Chess in Armenia

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The Yerevan Chess House, founded in 1970[1]
Two men playing chess in Yerevan Vernissage

Chess has been played in Armenia since the Early Middle Ages; however, it was institutionalized during the early Soviet period. Highly popular in Armenia today,[2][3] chess gained widespread recognition during the 1960s, when Soviet Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian became the World Chess Champion.[4] A country of about three million people, Armenia is considered one of the strongest chess nations today.[5][6] Among countries, Armenia has one of the most chess grandmasters per capita.[7]

In recent years, the Armenian men's chess team has won the European Team Championship (1999), the World Team Championship (2011) and the Chess Olympiad (2006, 2008, 2012). The women's team had its crowning victory at the 2003 European Championship. As of December 2013, Armenia ranks sixth in the world by the average rating of its top players.[8] Levon Aronian, Armenia's best chess player, is currently world No. 2 in the FIDE rankings. Aronian was a World Champion candidate in 2007, 2012 and 2013.

Since the 2011–12 school year, chess lessons have been made part of the curriculum in every public school in Armenia, making it the first country in the world to make chess mandatory in schools.[9][10]

Name

Until the early 20th century, chess was known in Armenian as čatrak (ճատրակ; from Middle Persian Chatrang).[11][12] Today, that term—pronounced jadrag[13]—is only used in Western Armenian, which is spoken in the Armenian diaspora.[14][15] In modern Eastern Armenian, which is the variation of Armenian used in the Republic of Armenia, chess is known as šaxmat շախմատ [ʃɑχmɑt]. It is derived from Russian šáxmaty (шахматы), itself a derivative from Persian šâh mât (شاه مات), literally meaning "the king is at a loss."[16]

History

Early history

See also: History of chess

In Shatrang: The Book of Chess (1936), orientalists Joseph Orbeli and Kamilla Trever suggest that chess was known in Armenia since at least the 9th century, when Armenia was under Arab rule. According to them, the game was brought to Armenia by the Arabs from India, where the game is believed to have been originated in the 6th century as Chaturanga.[17] In 1967, chess figures were found in the citadel of Dvin, the medieval Armenian capital.[18] Chess is mentioned in manuscripts from the 1100s–1200s kept in the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, including a 13th-century manuscript by Vardan Areveltsi. Until the mid-20th century villagers in Shenavan near Aparan were using homemade chess figures similar to medieval ones.[19][20]

Soviet period

Chess in Armenia was institutionalized after the establishment of Soviet rule in 1920.[21] In 1926–27, by the initiative of chemist Simon Hovyan (1869–1942), sections about chess started appearing in many Armenian newspapers. Hovyan contributed to the popularization of chess in Armenia by giving lectures about it. He translated books by Emanuel Lasker, Ilya Maizelis (ru), and Yakov Rokhlin (ru) into Armenian.[21]

A 1996 Armenian postage stamp depicting Tigran Petrosian and the Yerevan Chess House

The first chess competitions were held in 1927, when the Armenian Chess Federation was founded.[1] Until 1934 chess players from Armenia competed in the Transcaucasian championship. In 1934 the first Armenian Chess Championship was held in Yerevan. Genrikh Kasparyan became its winner. In later years Kasparyan won the championship nine times and became the most-titled Armenian chess player with ten national championship wins. The women's championship was also held the same year, Sirush Makints and Margarita Mirza-Avagian shared the champion title.[22] The first Armenian chess club was founded in 1936. Chess clubs were also founded in Leninakan (now Gyumri) and Kirovakan (now Vanadzor) in the 1950s.[21]

Chess became particularly popular with the unprecedented success of Tigran Petrosian in the 1960s. Born in Tiflis, the current capital of Armenia's neighbor Georgia, he started his ascent in Armenia with a 1946 victory at the national championship. He then won the Soviet champion title four times (1959, 1961, 1969, 1975). In 1963 Petrosian became the World Chess Champion, defeating Mikhail Botvinnik, another Soviet representative. Petrosian's victory not only popularized the game of chess, but also "led to an outpouring of patriotic fervour" in the smallest Soviet republic. "From that moment on, chess became a national obsession."[23] Many couples named their sons Tigran, after Petrosian.[23] Others called him "Tigran the Great", after the king, under whom Armenia reached its height.[24] Besides being World Champion for six years (1963 to 1969), Petrosian won the Chess Olympiad nine times with the Soviet team (1958 to 1974).[25]

