Chess has been played inArmenia since theearly Middle Ages; however, it was institutionalized during the earlySoviet period.[2] Highly popular in Armenia today,[3][4][5] chess gained widespread recognition during the 1960s, when Soviet Armenian grandmasterTigran Petrosian became theWorld Chess Champion.[2][6] A country of about three million people, Armenia is considered one of the strongest chess nations today,[7][8] and a chesssuperpower.[9][10] Among countries, Armenia has one of the most chessgrandmasters per capita.[11]
Since the country's independence, the Armenian men's chess team has won theEuropean Team Championship (1999), theWorld Team Championship (2011) and theChess Olympiad (2006, 2008, 2012). The women's team had its crowning victory at the 2003 European Championship. As of August 2021, Armenia ranks seventh in the world by the average rating of its top players.[12]Levon Aronian, formerly Armenia's best chess player, has placed as high as world No. 2 in theFIDE rankings, and has been aWorld Champion candidate on six occasions.
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.[13][14]
Until the early 20th century, chess was known inArmenian asčatrak (ճատրակ), from Middle Persianchatrang.[15][16] Another name was ճատրկուց,čatrkuts.[16] Today, that term—pronouncedjadrag[17]—is only used inWestern Armenian, which is spoken in theArmenian diaspora.[18] In modernEastern Armenian, the variation used in Armenia, chess is known asšaxmatշախմատ ([ʃɑχmɑt]). It is derived from Russianšáxmaty (шахматы), itself a derivative from Persianšâh mât (شاه مات), literally meaning "the king is at a loss" or "the king is helpless."[19] The latter Persian phrase is also the etymology of the Englishcheckmate.[20]
In their 1936 book on thehistory of chess,Joseph Orbeli andKamilla Trever suggest that chess was known in Armenia since at least the 9th century during theArab rule, having been introduced fromIndia,[21] where the game is believed to have been originated in the sixth century asChaturanga.[22] In 1967chess pieces were excavated by archaeologists in the citadel ofDvin, the medieval Armenian capital.[23] Chess is mentioned inmanuscripts from the 12th–13th centuries, kept in theMatenadaran in Yerevan, including byVardan Areveltsi andMkhitar Anetsi.[24][16] Until the mid-20th century villagers inShenavan, in theAparan area, used homemade chess figures similar to medieval ones.[21][25]
Chess in Armenia was institutionalized after the establishment ofSoviet rule in 1920.[27] In 1926-27, chemist Simon Hovyan (1869-1942) spearheaded an initiative to introduce sections dedicated to chess in numerous Armenian newspapers. He played a crucial role in the widespread popularization of the game by providing lectures on the rules and strategy of chess, as well as translating books byEmanuel Lasker, Ilya Maizelis (ru), and Yakov Rokhlin (ru) into Armenian.[27]
The first chess competitions were held in 1927, when theArmenian Chess Federation was founded.[28] Until 1934 chess players from Armenia competed in theTranscaucasian championship. In 1934 the first Armenian Chess Championship was held in Yerevan.[16]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.[29][16] The first Armenian chess club was founded in Yerevan in 1936.[16] Chess clubs were also founded inLeninakan (now Gyumri) andKirovakan (now Vanadzor) in the 1950s.[27] By the early 1980s all towns and districts (rayons) of Soviet Armenia had chess clubs.[16]
Chess became particularly popular with the unprecedented success ofTigran Petrosian in the 1960s. Born inTiflis, the current capital of Armenia's neighborGeorgia, he started his ascent in Armenia with a 1946 victory at the national championship. He then won theSoviet champion title four times (1959, 1961, 1969, 1975). In 1963 Petrosian became the World Chess Champion, defeatingMikhail 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 smallestSoviet republic. "From that moment on, chess became a national obsession."[30] Many couples named their sons Tigran, after Petrosian.[30] Besides being World Champion for six years (1963 to 1969), Petrosian won theChess Olympiad nine times with the Soviet team (1958 to 1974).[31]
