Chess in Armenia

Until the early 20th century, chess was known in Armenian as čatrak (ճատրակ), from Middle Persian chatrang.{{cite book|last=Adjarian|first=Hrachia|title=Հայերեն Արմատական Բառարան [Armenian Etymological Dictionary]|volume=3|year=1926|publisher=Yerevan University Press|page=[http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=7&query=%D5%B3%D5%A1%D5%BF%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%AF+ 190]|author-link=Hrachia Adjarian|language=hy}}{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Petrosian|first1=Tigran|authorlink1=Tigran Petrosian|last2=Hakobian|first2=G.|title=Շախմատ [Chess]|pages=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_8.djvu/415?fbclid=IwAR2MeBSq0e5NcH3Zfrqvd4-KJibp8_8nj1A8bqUEYZQJOVWweHJffVAL-ng 414–415]|volume=8|encyclopedia=Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia|language=hy|location=Yerevan|publisher=Armenian Encyclopedia|year=1982}} Another name was ճատրկուց, čatrkuts. Today, that term—pronounced jadrag{{cite book|last=Awde|first=Nicholas|title=Western Armenian Dictionary & Phrasebook|year=2006|publisher=Hippocrene Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7818-1048-7|page=168|author-link=Nicholas Awde|author2=Davidian, Vazken-Khatchig}}—is only used in Western Armenian, which is spoken in the Armenian diaspora.{{cite book |last1=Kouyoumdjian |first1=Mesrob G. |title=Ընդարձակ Բառարան Անգլիերէնէ Հայերէն [A Comprehensive English - Armenian Dictionary] |date=1981 |publisher=G. Doniguian & Fils |location=Beirut |page=[http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=2&dt=EN_HY&query=chess&forceIndex=yes 226]}} In modern Eastern Armenian, the variation used in Armenia, chess is known as šaxmat {{lang|hy|շախմատ}} ({{IPA|hy|ʃɑχmɑt|}}). It is derived from Russian šáxmaty (шахматы), itself a derivative from Persian šâh mât ({{lang|fa|شاه مات}}), literally meaning "the king is at a loss" or "the king is helpless."{{cite book|title=Chess: East and West, Past and Present|year=1968|publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|location=New York|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=s2j7FpmsDiMC&q=%22the+king+is+at+a+loss%22&pg=PR25 xxv]}} The latter Persian phrase is also the etymology of the English checkmate.{{cite web |title=checkmate (n.) |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/checkmate |website=etymonline.com |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306182646/https://www.etymonline.com/word/checkmate |archive-date=6 March 2021}}

In their 1936 book on the history of chess, historians Joseph Orbeli and Kamilla Trever suggest that chess was known in Armenia since at least the 9th century during the 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 sixth century as Chaturanga.{{cite book|title=The Everything Chess Basics Book|year=2003|publisher=Adams Media|location=Avon, Massachusetts|isbn=978-1-4405-2229-1|page=2|author=United States Chess Federation|author-link=United States Chess Federation|author2=Kurzdorfer, Peter|quote=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.}} In 1967 chess pieces were excavated by archaeologists in the citadel of Dvin, the medieval Armenian capital.{{cite journal|author-link=Karo Ghafadaryan|last=Ghafadarian|first=Karo|title=Հնագիտական աշխատանքը Հայաստանում սովետական շրջանում [Archaeological Research in Armenia in Soviet Years]|journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes|year=1970|issue=3|page=16|url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/1526/|publisher=Armenian Academy of Sciences|location=Yerevan|language=hy|access-date=2013-12-07|archive-date=2018-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920124140/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/1526/|url-status=live}} Chess is mentioned in manuscripts from the 12th–13th centuries, kept in the Matenadaran in Yerevan, including by Vardan Areveltsi and Mkhitar Anetsi.{{cite journal |last1=Thomson |first1=Robert W. |authorlink1=Robert W. Thomson |title=The Historical Compilation of Vardan Arewelcʿi |journal=Dumbarton Oaks Papers |date=1989 |volume=43 |page=192 |doi=10.2307/1291609 |jstor=1291609 }} Until the mid-20th century villagers in Shenavan, in the Aparan area, used homemade chess figures similar to medieval ones.{{cite journal|last=Arakelian|first=Babken N.|author-link=Babken Arakelyan|title=Ակադեմիկոս Հովսեփ Օրբելի (Ծննդյան 90-ամյակի առթիվ) [Academician Hovsep Orbeli (on his 90th birth anniversary)]|journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes|year=1977|issue=1|page=27|url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/2722/|publisher=Armenian National of Sciences|location=Yerevan|language=hy|access-date=2013-12-07|archive-date=2017-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060430/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/2722/|url-status=live}}