In 1962, there were 30,000 chess players in Soviet Armenia, as well as 3,000 instructors and judges. By 1986 the number of chess players had increased to 50,000, including three grandmasters: Rafael Vaganian, Smbat Lputian, and Arshak Petrosian.[21] In the late Soviet period, Rafael Vaganian (1989)[26] and Artashes Minasian (1991)[27] became Soviet Champions. Vaganian also won the Olympiad with the Soviet team twice in 1984 and 1986.[28]

In 1985, Garry Kasparov, born in Baku, Soviet Azerbaijan to an Armenian mother and Russian Jewish father,[29] became World Champion. Although he never represented Armenia and was only half-Armenian, some sources have preferred to call him Armenian,[30][31] partly because his last name is the Russified form of his mother's Armenian last name Kasparyan.[32]

Independent Armenia

Armenia gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, Armenian chess players have had the opportunity to represent the Republic of Armenia. Two major chess tournaments have taken place in independent Armenia: the 32nd Chess Olympiad was held at the Sports & Music Complex in Yerevan in 1996;[33] and the World Team Chess Championship in the Yerevan Opera Theater in 2001.[34]

Armenia earned its first medal at the 1992 Chess Olympiad, finishing third.[35] Armenia won bronze medals at the 2002 and 2004 Olympiads as well.[36][37] The Armenian team made a breakthrough with the sensational victory at the 2006 Chess Olympiad.[38] They also won the 2008[39] and 2012 Chess Olympiads.[40] Their record at the World Team Championships has been similarly outstanding, finishing third in 1997,[41] 2001,[42] and 2005,[43] and winning in 2011.[44] At the European championships the team performed somewhat more poorly, placing third in 1997,[45] first in 1999, and second in 2007.[46]

In 2011, the Ministry of Education of Armenia made chess part of the primary school curriculum along with such standards as math and history for children over the age of 6.[47][48] Chess is compulsory for second, third and fourth graders.[10] Over $1.5 million was spent on the programme. The inclusion of chess in schools was generally received positively by the public, but some parents claimed that their children's school program was already complicated and overloaded.[49] Armenian GM Smbat Lputian argues that "bringing chess into schools is the best way to build the future."[50] The Armenian government also provides grandmasters with salaries and perks.[4][10]

In a 2012 interview, Garry Kasparov compared the popularity of chess in Armenia with the popularity of football (soccer) in Latin America.[51] Magnus Carlsen, current World no. 1, stated that he "was amazed by the enthusiasm of the Armenian people when their team won the Chess Olympics this year." Carlsen added "I saw a clip on YouTube, I think, of the reception the players got when they returned after their victory. I hope to visit Armenia soon."[52]

Institutions

The national governing body for chess, the Armenian Chess Federation, was founded in 1927.[1] The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was elected its president in 2004 (when he was Defence Minister) and reelected in 2011.[53] On one occasion, Sargsyan stated that "We don't want people to know Armenia just for the [1988 Spitak] earthquake and the [Armenian] genocide. We would rather it was famous for its chess."[23]

The Chess Academy of Armenia (Հայաստանի շախմատի ակադեմիա), "one of the leading chess-teaching institutions in the country", was "founded in 2002 in Yerevan by the initiative of grandmaster Smbat Lputian, supported by the Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan". The academy has organized international and national chess tournaments.[54]

National championship

Main article: Armenian Chess Championship

The first Armenian championship occurred in 1934 when it was part of the Transcaucasian SFSR. Championships were held sporadically in the Armenian SSR until 1945, when they became an annual event; this practice has been continued in independent Armenia. Genrikh Kasparyan has won it the most times (10 times), followed by Ashot Anastasian (8 times), Levon Grigorian (6 times) and Artashes Minasian (6 times).[55]

The first woman's championship also took place in 1934, but was not held again till 1939. Some of the most notable women champions include Elina Danielian (6 times), Lilit Mkrtchian (4 times) and Siranush Andriasian (3 times).[22]

