LEVON ARONYAN THE WINNER OF THE ASRYAN MEMORIAL

armradio.am
16.06.2008 12:25

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan defeated Michael Adams of England
1.5:0.5 in the 13th and 14th rounds of the Karen Asryan Memorial,
thus becoming the winner of eth rapid chess tournament.

In the last two rounds Peter Leco of Hungary lost to Alexander
Morozevich 0.5:1.5, Boris Gelfand (Israel) defeated Gabriel Sargsyan
of Armenia 2:0, Vladimir Hakobyan and Xiangzhi Bu of China played a
draw (1:1).

Thus, Levon Aronyan became the winner of the tournament with 8.5 points
and won the prize of $70 thousand. Peter Leco caeme second with 8
points, Morozevich and Gelfand shared the 3rd and 4th position with
7.5 points, Xiangzhi Bu was the 5th with 7 points. Gabriel Sargsyan
occupied the 6th position with 6.5 points, followed by Michael Adams
(6 points) and Vladimir Hakobyan (5 points).

"Karen Asryan Memorial gained its unique place in the chess world. The
irreversible loss of Karen Asryan will not prevent Armenian chess
players from continuing their brilliant performances in international
tournaments, and Armenian chess players will manage to keep high the
national chess flag," RA President, President of the Chess Federation
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the solemn closing ceremony of
the Karen Asryan Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament at the National Opera
and Ballet Theatre after Alexander Spendiaryan. He congratulated all
participants of the tournament and thanked them for participation. RA
President expressed hope that the tournament named after talented
chess player, 2006 Olympic Champion, triple Champion of Armenia Karen
Asryan will become traditional.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, chess is not only sport: this ancient
game educates a person, shows him the way towards victory. He said
the leadership of the Chess Federation will do its best to promote
the development chess in Armenia. The Federation will aspire to hold
the World Chess Championship in Armenia if Aronyan claims the title,
the President said.