his sister were encouraged to stay indoors and play chess. In this unusual circumstance, Varuzhan's intense love of chess was born.

Akobian and his family returned to Armenia when he was seven and he began studies at a chess academy created by the Armenian Ministry of Education specifically for talented chess players. Here, he received instruction from his first real chess coaches, Gagik Sargissian and IM Ashot Nadanian. Vahag Grigorian, a high-ranking Minister in the Armenian government, provided financial support that enabled Varuzhan to compete in tournaments outside of Armenia.

In 1992, Akobian qualified to play in his first rated tournament, the Armenian Junior Chess Championship; he earned 3rd place in the under 10 (years) section. In 1993, Varuzhan defeated every player in his section and earned 1st place in the event; a feat he would accomplish three times. At age 9, he participated in the World Chess Championship in Czechoslovakia, his first appearance on an international stage and where he tied for 8th in a field of 50 participants.

In 1994 and 1996, Akobian competed in the European Junior Championship where he placed 4th each time. In 1995, he won the tournament in the under 12 section and took 3rd place in the World Rapid Chess Championship held in Paris. In 1997, Varuzhan played in one of chess's most prestigious tournaments: the Kasparov Cup in Moscow. Only the top 2 players from any given country may participate in the event. Akobian took 2nd place, ceding 1st to Levon Aronian, now among the top 10 players in the world. Varuzhan's performance at the Kasparov Cup earned him a monthly scholarship which allowed him to procure exceptional coaching and attend chess retreats conducted by world renowned Grandmasters. In 1999, Akobian earned the National Master title at the age of 15 and at 16, became a FIDE International Master. In 2001, he moved to the United States and one week after his 20th birthday in November, 2003, earned FIDE’s highest title, International Grandmaster.

Akobian has won many tournaments, including the World Open Chess tournament in Philadelphia on three separate occasions; he shared first place in 2002 and won it outright in 2004 and 2007. An arguably greater achievement was his shared first place finish at the San Marino tournament that immediately followed the 37th Chess Olympiad. As of December 2007 he is the highest rated player in the state of California according to the USCF website, with a 2665 rating (2585, FIDE). He also won the American Continental Championship in Cali, Colombia, which qualified him for the 2007 World Cup.

Akobian is featured in MTV's True Life documentary "I'm a Genius".

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