Media

The logo of Chess in Armenia magazine

In 1972, the magazine Chess in Armenia (Շախմատային Հայաստան Shakhmatayin Hayastan) was founded by Gaguik Oganessian, who remains its Editor-in-Chief today. It was published monthly until 1997, when it became a weekly magazine.[56] In 1972, the TV show Chess-64 (originally named Chess School) started to be aired by the Public Television of Armenia. Hosted by Gaguik Oganessian, it is the "longest lived program series" in the channel's history.[57] Another more recently created show, Chess World, is aired after the First News.[58]

Individual statistics

As of December 2013

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, lists 24 active Armenian grandmasters, 4 woman grandmasters, 17 international masters and 4 woman international masters.[59]

Men

The Top 10 Armenian grandmasters as of December 2013 are listed below.[60]

See also: List of Armenian chess players

Armenian players in FIDE Top 100

# Player Birth year GM Title Rating World rank[lower-alpha 1]
1 Aronian, LevonLevon Aronian 1982 2000 2803 2
2 Movsesian, SergeiSergei Movsesian 1978 1997 2689 56
3 Akopian, VladimirVladimir Akopian 1971 1991 2684 61
4 Sargissian, GabrielGabriel Sargissian 1983 2002 2675 72
5 Petrosian, Tigran L.Tigran L. Petrosian 1984 2004 2648 109
6 Melkumyan, HrantHrant Melkumyan 1989 2008 2630 147
7 Pashikian, ArmanArman Pashikian 1987 2007 2617 176
8 Andriasian, ZavenZaven Andriasian 1989 2006 2610 194
9 Grigoryan, Karen H.Karen H. Grigoryan 1995 2013 2604 213
10 Hovhannisyan, RobertRobert Hovhannisyan 1991 2010 2597 233

Levon Aronian is currently No. 2 in the FIDE World Rankings, behind Magnus Carlsen. Aronian is considered a hero by many Armenians.[61] In 2005 Aronian won the Chess World Cup.[62]

Women

The Top 10 women Armenian chess players are listed below as of August 2013.[63]

Armenian women players in FIDE Top 100

# Player Birth year Title Rating World rank[lower-alpha 2]
1 Danielian, ElinaElina Danielian 1978 GM 2470 28
2 Mkrtchian, LilitLilit Mkrtchian 1982 IM 2454 36
3 Kursova, MariaMaria Kursova 1986 WGM 2351 107
4 Galojan, LilitLilit Galojan 1983 IM 2319 148
5 Doluhanova, EvgeniyaEvgeniya Doluhanova 1984 WGM 2296 188
6 Vaganian, IrinaIrina Vaganian 1963 WIM 2269 not active
7 Aginian, NellyNelly Aginian 1981 WGM 2247 292
8 Hairapetian, AnnaAnna Hairapetian 1989 WIM 2214 385
9 Andriasian, SiranushSiranush Andriasian 1986 WIM 2206 415
10 Karakashian, NarineNarine Karakashian 1971 WIM 2190 N/A

Team records

Chess Olympiads

See also: Chess Olympiad
A billboard in central Yerevan celebrating Armenia's victory at the 38th Chess Olympiad. It shows members of the Armenian team with the caption "The Kings of Chess".
Men's
Year Event Location Players Position Ref
1992 30th Chess Olympiad Philippines Manila, Philippines Vaganian, Akopian, Lputian, Minasian, A. Petrosian, Anastasian 3 [35]
1994 31st Chess Olympiad Russia Moscow, Russia Vaganian, Akopian, Lputian, Anastasian, Minasian, Yegiazarian 13 [64]
1996 32nd Chess Olympiad Armenia Yerevan, Armenia Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, A. Petrosian 5 [65]
1998 33rd Chess Olympiad Russia Elista, Russia Vaganian, Lputian, Akopian, Minasian, Asrian, Anastasian 16 [66]
2000 34th Chess Olympiad Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, Asrian, Sargissian 17 [67]
2002 35th Chess Olympiad Slovenia Bled, Slovenia Akopian, Lputian, Asrian, Sargissian, Minasian, Anastasian 3 [36]
2004 36th Chess Olympiad Spain Calviá, Spain Akopian, Aronian, Vaganian, Lputian, Sargissian, Minasian 3 [37]
2006 37th Chess Olympiad Italy Turin, Italy Aronian, Akopian, Asrian, Lputian, Sargissian, Minasian 1 [38]
2008 38th Chess Olympiad Germany Dresden, Germany Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian, T. Petrosian, Minasian 1 [39]
2010 39th Chess Olympiad Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian, Pashikian, Grigoryan 7 [68]
2012 40th Chess Olympiad Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, T. Petrosian 1 [40]
Women's
Year Event Location Players Position Ref
1992 30th Chess Olympiad Philippines Manila, Philippines Aslanian, Khalafian, Danielian, Karakashian 33 [69]
1994 31st Chess Olympiad Russia Moscow, Russia Danielian, Aslanian, Grigorian, Airapetian 24 [70]
1996 32nd Chess Olympiad Armenia Yerevan, Armenia Danielian, Hlgatian, Mkrtchian, Khalafian 20 [71]
1998 33rd Chess Olympiad Russia Elista, Russia Danielian, Hlgatian, Mkrtchian, Aginian 21 [72]
2000 34th Chess Olympiad Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian, Aginian 10 [73]
2002 35th Chess Olympiad Slovenia Bled, Slovenia Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian, Galojan 15 [74]
2004 36th Chess Olympiad Spain Calviá, Spain Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Andriasian 11 [37]
2006 37th Chess Olympiad Italy Turin, Italy Mkrtchian, Danielian, Aginian, Andriasian 8 [75]
2008 38th Chess Olympiad Germany Dresden, Germany Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Galojan, Andriasian 6 [76]
2010 39th Chess Olympiad Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Aginian, Kharatian 11 [77]
2012 40th Chess Olympiad Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova, Hairapetian 6 [78]