File:Շախմատի տարերքը Armenian translation of Emanuel Lasker.png's books on chess by Simon Hovyan.{{cite book |last1=Lasker |first1=Emanuel |author1-link=Emanuel Lasker|translator=Simon Hovyan |title=Շախմատի տարերքը: Ուղեցույց սկսնակների համար [Lasker's How to Play Chess: An Elementary Text Book for Beginners] |date=1930 |publisher=Pethrat |location=Yerevan |url=http://haygirk.nla.am/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=59798&query_desc=kw%2Cwrdl%3A%20%D5%B7%D5%A1%D5%AD%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%BF |language=hy}}]]

Chess in Armenia was institutionalized after the establishment of Soviet rule in 1920.{{cite dictionary |editor-last=Karpov |editor-first=Anatoly |editor-link=Anatoly Karpov |dictionary=Шахматы: Энциклопедический словарь |title=Армения [Armenia] |year=1990 |publisher=Советская энциклопедия |location=Moscow |language=ru |isbn=978-5-85270-005-6 |oclc=23533106 |lccn=97214322 |pages=21}} 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 by Emanuel Lasker, Ilya Maizelis (ru), and Yakov Rokhlin (ru) into Armenian.{{r|Karpov1990}}

File:Anefo 910-9356 Hoogovenschaaktoernooi.jpg, World Chess Champion in 1963–69]]

The first chess competitions were held in 1927, when the Armenian Chess Federation was founded. 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.{{cite web|title=All Women's Champions of Armenia|url=http://www.armchess.am/all_womens_ch_arm.htm|publisher=Chess in Armenia Magazine|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=30 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930112028/http://www.armchess.am/all_womens_ch_arm.htm|url-status=live}} The first Armenian chess club was founded in Yerevan in 1936. Chess clubs were also founded in Leninakan (now Gyumri) and Kirovakan (now Vanadzor) in the 1950s.{{r|Karpov1990}} By the early 1980s all towns and districts (rayons) of Soviet Armenia had chess clubs.

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." Many couples named their sons Tigran, after Petrosian. Besides being World Champion for six years (1963 to 1969), Petrosian won the Chess Olympiad nine times with the Soviet team (1958 to 1974).{{cite web|title=Petrosian, Tigran|url=http://www.olimpbase.org/players/ikkqkgyh.html|publisher=OlimpBase|access-date=25 August 2013|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211031225/http://www.olimpbase.org/players/ikkqkgyh.html|url-status=live}}

The USSR Chess Championship was held in Yerevan twice, in 1962 and 1975.{{cite web |last1=Gabelli |first1=Giuseppe |title=The Soviet Chess Championship 1920-1991 |url=http://members.aol.com/graemecree/chesschamps/ussr/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128115927/http://members.aol.com/graemecree/chesschamps/ussr/index.htm |archive-date=28 January 2008}}

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.{{r|Karpov1990}} In the late Soviet period, Rafael Vaganian (1989){{cite web|title=Vaganian Rafael Artemovich|url=http://www.chessnc.com/biography/person-1914.html|publisher=Chess Network Company|access-date=24 August 2013|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202610/http://www.chessnc.com/biography/person-1914.html|url-status=live}} and Artashes Minasian (1991){{cite web|title=Minasian Artashes|url=http://www.chessnc.com/biography/person-257.html|publisher=Chess Network Company|access-date=24 August 2013|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202614/http://www.chessnc.com/biography/person-257.html|url-status=live}} became Soviet Champions. Vaganian also won the Olympiad with the Soviet team twice in 1984 and 1986.{{cite web|title=Vaganian, Rafael|url=http://www.olimpbase.org/players/siswak0g.html|publisher=OlimpBase|access-date=24 August 2013|archive-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625061545/http://www.olimpbase.org/players/siswak0g.html|url-status=live}}

