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ARMENIAN GRANDMASTER VARUZHAN AKOBIAN TO COMPETE IN THE 2013 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
14:43, 29 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian
is going to compete in the 2013 U.S. Chess Championships beginning
May 2 in St. Louis. Akobian will be one of only 24 elite chess players
competing for the coveted title at the Chess Club & Scholastic Center
of St. Louis, a spot he earned based on his exceptional competitive
ranking, reports Armenpress referring to The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Up for grabs at this tournament is the title of U.S. champion,
accompanied by a grand prize of $30,000. Furthermore, if any competitor
is able to reproduce Bobby Fischer's 1963-64 U.S.
Championship performance of winning every game, he will earn a bonus
prize of $,000. The top five players also will qualify to play in
the World Championship cycle.
Akobian is a professional player who has achieved the elite rank of
Grandmaster, now settled in Topeka. His father was his first opponent,
and the match took place shortly after Akobian's family moved to
Mongolia from his home country of Armenia. The bone-chilling weather
conditions outside kept Akobian cooped up indoors for long stretches,
and his father must have hoped the game was complex enough to keep
his young son occupied for days - even weeks - at a time.
As Akobian stared down at the checkered board for the first time that
day, tentatively sliding rooks and pawns with his tiny fingers, he had
no way of knowing that chess was to become his calling, purpose and
passion. But that one match was all it took to hook Akobian for life.
"I fell in love with it, and I've been playing ever since," he said.
Akobian's success is the result of years of dedication and discipline.
Mastering the game of chess meant learning a multitude of smaller
lessons along the way, many of which he has found to be applicable
to everyday life. Akobian reflected on those lessons as he shared
his story.
From: A. Papazian
14:43, 29 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian
is going to compete in the 2013 U.S. Chess Championships beginning
May 2 in St. Louis. Akobian will be one of only 24 elite chess players
competing for the coveted title at the Chess Club & Scholastic Center
of St. Louis, a spot he earned based on his exceptional competitive
ranking, reports Armenpress referring to The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Up for grabs at this tournament is the title of U.S. champion,
accompanied by a grand prize of $30,000. Furthermore, if any competitor
is able to reproduce Bobby Fischer's 1963-64 U.S.
Championship performance of winning every game, he will earn a bonus
prize of $,000. The top five players also will qualify to play in
the World Championship cycle.
Akobian is a professional player who has achieved the elite rank of
Grandmaster, now settled in Topeka. His father was his first opponent,
and the match took place shortly after Akobian's family moved to
Mongolia from his home country of Armenia. The bone-chilling weather
conditions outside kept Akobian cooped up indoors for long stretches,
and his father must have hoped the game was complex enough to keep
his young son occupied for days - even weeks - at a time.
As Akobian stared down at the checkered board for the first time that
day, tentatively sliding rooks and pawns with his tiny fingers, he had
no way of knowing that chess was to become his calling, purpose and
passion. But that one match was all it took to hook Akobian for life.
"I fell in love with it, and I've been playing ever since," he said.
Akobian's success is the result of years of dedication and discipline.
Mastering the game of chess meant learning a multitude of smaller
lessons along the way, many of which he has found to be applicable
to everyday life. Akobian reflected on those lessons as he shared
his story.
From: A. Papazian