World Team Championships

See also: World Team Chess Championship
Men's
Year Location Players Position Ref
1993 Switzerland Lucerne, Switzerland Vaganian, Akopian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, Petrosian 4 [79]
1997 Switzerland Lucerne, Switzerland Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, Khachiyan 3 [41]
2001 Armenia Yerevan, Armenia Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Asrian, Anastasian, Minasian 3 [42]
2005 Israel Beersheba, Israel Aronian, Akopian, Asrian, Vaganian, Lputian, Anastasian 3 [43]
2010 Turkey Bursa, Turkey Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian, Pashikian, Petrosian, Kotanjian 5 [80]
2011 China Ningbo, China Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Hovhannisyan 1 [44]
2013 Turkey Antalya, Turkey Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Petrosian5 [81]
Women's
Year Location Players Position Ref
2007 Russia Yekaterinburg, Russia Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Andriasian, Aghabekian 8 [82]
2009 China Ningbo, China Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Aginian, Andriasian 5 [83]
2011 Turkey Mardin, Turkey Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova, Aginian 6 [84]
2013 Kazakhstan Astana, Kazakhstan did not participate[85]

European Team Championships

Men's
See also: European Team Chess Championship
Armenia vs Azerbaijan at the 2011 European Team Chess Championship. Levon Aronian (left) and Teimour Radjabov (right) pictured in the foreground.
Year Location Players Position Ref
1992 Hungary Debrecen, Hungary Vaganian, Akopian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian 19 [86]
1997 Croatia Pula, Coratia Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian 3 [45]
1999 Georgia (country) Batumi, Georgia Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, Petrosian 1 [87]
2001 Spain León, Spain did not participate[88]
2003 Bulgaria Plovdiv, Bulgariadid not participate[89]
2005 Sweden Gothenburg, Sweden Akopian, Aronian, Vaganian, Lputian, Anastasian 12 [90]
2007 Greece Heraklion, Greece Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian, Asrian, Lputian 2 [46]
2009 Serbia Novi Sad, Serbia Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian, Pashikian, Petrosian 4 [91]
2011 Greece Porto Carras, Greece Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Hovhannisyan 4 [92]
2013 Poland Warsaw, Poland Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Petrosian 4 [93]
Women's
Year Location Players Position Ref
1992 Hungary Debrecen, Hungary Aslanian, Hlgatian, Grigorian 19 [94]
1997 Croatia Pula, Coratia Danielian, Hlgatian, Mkrtchian 5 [95]
1999 Georgia (country) Batumi, Georgia Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian 5 [96]
2001 Spain León, Spain did not participate[97]
2003 Bulgaria Plovdiv, Bulgaria Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian 1 [98]
2005 Sweden Gothenburg, Sweden Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Andriasian, Galojan 6 [99]
2007 Greece Heraklion, Greece Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Andriasian, Aghabekian 3 [100]
2009 Serbia Novi Sad, Serbia Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Aginian, Andriasian 5 [101]
2011 Greece Porto Carras, Greece Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova, Aginian 7 [102]
2013 Poland Warsaw, Poland Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova, Hairapetian 5 [103]