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. Three major chess tournaments have taken place in independent Armenia: the 32nd Chess Olympiad was held at the Sports & Music Complex in Yerevan in 1996;{{cite web |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/1996/1996in.html |title=32nd Chess Olympiad: Yerevan 1996 |publisher=OlimpBase |access-date=12 September 2012 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072224/http://www.olimpbase.org/1996/1996in.html |url-status=live }} the 2001 World Team Chess Championship and the 2014 European Individual Chess Championship were held at the Yerevan Opera Theater.{{cite web |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/2001t/2001in.html |title=5th World Team Chess Championship: Yerevan 2001 |publisher=OlimpBase |access-date=12 September 2012 |archive-date=15 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415153910/http://www.olimpbase.org/2001t/2001in.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=European Individual Chess Championship launches in Yerevan|url=http://armenpress.am/eng/news/752204/european-individual-chess-championship-launches-in-yerevan.html|access-date=16 March 2014|date=3 March 2014|agency=Armenpress|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316195326/http://armenpress.am/eng/news/752204/european-individual-chess-championship-launches-in-yerevan.html|url-status=live}}

File:Aronian Sarkissjan 2008 Dresden.jpg

File:Amiryan street winter2.jpg celebrating Armenia's victory at the 38th Chess Olympiad. It shows members of the Armenian team with the caption "The Kings of Chess".]]

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

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.{{cite news|title=Armenia Introduces Chess As Mandatory School Subject|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/armenia_introduces_chess_as_mandatory_school_subject/24333249.html|agency=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=19 September 2011|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=12 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912031913/http://www.rferl.org/content/armenia_introduces_chess_as_mandatory_school_subject/24333249.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Armenia makes chess compulsory in schools|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/15/armenia-chess-compulsory-schools|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 November 2011|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001064954/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/15/armenia-chess-compulsory-schools|url-status=live}} Chess is compulsory for second, third and fourth graders.{{cite news|last=Parameswaran; Gaedtke|first=Gayatri; Felix|title=Chess mania captures Armenia's attention|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/03/24/chess-mania-captures-armenias-attention/ |agency=Al Jazeera|date=24 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111224142/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/03/24/chess-mania-captures-armenias-attention/ |archive-date=11 November 2020}} 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.{{cite news |last=Hakobyan |first=Julia |title=Reading, Writing, Chess: Experts evaluate Armenia's progress on introducing the oldest board game at primary schools |url=http://www.armenianow.com/society/education/45640/armenia_chess_education_primary_schools |access-date=28 April 2013 |newspaper=ArmeniaNow |date=26 April 2013 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620060608/http://www.armenianow.com/society/education/45640/armenia_chess_education_primary_schools |url-status=dead }} Grandmaster Smbat Lputian argued that "bringing chess into schools is the best way to build the future."{{cite news|last=Grigoryan|first=Marianna|title=Armenia: Can Chess "Build the Country's Future?"|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63957|access-date=25 August 2013|website=EurasiaNet|date=27 July 2011|archive-date=27 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827222357/http://eurasianet.org/node/63957|url-status=live}} Grandmaster Rafael Vaganian criticized the program as "farce."{{cite news |title=Գրոսմայստեր Ռաֆայել Վահանյանը դեմ է դպրոցներում շախմատի դասավանդմանը |url=https://a1plus.am/hy/article/355846 |agency=A1plus |date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218181359/https://a1plus.am/hy/article/355846 |archive-date=18 December 2019 |language=hy}}

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.{{cite news|last=Berezow|first=Alex|title=Why Chess Should Be Required in U.S. Schools|url=https://psmag.com/education/why-chess-should-be-required-in-us-schools-55241|work=Pacific Standard|date=15 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915234136/https://psmag.com/education/why-chess-should-be-required-in-us-schools-55241|archive-date=15 September 2014}} During his visit to Armenia in 2014 Magnus Carlsen stated: "I think Armenia's experience of teaching chess in schools is a great example for the whole world."{{cite news|title=Carlsen: World should take example from Armenia|url=http://sport.news.am/eng/news/42618/carlsen-world-should-take-example-from-armenia.html|work=sport.news.am|date=23 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623164032/http://sport.news.am/eng/news/42618/carlsen-world-should-take-example-from-armenia.html|archive-date=23 June 2014}} As of 2020, chess is taught in grades 2 to 4 with two classes a week.{{cite web |title=Իրազեկում. «Շախմատ» [Announcement on Chess] |url=https://escs.am/am/news/6882 |website=escs.am |publisher=Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813074619/https://escs.am/am/news/6882 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |language=hy |date=9 August 2020}}

