Abovian Armenian Cultural Association
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
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Email: info@abovian.nl

PRESS RELEASE
12 April 2007
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

Dutch-Armenian chess star (19) plays simultaneous chess tournament

By Inge Drost

The Hague – Tomorrow Biaina Geragousian (19) will take part in an
international simultaneous chess-tournament at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in the Hague. Biaina is the daughter of Armenian parents, who
migrated to the Netherlands in the 1980s.

On 13 April 2007, International Grandmaster Jan Timman will play against 60
Opponents, among whom (former) Members of Parliament, members of the Corps
Diplomatique, talented young players (including Biaina) and journalists from
several countries. The tournament will be opened by Foreign Minister, Maxime
Verhagen, and former speaker of the Dutch Parliament, Dick Dolman.

After Biaina became Dutch chess champion in the age group up to 10 years,
she could not stop playing the game. She won many international rapid
titles, but had to wait until 2003 to be National champion in her age group
once again. She managed to do the same in 2004.

Biaina’s chess-successes brought her abroad many times. She played chess in
Armenia (Pan Armenian games, 2003) but also visited Montenegro (European
Championship, 2003), Kreta (Worlds championship) and Siberia (international
tournament for national teams, 2005).

At the moment, Biaina is in training for the Dutch championship, which will
be held in the beginning of May. The top two players will get a ticket to
Armenia, where the World Championships are held later this year. Biaina, who
is seeded in second place, naturally only has one goal!

On 13 April, the Armenian community will be present in The Hague, to cheer
for Biaina; her game will be one of the two games that will be projected
onto a large screen.