TheUSSR Chess Championship was held in Yerevan twice, in1962 and1975.[32]
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, andArshak Petrosian.[27] In the late Soviet period, Rafael Vaganian (1989)[33] andArtashes Minasian (1991)[34] becameSoviet Champions. Vaganian also won the Olympiad with the Soviet team twice in 1984 and 1986.[35]
Armenia gained its independence from theSoviet Union in 1991. Since then, Armenian chess players have had the opportunity to represent the Republic of Armenia. Three majorchess tournaments have taken place in independent Armenia: the32nd Chess Olympiad was held at theSports & Music Complex in Yerevan in 1996;[36] the 2001World Team Chess Championship and the2014 European Individual Chess Championship were held at theYerevan Opera Theater.[37][38]
Armenia earned its first medal at the 1992 Chess Olympiad, finishing third.[39] Armenia won bronze medals at the2002 and2004 Olympiads as well.[40][41] The Armenian team made a breakthrough with the sensational victory at the2006 Chess Olympiad.[42] They also won the2008[43] and2012 Chess Olympiads.[44] Their record at the World Team Championships has been similarly outstanding, finishing third in 1997,[45] 2001,[46] and 2005,[47] and winning in 2011.[48] At the European championships the team performed somewhat more poorly, placing third in 1997,[49] first in 1999, and second in 2007.[50]
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.[51][52] Chess is compulsory for second, third and fourth graders.[14] Over $1.5 million was spent on the program. 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.[53] GrandmasterSmbat Lputian argued that "bringing chess into schools is the best way to build the future."[54] GrandmasterRafael Vaganian criticized the program as "farce."[55]
The decision was widely reported in the international media. Journalists, chess experts and officials in various countries praised the program and advised its adoption in their respective countries.[56][57] During his visit to Armenia in 2014Magnus Carlsen stated: "I think Armenia's experience of teaching chess in schools is a great example for the whole world."[58] As of 2020, chess is taught in grades 2 to 4 with two classes a week.[59]
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2005[60] | 1,846 |
| 2010[61] | 2,893 |
| 2021[62] | 4,969 |
On December 12, 2019 theUnited Nations (UN) designated 20 July as World Chess Day as proposed by theArmenian delegation. It marks the date in 1924 when theInternational Chess Federation was established.[63]
As of 2021, Armenia's statistics agency recorded 4,969 chess players (including 1,318 females), up from 1,846 (375 females) in 2005 and 184 coaches (including 36 females) up from 87 (17 females) in 2005.[60][62]
In August 2022, when he met with the men's team that won a silver medal at the44th Chess Olympiad, Armenia's Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan said Armenia should aim to win theWorld Chess Championship by 2050. His government has listed it as a strategic goal for Armenia.[64]
At theFIDE 100 Awards in September 2024, Armenia was honored as the "Best Male Team".[65]
A number of ethnic Armenian chess players have achieved success outside of Armenia. Most notably, in 1985,Garry Kasparov, born inBaku,Soviet Azerbaijan to an Armenian mother and Russian Jewish father,[66] became World Champion. Although he never represented Armenia and is only half-Armenian, some sources preferred to call him Armenian,[67] partly because his last name is theRussified form of his mother's Armenian last name Kasparyan.[67]
