Armenian Championships: Manuel Petrosyan and Anahit Mkrtchyan collect national titles

by ChessBase
1/25/2026 – Manuel Petrosyan and Anahit Mkrtchyan won the Armenian National Championships in Yerevan, earning national titles and places in future international team events. The parallel round-robin tournaments were closely fought, with the open section decided in the final round and the women's title emerging from a sustained duel at the top. The event reflected the depth and competitiveness of Armenia's domestic chess scene. | Photos: Armenian Chess Federation
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Press release by FIDE

GM Manuel Petrosyan and untitled Anahit Mkrtchyan emerged victorious at the Armenian National Chess Championships. Petrosyan captured his second national title, while Mkrtchyan claimed her first. Both earned the right to represent Armenia in international team competitions.

The 86th Armenian Chess Championship and the 81st Armenian Women's Chess Championship were held simultaneously at the Tigran Petrosyan Chess House-Sports School in Yerevan from January 13-21. Both competitions were 10-player round-robins with classical time control.

The Open Championship was fiercely contested – so much so that no player completed the tournament undefeated. Entering the final round, GM Manuel Petrosyan, IM Artur Davtyan, and GM Zaven Andriasian were tied for the lead with 5/8. In the decisive round, both Davtyan and Andriasian drew their games, while Petrosyan secured a crucial victory over IM Arsen Davtyan to clinch the title.

Davtyan, Andriasian, and GM Aram Hakobyan finished on 5½/9, a half-point behind the champion tying for second place.

Based on tiebreaks, Davtyan took silver, while Andriasian completed the podium with bronze.

Manuel Petrosyan

Manuel Patrosyan | Photo: Armenian Chess Federation

Final standings

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Petrosyan, Manuel 6 24,25
2 Davtyan, Artur 5,5 25
3 Andriasian, Zaven 5,5 23,5
4 Hakobyan, Aram 5,5 23,5
5 Sargsyan, Sargis Vach. 4,5 18,25
6 Gharibyan, Mamikon 4,5 17,75
7 Harutyunyan, Tigran K. 4 16,75
8 Ohanyan, Emin 3,5 15,5
9 Grigoryan, Karen H. 3 15
10 Davtyan, Arsen 3 12

All games

The Women's Championship developed into an exciting duel between Anahit Mkrtchyan and WFM Astghik Hakobyan. Both players surged ahead early, but Hakobyan gained the upper hand by defeating Mkrtchyan in their encounter of round six, thus taking the sole lead. However, a late collapse derailed her campaign: Astghik lost two of her final games and had to settle for silver with 6/9.

Mkrtchyan drew both of her final two games, which proved sufficient to claim gold with 6½/9.

WFM Sona Krkyasharyan, Ani Avetisyan, and WFM Anna Khachatryan scored 5½ points and tied for third place. Based on tie-breaks, Krkyasharyan was awarded the bronze medal.

Ani Avetisyan, Anahit Mkrtchyan

Ani Avetisyan v. Anahit Mkrtchyan (round six, 0-1) | Photo: Armenian Chess Federation

Final standings

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Mkrtchyan, Anahit H. 6,5 26,25
2 Hakobyan, Astghik 6 23,5
3 Krkyasharyan, Sona 5,5 21,75
4 Avetisyan, Ani 5,5 21
5 Khachatryan, Anna 5,5 20,25
6 Avetisyan, Mariam 4,5 16,5
7 Hayrapetyan, Nvard 4,5 16,25
8 Mirakyan, Angelina 4 14,75
9 Kasinyan, Lilit 3 10,25
10 Dzhalalian, Nelli 0 0

All games

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