Club championships

In 1995, the Yerevan city club won the European Chess Club Cup men's tournament.[104] In 2006, the Yerevan MIKA club won the European Club Cup women's tournament.[105]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ active players only
  2. ↑ active female players only
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Info – Federation". Armenian Chess Federation. Retrieved 16 September 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Compulsory chess lessons might be making Armenia's kids supersmart". MSN. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013. "Chess is wildly popular in Armenia, where grandmasters are celebrities who score freebies such as cars from the government." 
  3. ↑ "Learning Chess in Elementary School". The World. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2013. "Armenians treat chess champions like star athletes. Chess is one of the most popular games here and there are 32 grandmasters in a population of about 3 million." 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Parkinson, Joe (3 December 2012). "Winning Move: Chess Reigns as Kingly Pursuit in Armenia". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 August 2013. "Armenia's love affair with the game is less than half a century old. The country caught the chess bug on May 20, 1963, when 33-year-old Tigran Petrosian, no relation to the current player, dethroned reigning world champion Mikhail Botvinnik, a Soviet, over a grinding 24-game match." 
  5. ↑ Moss, Stephen (16 November 2011). "Armenia's killer chess move". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2013. "Armenia is an obsessive chess-playing country, one of the strongest in the world despite a population that is the same as – yes, you guessed it – Wales." 
  6. ↑ "Armenia: the cleverest nation on earth". BBC World Service. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2012. 
  7. ↑ "Armenia Wins World Chess Title, Ukraine Takes Third". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2013. "Chess has been one of Armenia's most popular sports since Tigran Petrosian, a Tbilisi-born Armenian, became a world champion in 1963. The country currently boasts one of the largest per capita numbers of chess grandmasters in the world." 
  8. ↑ "Federations Ranking". World Chess Federation. Retrieved 20 December 2013. 
  9. ↑ Akhmeteli, Nina (19 January 2012). "Chess lessons introduced to the curriculum in Armenian schools". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2012. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Parameswaran; Gaedtke, Gayatri; Felix (24 March 2013). "Chess mania captures Armenia's attention". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 March 2013. 
  11. ↑ Adjarian, Hrachia (1926). Հայերեն Արմատական Բառարան [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian) 3. Yerevan: Yerevan State University Press. p. 190. 
  12. ↑ Petrosian, Tigran; Hakobian, G. (1982). "Շախմատ [Chess]". In Hambardzumyan, Viktor. Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia (in Armenian) 8 (Yerevan: Armenian Encyclopedia). pp. 514–515. 
  13. ↑ Awde, Nicholas; Davidian, Vazken-Khatchig (2006). Western Armenian Dictionary & Phrasebook. New York: Hippocrene Books. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7818-1048-7. 
  14. ↑ "Լեւոն Արոնեան Կը Շարունակէ Մնալ Աշխարհի Երկրորդ Լաւագոյն Ճատրակ Խաղացողը". Asbarez (in Armenian). 1 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Ճատրակ. Եւրոպայի Անհատական Ախոյեանութիւն. Հայրենի Վարպետներուն Ապահոված Կէտերը' 4-րդ Հանգրուանի Մրցումներէն Ետք". Aztag (in Armenian). 10 May 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  16. ↑ Chess: East and West, Past and Present. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1968. p. xxv. 
  17. ↑ United States Chess Federation; Kurzdorfer, Peter (2003). The Everything Chess Basics Book. Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media. p. 2. ISBN 9781440522291. "Chess is a descendant of a game called Chaturanga believed to have originated in India in the sixth century and which may have been related to a much older Chinese game." 
  18. ↑ Ghafadarian, Karo (1970). "Հնագիտական աշխատանքը Հայաստանում սովետական շրջանում [Archaeological Research in Armenia in Soviet Years]". Patma-Banasirakan Handes (in Armenian) (Yerevan: Armenian National Academy of Sciences) (3): 16. 
  19. ↑ Orbeli, Joseph; Trever, Kamilla (1936). Шатранг. Книга о шахматах [Shatrang: The Book of Chess] (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: State Hermitage. p. 195. OCLC 82233681. 
  20. ↑ Arakelian, B. N. (1977). "Ակադեմիկոս Հովսեփ Օրբելի (Ծննդյան 90-ամյակի առթիվ) [Academician Hovsep Orbeli (on his 90th birth anniversary)]". Patma-Banasirakan Handes (in Armenian) (Yerevan: Armenian National Academy of Sciences) (1): 27. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Karpov, Anatoly, ed. (1990). Шахматы. Энциклопедический словарь [Chess. Encyclopedic dictionary] (in Russian). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 21. ISBN 5-85270-005-3. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "All Women's Champions of Armenia". Chess in Armenia Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2013. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Armenia revels in its chess prowess". BBC News. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  24. ↑ Prospect: politics, essay, review, Volumes 163–65. Prospect. 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2012. 
