ARMENIAN CHESS-PLAYERS AGAIN IN LEAD
Noyan Tapan
May 31 2006
TURIN, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Both men’s and women’s Armenian national
teams gained victories in the 9th tour of 37th world chess olympiad
being held in Turin. The men competing with the strong Ukrainian team
gained advantage with a score of 2.5 to 1.5. Levon Aronian, Vladimir
Hakobian and Karen Asrian drew their games with Vasili Ivanchuk, Sergei
Karagev and Pavel Elyanov, respectively. And Gabriel Asatrian defeated
Alexander Moiseenko. After the 9th tour the Armenian national team
has gained 26.5 points and contiunes to be in the lead. The Chinese
national team is in the second place (25.5 points). It defeated the
Georgian chess-players with a score of 4 to 0. The next places were
taken by the teams of France (24), Russia, the U.S., the Ukraine
(23.5 points each). The Armenian women chess-players defeated the
Germans with a score of 2.5 to 0.5 in the 9th tour. Lilit Mkrtchian
drew the game and Elina Danielian and Siranoush Andreasian defeated
their rivals. After this success the Armenian women’s national team
takes the 6th place with 18 points. The women’s national teams of
the Ukraine (21 points), Russia (20.5) and Georgia (19) are among
the first three best teams. In the 10th tour to be held on May 31
both the Armenian men and women will compete with the chess-players
of China. Only 4 tours have remained until the end of the olympiad
and the winners and other prize-winners will become known on June 4.