{{Bar chart

| title = Chess players in Armenia

| label_type = Year

| data_type = Number

| bar_width = 15

| width_units = em

| data_max = 5000

| float = right

| label1 = 2005{{cite web |title=Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2005 թվականին |url=https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_06a_59.pdf |website=armstat.am |publisher=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419115620/https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_06a_59.pdf |archive-date=19 April 2021 |language=hy}}

| data1 = 1,846

| label2 = 2010{{cite web |title=Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2010 թվականին |url=https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_11a_5160.pdf |website=armstat.am |publisher=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518171857/https://armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_11a_5160.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2021 |language=hy}}

| data2 = 2,893

| label3 = 2021{{cite web |title=Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2021 թվականին |url=https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_22a_5150.pdf |website=armstat.am |publisher=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810134230/https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_06_22a_5150.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2022 |language=hy}}

| data3 = 4,969

}}

On December 12, 2019 the United Nations (UN) designated 20 July as World Chess Day as proposed by the Armenian delegation. It marks the date in 1924 when the International Chess Federation was established.{{cite web |title=General Assembly Adopts Three Resolutions on Culture of Peace, Highlighting Need to Foster Interreligious Dialogue, Moderate Social Media |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12226.doc.htm |website=un.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213115040/https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12226.doc.htm |archive-date=13 December 2019 |date=12 December 2019}}

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.

In August 2022, when he met with the men's team that won a silver medal at the 44th Chess Olympiad, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia should aim to win the World Chess Championship by 2050. His government has listed it as a strategic goal for Armenia.{{cite web |title=Պատրաստ ենք բոլոր ջանքերը գործադրել՝ զարգացման հաջորդ քայլն անելու համար. վարչապետը պարգևատրել է ՀՀ շախմատի տղամարդկանց հավաքականի անդամներին [We are ready to make all efforts to take the next step of development. The Prime Minister awarded the members of the RA men's chess team] |url=https://www.primeminister.am/hy/press-release/item/2022/08/12/Nikol-Pashinyan-meeting/ |website=primeminister.am |publisher=The Office to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813070940/https://www.primeminister.am/hy/press-release/item/2022/08/12/Nikol-Pashinyan-meeting/ |archive-date=13 August 2022 |language=hy |date=12 August 2022}}

At the FIDE 100 Awards in September 2024 Armenia was honored as the "Best Male Team" by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).{{cite web |title=FIDE 100 Awards make history |url=https://www.fide.com/news/3223 |publisher=FIDE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924105430/https://www.fide.com/news/3223 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |date=20 September 2024}}

File:Ռաֆայել-Վահանյան 02.JPG, who resides in Germany, performing a simultaneous exhibition in Yerevan in 2013.]]

A number of ethnic Armenian chess players have achieved success outside of Armenia. Most notably, in 1985, Garry Kasparov, born in Baku, Soviet Azerbaijan to an Armenian mother and Russian Jewish father,{{cite book|last=Saunders|first=Robert A.|title=Historical Dictionary of the Russian Federation|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=978-0-8108-7460-2|page=299|author2=Strukov, Vlad}} became World Champion. Although he never represented Armenia and is only half-Armenian, some sources preferred to call him Armenian,{{cite news|last1=Byrne|first1=Robert|authorlink1=Robert Byrne (chess player)|title=CHESS; Even Loosely Defined, Armenia Can't Beat the Rest of the World|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/11/nyregion/chess-even-loosely-defined-armenia-can-t-beat-the-rest-of-the-world.html|access-date=15 September 2014|work=New York Times|date=11 July 2004|quote=Kasparov was dubbed Armenian because his mother is Armenian.|archive-date=16 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916061249/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/11/nyregion/chess-even-loosely-defined-armenia-can-t-beat-the-rest-of-the-world.html|url-status=live}} partly because his last name is the Russified form of his mother's Armenian last name Kasparyan.