  25. ↑ "Petrosian, Tigran". OlimpBase. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Vaganian Rafael Artemovich". Chess Network Company. Retrieved 24 August 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Minasian Artashes". Chess Network Company. Retrieved 24 August 2013. 
  28. ↑ "Vaganian, Rafael". OlimpBase. Retrieved 24 August 2013. 
  29. ↑ Saunders, Robert A.; Strukov, Vlad (2010). Historical Dictionary of the Russian Federation. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. . ISBN 978-0-8108-7460-2. 
  30. ↑ "Headliners; And Still Champ". New York Times. 30 December 1990. Retrieved 25 August 2013. "Play was to resume over the weekend, but even if Mr. Karpov were to win the last two games – experts considered that unlikely – the 27-year-old Armenian champion would keep the title." 
  31. ↑ "Garry Kasparov: 'A game designed for me'". Al Jazeera. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013. "In 1990, Kasparov and his family, who are of Armenian descent, were caught up in the vicious programmes against Armenians in Azerbaijan, forcing thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee. And that is when Kasparov escaped to Moscow." 
  32. ↑ "Prominent Russians: Garry Kasparov". Russia Today. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  33. ↑ "32nd Chess Olympiad: Yerevan 1996". OlimpBase. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  34. ↑ "5th World Team Chess Championship: Yerevan 2001". OlimpBase. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "30th Chess Olympiad: Manila 1992". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "35th Chess Olympiad: Bled 2002". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 "36th Chess Olympiad: Calvia 2004". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "37th Chess Olympiad: Turin 2006". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "38th Chess Olympiad: Dresden 2008". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "40th Olympiad Istanbul 2012 Open tournament". Turkish Chess Federation. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "4th World Team Chess Championship: Lucerne 1997". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "5th World Team Chess Championship: Yerevan 2001". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "6th World Team Chess Championship: Beer Sheva 2005". OlimpBase. Retrieved September 9, 2012. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "8th World Team Chess Championship: Ningbo 2011". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "11th European Team Chess Championship: Pula 1997". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "16th European Team Chess Championship: Heraklion 2007". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  47. ↑ "Armenia Introduces Chess As Mandatory School Subject". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  48. ↑ "Armenia makes chess compulsory in schools". The Guardian. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  49. ↑ Hakobyan, Julia (26 April 2013). "Reading, Writing, Chess: Experts evaluate Armenia's progress on introducing the oldest board game at primary schools". ArmeniaNow. Retrieved 28 April 2013. 
  50. ↑ Grigoryan, Marianna (27 July 2011). "Armenia: Can Chess "Build the Country's Future?"". Eurasianet.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  51. ↑ "Garry Kasparov: "There's No Doubt That Carlsen Is the Strongest Player"". Chess-News.ru. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  52. ↑ "I was amazed by the enthusiasm of the Armenian people. Magnus Carlsen". Armenpress. Retrieved 25 March 2013. 
  53. ↑ "Serzh Sargsyan re-elected President of Armenian Chess Federation". Chessdom. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  54. ↑ "The History of Academy". Chess Academy. Retrieved 21 December 2013. 
  55. ↑ "All champions of Armenia". Chess in Armenia Magazine. Retrieved 8 September 2013. 
  56. ↑ "Chess in Armenia (Shakhmatayin Hayastan), Armenia". FIDE. Retrieved 3 September 2013. 
  57. ↑ "Chess-64". Public Television of Armenia. Retrieved 8 September 2013. 
  58. ↑ "Chess World". Public Television of Armenia. Retrieved 8 September 2013. 
  59. ↑ "General ratings statistics for Armenia". World Chess Federation (FIDE). Retrieved 28 August 2013. 
  60. ↑ "Federations Ranking: Armenia". World Chess Federation (FIDE). Retrieved 7 December 2013. 
  61. ↑ Davies, Caroline; Pein, Malcolm (7 June 2006). "Pawn queens". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 August 2013. "However, Armenia may be a small country, but it's big on chess. And Mr Aronian enjoys a similar level of hero-worship to, say, David Beckham." 
