OPENING OF FIDE GRAND PRIX TOURNAMET TAKES PLACE IN JERMUK

Noyan Tapan
Aug 11, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Opening of the FIDE Grand Prix
Tournament took place late on August 8 in the city of Jermuk,
Armenia. It was dedicated to 9th world champion Tigran Petrosian’s
80th birthday anniversary.

President of Armenia as well as President of the Chess Federation
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan participated in the ceremony. The
country President mentioned in his greeting speech that the fact of
showing hospitality to such a chess tournament can do credit for any
country. The tournament has another important advice, he mentioned,
emphasizing that it is dedicated to Tigran Petrosian’s jubilee,
T. Petrosian is not only a chess giant for Armenia and Armenians
but he is also a symbol of national dignity. The men’s chess team of
Armenia uninterruptedly twice became the chess Olympic champion in
44 years after T. Petrosian’s world victory.

FIDE President K. Ilyumzhinov also welcame the tournament participants
and those present.

14 best world chess players, including double champions of the Chess
Olympiad Levon Aronian and Vladimir Hakobian representing Armenia,
participate in the tournament.