Other notable Armenian diaspora chess players include{{cite news |last1=Terekhov |first1=Andrey |title=Армянское шахматное чудо |url=https://chess24.com/ru/read/news/armyanskoe-shahmatnoe-chudo |work=chess24.com |agency=chess24.com |date=May 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807104428/https://chess24.com/ru/read/news/armyanskoe-shahmatnoe-chudo |archive-date=7 August 2021 |language=ru}} Sergei Movsesian (Czech Republic, Slovakia), Yury Dokhoian{{cite news |last1=McClain |first1=Dylan Loeb |title=Yury Dokhoian, Chess Coach Who Guided Kasparov, Dies at 56 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/world/europe/yury-dokhoian-dead.html |work=The New York Times |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=August 7, 2021 |archive-date=August 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807104648/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/world/europe/yury-dokhoian-dead.html |url-status=live }} and David Paravyan (Russia), Levon Ashotovich Grigorian (Uzbekistan), Tatev Abrahamyan, Samuel Sevian, Varuzhan Akobian, Melikset Khachiyan and Levon Aronian (United States), Dina Kagramanov and Natalia Khoudgarian (Canada), José Bademian Orchanian (Uruguay), Krikor Mekhitarian (Brazil), Knarik Mouradian (Lebanon).

The national governing body for chess, the Armenian Chess Federation, was founded in 1927.{{cite web|url=http://www.chessfed.am/index.php?Page=Federation&Lang=2|title=Info – Federation|publisher=Armenian Chess Federation|access-date=16 September 2012|archive-date=22 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322052125/http://www.chessfed.am/index.php?Page=Federation&Lang=2|url-status=live}} Serzh Sargsyan, then Defense Minister, was elected its president in 2004 and was reelected in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.chessdom.com/news-2011/serzh-sargsyan|title=Serzh Sargsyan re-elected President of Armenian Chess Federation|date=2 February 2011|publisher=Chessdom|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=26 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926131744/http://www.chessdom.com/news-2011/serzh-sargsyan|url-status=live}} Sargsyan "is known for enthusiastically supporting Armenian chess players."{{cite news|last=Fraiman |first=Michael |title=Armenia's gambit to become chess superpower |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/armenias-gambit-to-become-chess-superpower |access-date=15 September 2014 |work=National Post }} [https://archive.org/details/armeniasgambittobecomechesssuperpowernationalpost Alt URL] On one occasion, Sargsyan stated that "We don't want people to know Armenia just for the earthquake and the genocide. We would rather it was famous for its chess."{{cite news|title=Armenia revels in its chess prowess|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8275099.stm|access-date=25 August 2013|date=26 September 2009|agency=BBC News|archive-date=13 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213123345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8275099.stm|url-status=live}} The Armenian government provides grandmasters with salaries and perks.

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 Grandmaster Smbat Lputian and supported by then-Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The academy has also organized international and national chess tournaments.{{cite web|title=The History of Academy|url=http://www.chessacademy.am/index.php?Page=About_Us&Lang=1|publisher=Chess Academy|access-date=21 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110436/http://www.chessacademy.am/index.php?Page=About_Us&Lang=1|archive-date=24 December 2013}}

{{main|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).{{cite web|url=http://www.armchess.am/all_ch_arm.htm |title=All champions of Armenia |publisher=Chess in Armenia Magazine |access-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120000741/http://www.armchess.am/all_ch_arm.htm |archive-date=20 January 2012 }}

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).