Other notableArmenian diaspora chess players include[68]Varvara Zargarian (Georgia),Sergei Movsesian (Czech Republic, Slovakia),Yury Dokhoian[69] andDavid Paravyan (Russia),Levon Ashotovich Grigorian (Uzbekistan),Tatev Abrahamyan,Samuel Sevian,Varuzhan Akobian,Melikset Khachiyan andLevon Aronian (United States),Natalia Khoudgarian (Canada),José Bademian Orchanian (Uruguay),Krikor Mekhitarian (Brazil),Knarik Mouradian (Lebanon),Evgeniya Doluhanova (Ukraine).[70]
The national governing body for chess, theArmenian Chess Federation, was founded in 1927.[28]Serzh Sargsyan, thenDefense Minister, was elected its president in 2004 and was reelected in 2011.[71] Sargsyan "is known for enthusiastically supporting Armenian chess players."[56] On one occasion, Sargsyan stated that "We don't want people to know Armenia just for theearthquake and thegenocide. We would rather it was famous for its chess."[30] The Armenian government provides grandmasters with salaries and perks.[6][14]
The Chess Academy of Armenia (Հայաստանի շախմատի ակադեմիա) is a leading education institutions of chess in Armenia. It was founded in 2002 by the initiative of GrandmasterSmbat Lputian and supported by then-Prime MinisterAndranik Margaryan. The academy has also organized international and national chess tournaments.[72]
The first Armenian championship occurred in 1934 when it was part of theTranscaucasian 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 byAshot Anastasian (8 times),Levon Grigorian (6 times) and Artashes Minasian (6 times).[73]
The first woman's championship also took place in 1934, but was not held again till 1939. Some of the most notable women champions includeElina Danielian (6 times),Lilit Mkrtchian (4 times) andSiranush Andriasian (3 times).[29]
In 1972, the magazineChess in Armenia (Շախմատային ՀայաստանShakhmatayin Hayastan) was founded by Gaguik Oganessian. It was published monthly until 1997, when it became a weekly magazine.[74] In 1972, the TV showChess-64 (originally namedChess School) started to be aired by thePublic Television of Armenia. Hosted by Gaguik Oganessian, it is the "longest lived program series" in the channel's history.[75] Another more recently created show,Chess World, is aired after the First News.[76]
FIDE, the World Chess Federation, lists 24 active Armenian grandmasters, 4 woman grandmasters, 17international masters and 4 woman international masters.[77]
The Top 10 Armenian grandmasters as of October 2024 are listed below.[78]
| # | Player | Birth year | GM Title | Rating | World rank[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haik M. Martirosyan | 2000 | 2017 | 2676 | 51 |
| 2 | Shant Sargsyan | 2002 | 2019 | 2655 | 70 |
| 3 | Gabriel Sargissian | 1983 | 2002 | 2640 | 93 |
| 4 | Hrant Melkumyan | 1989 | 2008 | 2636 | 106 |
| 5 | Manuel Petrosyan | 1998 | 2017 | 2631 | 111 |
| 6 | Aram Hakobyan | 2001 | 2018 | 2617 | 135 |
| 7 | Sergei Movsesian | 1978 | 1997 | 2616 | 137 |
| 8 | Robert Hovhannisyan | 1991 | 2010 | 2612 | 144 |
| 9 | Samvel Ter-Sahakyan | 1993 | 2009 | 2609 | 148 |
| 10 | Karen H. Grigoryan | 1995 | 2013 | 2582 | 220 |
The Top 10 women Armenian chess players are listed below as of October 2024.[79]
| # | Player | Birth year | Title | Rating | World rank[b] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elina Danielian | 1978 | GM | 2391 | 60 |
| 2 | Lilit Mkrtchian | 1982 | IM | 2388 | 62 |
| 3 | Anna M. Sargsyan | 2001 | IM | 2378 | 69 |
| 4 | Mariam Mkrtchyan | 2004 | WIM | 2325 | |
| 5 | Maria Gevorgyan | 1994 | WGM | 2225 | - |
| 6 | Susanna Gaboyan | 2001 | WIM | 2181 | - |
| 7 | Anna Khachatryan | 2002 | WFM | 2079 | - |
| 8 | Mariam Avetisyan | 2000 | WFM | 2055 | - |
| 7 | Polina Kobak | 2008 | WFM | 2041 | - |
| 10 | Ani Avetisyan | 2009 | - | 2010 | - |
| Year | Event | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30th Chess Olympiad |  Manila, Philippines | Vaganian,Akopian,Lputian,Minasian,A. Petrosian,Anastasian |  | [39] |
| 1994 | 31st Chess Olympiad |  Moscow, Russia | Vaganian, Akopian, Lputian, Anastasian, Minasian,Yegiazarian | 13 | [80] |