  62. ↑ "Levon Aronian wins FIDE World Cup". ChessBase. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 25 August 2013. 
  63. ↑ "Federations Ranking: Armenia, Women". World Chess Federation (FIDE). Retrieved 21 September 2012. 
  64. ↑ "31st Chess Olympiad: Moscow 1994". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  65. ↑ "32nd Chess Olympiad: Yerevan 1996". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  66. ↑ "33rd Chess Olympiad: Elista 1998". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  67. ↑ "34th Chess Olympiad: Istanbul 2000". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  68. ↑ "39th Chess Olympiad: Khanty-Mansiysk 2010". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  69. ↑ "30th Chess Olympiad (women): Manila 1992". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  70. ↑ "31st Chess Olympiad (women): Moscow 1994". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  71. ↑ "32nd Chess Olympiad (women): Yerevan 1996". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  72. ↑ "33rd Chess Olympiad (women): Elista 1998". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  73. ↑ "34th Chess Olympiad (women): Istanbul 2000". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  74. ↑ "35th Chess Olympiad (women): Bled 2002". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  75. ↑ "37th Chess Olympiad (women): Turin 2006". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  76. ↑ "38th Chess Olympiad (women): Dresden 2008". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  77. ↑ "39th Chess Olympiad (women): Khanty-Mansiysk 2010". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  78. ↑ "40th Olympiad Istanbul 2012 Women tournament". Turkish Chess Federation. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  79. ↑ "3rd World Team Chess Championship: Lucerne 1993". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  80. ↑ "7th World Team Chess Championship: Bursa 2010". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  81. ↑ "FIDE World Team Chess Championship 2013 Antalya, Turkey Final Ranking". Turkish Chess Federation. Retrieved 5 December 2013. 
  82. ↑ "1st World Team Chess Championship (women): Ekaterinburg 2007". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  83. ↑ "2nd World Team Chess Championship (women): Ningbo 2009". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  84. ↑ "FIDE Women's World Chess Team Championship – 2011". FIDE Women's World Chess Team Championship 2011 / Turkish Chess Federation. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  85. ↑ "Women's World Chess Team Championship Astana, Kazakhstan, 2-13 March 2013 Final Ranking". FIDE Women World Team Championship 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 
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  87. ↑ "12th European Team Chess Championship: Batumi 1999". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  88. ↑ "13th European Team Chess Championship: Leon 2001". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  89. ↑ "14th European Team Chess Championship: Plovdiv 2003". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  90. ↑ "15th European Team Chess Championship: Gothenburg 2005". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  91. ↑ "17th European Team Chess Championship: Novi Sad 2009". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  92. ↑ "18th European Team Chess Championship: Porto Carras 2011". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  93. ↑ "European Team Championship 2013". ETCC 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013. 
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  95. ↑ "2nd European Team Chess Championship (women): Pula 1997". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  96. ↑ "3rd European Team Chess Championship (women): Batumi 1999". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  97. ↑ "4th European Team Chess Championship (women): Leon 2001". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  98. ↑ "5th European Team Chess Championship (women): Plovdiv 2003". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  99. ↑ "6th European Team Chess Championship (women): Gothenburg 2005". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  100. ↑ "7th European Team Chess Championship (women): Heraklion 2007". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  101. ↑ "8th European Team Chess Championship (women): Novi Sad 2009". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  102. ↑ "9th European Team Chess Championship (women): Porto Carras 2011". OlimpBase. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 
  103. ↑ "European Women's Team Championship". ETCC 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013. 
  104. ↑ "11th European Chess Club Cup: 1995". OlimpBase. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 
  105. ↑ "11th European Chess Club Cup (women): Fügen 2006". OlimpBase. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 

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