File:"Chess in Armenia" magazine logo.png

In 1972, the magazine Chess in Armenia (Շախմատային Հայաստան Shakhmatayin Hayastan) was founded by Gaguik Oganessian. It was published monthly until 1997, when it became a weekly magazine.{{cite web|title=Chess in Armenia (Shakhmatayin Hayastan), Armenia|url=http://chips.fide.com/chess-periodicals/57-chess-in-armenia-shakhmatayin-hayastan-armenia.html|publisher=FIDE|access-date=3 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230600/http://chips.fide.com/chess-periodicals/57-chess-in-armenia-shakhmatayin-hayastan-armenia.html|archive-date=2 December 2013}} 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.{{cite web|title=Chess-64 |url=http://www.1tv.am/en/1337158343 |publisher=Public Television of Armenia |access-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902042555/http://www.1tv.am/en/1337158343 |archive-date=2 September 2013}} Another more recently created show, Chess World, is aired after the First News.{{cite web|title=Chess World |url=http://www.1tv.am/en/1337158305 |publisher=Public Television of Armenia |access-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102004221/http://www.1tv.am/en/1337158305 |archive-date=2 November 2012}}

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, lists 24 active Armenian grandmasters, 4 woman grandmasters, 17 international masters and 4 woman international masters.{{cite web|title=General ratings statistics for Armenia|url=http://ratings.fide.com/avgtoplist.phtml?country=ARM|publisher=World Chess Federation (FIDE)|access-date=28 August 2013|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212113549/http://ratings.fide.com/avgtoplist.phtml?country=ARM|url-status=live}}

The Top 10 Armenian grandmasters as of October 2024 are listed below.{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/top_lists.phtml|title=Federations Ranking: Armenia|publisher=World Chess Federation (FIDE)|access-date=17 November 2023|archive-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030623/http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml?tops=0&ina=2&country=ARM|url-status=live}}

{{See also|List of Armenian chess players}}

{{multiple image

| header = #3 player in Armenia

| align = right

| caption_align = center

| image1 = GSargissian11.jpg

| width1 = 140

| caption1 = Gabriel Sargissian (#93)

}}

The Top 10 women Armenian chess players are listed below as of October 2024.{{cite web|url=http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml?tops=1&ina=2&country=ARM|title=Federations Ranking: Armenia, Women|publisher=World Chess Federation (FIDE)|access-date=17 November 2023|archive-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030613/http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml?tops=1&ina=2&country=ARM|url-status=live}}

{{multiple image

| header = #1 Armenian women player

| align = right

| caption_align = center

| image1 = Danieljan elina 20081119 olympiade dresden.jpg

| width1 = 175

| caption1 = Elina Danielian (#60)

}}

{{See also|Chess Olympiad}}

;Open (Men's)

;Women's

{{See also|World Team Chess Championship}}

;Men's

;Women's

;Men's

{{See also|European Team Chess Championship}}

File:Armenia vs Azerbaijan.jpg (left) and Teimour Radjabov (right) pictured in the foreground.]]

;Women's

In 1995, the Yerevan city club won the European Chess Club Cup men's tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/1995c/1995fa.html |title=11th European Chess Club Cup: 1995 |publisher=OlimpBase |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-date=27 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127191021/http://www.olimpbase.org/1995c/1995fa.html |url-status=live }} In 2006, the Yerevan MIKA club won the European Club Cup women's tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.olimpbase.org/2006b/2006fa.html|title=11th European Chess Club Cup (women): Fügen 2006|publisher=OlimpBase|access-date=18 September 2012|archive-date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024100647/http://www.olimpbase.org/2006b/2006fa.html|url-status=live}}

{{Portal|Chess}}

• Armenian Chess Championship
• Armenian draughts
• Chess Federation of Armenia
• Grünfeld Defence, Nadanian Variation
• List of Armenian chess players
• Tigran Petrosian Chess House

Notes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite book|last1=Orbeli|first1=Joseph|author-link=Joseph Orbeli|last2=Trever|first2=Kamilla|authorlink2=Kamilla Trever|script-title=ru:Шатранг. Книга о шахматах |trans-title=Shatrang: The Book of Chess|year=1936|publisher=State Hermitage|location=Saint Petersburg|language=ru|page=195|oclc=82233681 |url=https://arar.sci.am/dlibra/publication/286673/edition/263191/content|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206112406/https://arar.sci.am/dlibra/publication/286673/edition/263191/content |archive-date=2023-12-06 }}

}}

• [http://www.armchess.am/ Chess in Armenia magazine]
• [http://www.chessfed.am/index.php?Lang=2 Armenian Chess Federation website]

{{Sports in Armenia}}

{{chess}}

{{World topic|Chess in|noredlinks=yes}}

{{Geography of chess}}