| 1996 | 32nd Chess Olympiad |  Yerevan, Armenia | Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian, A. Petrosian | 5 | [81] |
| 1998 | 33rd Chess Olympiad | Elista, Russia | Vaganian, Lputian, Akopian, Minasian,Asrian, Anastasian | 16 | [82] |
| 2000 | 34th Chess Olympiad |  Istanbul, Turkey | Vaganian, Lputian,Minasian, Anastasian, Asrian,Sargissian | 17 | [83] |
| 2002 | 35th Chess Olympiad |  Bled, Slovenia | Akopian, Lputian, Asrian, Sargissian, Minasian, Anastasian | | [40] |
| 2004 | 36th Chess Olympiad |  Calviá, Spain | Akopian,Aronian, Vaganian, Lputian, Sargissian, Minasian | | [41] |
| 2006 | 37th Chess Olympiad |  Turin, Italy | Aronian, Akopian, Asrian, Lputian, Sargissian, Minasian |  | [42] |
| 2008 | 38th Chess Olympiad |  Dresden, Germany | Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian,T. Petrosian, Minasian | | [43] |
| 2010 | 39th Chess Olympiad | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian,Pashikian,Grigoryan | 7 | [84] |
| 2012 | 40th Chess Olympiad | Istanbul, Turkey | Aronian,Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, T. Petrosian | | [44] |
| 2014 | 41st Chess Olympiad |  Tromsø, Norway | Aronian, Sargissian, Movsesian, Akopian,Kotanjian | 8 | [85] |
| 2016 | 42nd Chess Olympiad |  Baku, Azerbaijan | did not participate | — | — |
| 2018 | 43rd Chess Olympiad |  Batumi, Georgia | Aronian, Sargissian,Melkumyan,Hovhannisyan,Martirosyan | 8 | [86] |
| 2022 | 44th Chess Olympiad |  Chennai, India | Sargissian, Melkumyan,Ter-Sahakyan,Petrosyan, R. Hovhannisyan |  | [87] |
| 2024 | 45th Chess Olympiad |  Budapest, Hungary | Martirosyan,Sargsyan,Sargissian,Hovhannisyan,Grigoryan | 6 | [88] |
| Year | Event | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30th Chess Olympiad | Manila, Philippines | Aslanian,Khalafian,Danielian,Karakashian | 33 | [89] |
| 1994 | 31st Chess Olympiad | Moscow, Russia | Danielian, Aslanian,Grigorian,Airapetian | 24 | [90] |
| 1996 | 32nd Chess Olympiad | Yerevan, Armenia | Danielian,Hlgatian,Mkrtchian, Khalafian | 20 | [91] |
| 1998 | 33rd Chess Olympiad | Elista, Russia | Danielian, Hlgatian, Mkrtchian,Aginian | 21 | [92] |
| 2000 | 34th Chess Olympiad | Istanbul, Turkey | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian, Aginian | 10 | [93] |
| 2002 | 35th Chess Olympiad | Bled, Slovenia | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian,Galojan | 15 | [94] |
| 2004 | 36th Chess Olympiad | Calviá, Spain | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian,Andriasian | 11 | [41] |
| 2006 | 37th Chess Olympiad | Turin, Italy | Mkrtchian, Danielian, Aginian, Andriasian | 8 | [95] |
| 2008 | 38th Chess Olympiad | Dresden, Germany | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian, Galojan, Andriasian | 6 | [96] |
| 2010 | 39th Chess Olympiad | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Aginian,Kharatian | 11 | [97] |
| 2012 | 40th Chess Olympiad | Istanbul, Turkey | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan,Kursova,Hairapetian | 6 | [98] |
| 2014 | 41st Chess Olympiad | Tromsø, Norway | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova,Sargsyan | 5 | [99] |
| 2016 | 42nd Chess Olympiad | Baku, Azerbaijan | did not participate | ||
| 2018 | 43rd Chess Olympiad | Batumi, Georgia | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Sargsyan, Kursova, Ghukasyan | 6 | [100] |
| 2022 | 44th Chess Olympiad | Chennai, India | ... | 12 | [101] |
| 2024 | 45th Chess Olympiad | Budapest, Hungary | Mkrtchian L.,Mkrtchyan M.,Danielian,Sargsyan,Gaboyan | 5 | [102] |
| Year | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 |  Lucerne, Switzerland | Vaganian,Akopian,Lputian,Minasian,Anastasian,Petrosian | 4 | [103] |
| 1997 | Lucerne, Switzerland | Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian,Khachiyan | | [45] |
| 2001 | Yerevan, Armenia | Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian,Asrian, Anastasian, Minasian | | [46] |
| 2005 |  Beersheba, Israel | Aronian, Akopian, Asrian, Vaganian, Lputian, Anastasian | | [47] |
| 2010 | Bursa, Turkey | Aronian, Akopian,Sargissian,Pashikian,Petrosian,Kotanjian | 5 | [104] |
| 2011 |  Ningbo, China | Aronian,Movsesian, Akopian,Sargissian,Hovhannisyan | | [48] |
| 2013 | Antalya, Turkey | Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Petrosian | 5 | [105] |
| 2015 | Tsaghkadzor, Armenia | Aronian, Sargissian, Movsesian, Akopian,Melkumyan | | [106] |
| 2017 | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | did not participate | ||
| 2019 |  Astana, Kazakhstan | did not participate | ||
| Year | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Yekaterinburg, Russia | Danielian,Mkrtchian,Aginian,Andriasian,Aghabekian | 8 | [107] |
| 2009 | Ningbo, China | Danielian, Mkrtchian,Galojan, Aginian,Andriasian | 5 | [108] |
| 2011 | Mardin, Turkey | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan,Kursova, Aginian | 6 | [109] |
| 2013 | Astana, Kazakhstan | did not participate[110] | ||
| 2015 | Chengdu, China | Danielian,Mkrtchian,Galojan,Kursova,Gaboyan | 7 | |
| 2017 | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | did not participate | ||
| 2019 | Astana, Kazakhstan | 8 | [111] | |
| Year | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Debrecen, Hungary | Vaganian,Akopian,Lputian,Minasian,Anastasian | 19 | [112] |
| 1997 |  Pula, Croatia | Akopian, Vaganian, Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian | | [49] |
| 1999 | Batumi, Georgia | Lputian, Minasian, Anastasian,Petrosian | | [113] |
| 2001 | León, Spain | did not participate[114] | ||
| 2003 |  Plovdiv, Bulgaria | did not participate[115] | ||
| 2005 |  Gothenburg, Sweden | Akopian,Aronian, Vaganian, Lputian, Anastasian | 12 | [116] |
| 2007 |  Heraklion, Greece | Aronian, Akopian,Sargissian,Asrian, Lputian | | [50] |
| 2009 |  Novi Sad, Serbia | Aronian, Akopian, Sargissian,Pashikian,Petrosian | 4 | [117] |
| 2011 | Porto Carras, Greece | Aronian,Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian,Hovhannisyan | 4 | [118] |
| 2013 |  Warsaw, Poland | Aronian, Movsesian, Akopian, Sargissian, Petrosian | 4 | [119] |
| 2015 |  Reykjavík, Iceland | Aronian, Sargissian, Movsesian,Melkumyan,Grigoryan | | [50] |
| 2017 | Halkidiki, Greece | |||
| Year | Location | Players | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Debrecen, Hungary | Aslanian,Hlgatian,Grigorian | 19 | [120] |
| 1997 | Pula, Croatia | Danielian, Hlgatian,Mkrtchian | 5 | [121] |
| 1999 | Batumi, Georgia | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Hlgatian | 5 | [122] |
| 2001 | León, Spain | did not participate[123] | ||
| 2003 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Danielian, Mkrtchian,Aginian | | [124] |
| 2005 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian,Andriasian,Galojan | 6 | [125] |
| 2007 | Heraklion, Greece | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Aginian,Andriasian,Aghabekian | | [126] |
| 2009 | Novi Sad, Serbia | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Aginian,Andriasian | 5 | [127] |
| 2011 | Porto Carras, Greece | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan,Kursova, Aginian | 7 | [128] |
| 2013 | Warsaw, Poland | Danielian, Mkrtchian, Galojan, Kursova,Hairapetian | 5 | [129] |
In 1995, the Yerevan city club won theEuropean Chess Club Cup men's tournament.[130] In 2006, the Yerevan MIKA club won the European Club Cup women's tournament.[131]
Notes
Citations
In Armenia chess became something like soccer in Latin America and it's even an obvious subject at schools.
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.
The Armenian chess players through their splendid performance, talent and will power proved once again that our country is a chess superpower.
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.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Kasparov was dubbed Armenian because his mother is Armenian.
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