The 5th Pan<i>Armenian</i> games are a success

by ChessBase
8/24/2011 – For those not from that corner of the world, the idea of PanArmenian games may sound strange. The underlying purpose is a peace effort to reconnect Armenians and Armenians in diaspora with their country of origin, most notably those living in the independent but not officially recognized (thus not on official maps) state of Nagorno-Karabakh. Here is an illustrated report by Liane Aghabekyan.

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Two winners from Yerevan

By Liane Liana Aghabekyan

Last week, from August 13th to the 21st, the 5th PanArmenian games were held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. More than 3200 athletes from 125 cities in 30 countries, including athletes from Nagorno-Karabakh, met to compete in ten different sports competitions. Besides the joy of competition it was to visit a great opportunity for many participants to see old friends again, from their own home or the home of their ancestors.

The idea for the PanArmenian games comes from the diplomat Ashot Meliq-Shahnazaryan and the purpose is to renew the connection of Armenians in the diaspora with their country of origin. The most obvious example being the Armenian inhabitants of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto independent but unrecognized state established within the borders of Azerbaijan. One reason why you will look for it in vain on any maps or atlases you may have.

The first games were held in 1999, now they are carried out every four years. The motto of the 5th PanArmenian games was "sporting unity." In a grand opening celebration in Vazgen Sargsyan stadium, the athletes were greeted by the Prime Minister of Armenia and other officials.

The opening ceremony


The grand opening of the fifth PanArmenian games


The underlying purpose being a peace effort, flags of both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
can be seen.


Processions take place in front of a packed stadium audience


The Armenian chess team have a place of honor having just won the prestigious
World Team Championship.


More reasons to cheer


The president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan


Yerevan at night

The chess tournament

Although the actual PanArmenian games highlight classic sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, futsal, tennis, and swimming, with such a chess manic country it could hardly be without a chess discipline as well. Since the goal was not to have the numerous GMs and IMs duking it out, the upper threshold of the participants was much lower.


The tournament took place in the chess hall named after the 9th World Champion
Armenian Tigran Petrosian
.


To the right is the eventual winner Zohrak Apresyan


Silver medalist Gor Virabyan faces Zohrak Apresyan in a crucial game


The bronze went to Manuel Petrosyan from Nagorno-Karabakh


The World Junior silver medalist Hovhannisyan presents the bronze medal


In the women's tournament Diana Mnatsakanyan took bronze


The winner's podium of the women's tournament


Both the gold medalists are from Yerevan

Final standings with original spelling
 

Rk Name Rtg Club / City Pts TB1 TB2
1 Ապրեսյան Զոհրակ 2185 Երեւան 6.0 29.5 31.0
2 Վիրաբյան Գոռ 2160 Նոր Հաճըն 6.0 28.0 30.0
3 Պետրոսյան Մանուել 2188 Շուշի 6.0 26.0 28.0
4 Գասպարյան Տիգրան 2195 Երեւան 5.5 29.5 33.0
5 Բակունց Ռաֆայել 2193 Երեւան 5.5 29.5 32.5
6 Տեր - Կարապետյան Արմեն 2060 Թբիլիսի 5.5 27.0 29.0
7 Դերունի Պերճ 2123 Ստամբուլ 5.5 26.0 29.5
8 Դիլոյան Արա 1873 Գյումրի 5.5 25.5 28.0
9 Պլուզյան Արամ 2143 Վանաձոր 5.0 30.5 34.5
10 Տեր - Հակոբյան Բագրատ 2049 Մոսկվա 5.0 27.5 30.5
11 Թավաքալյան Ազատ 1876 Չարենցավան 5.0 27.5 30.5
12 Բոթոյան Սմբատ 2216 Արմավիր 5.0 25.0 26.5
13 Մարտիրոսյան Գարիկ 1671 Ճամբարակ 5.0 24.0 26.5
14 Ղարագյոզյան Արթուր 2233 Բյուրեղավան 5.0 23.5 26.0
15 Գասպարյան Միշա 0 Ախալքալակ 5.0 23.5 25.5
16 Սպերցյան Կամո 0 Վոլգոգրադ 5.0 21.5 24.0
17 Ասլանգիլ Դենիս 0 Ստամբուլ 5.0 19.0 21.0
18 Միրզոյան Միխայիլ 2325 Ռոստով 4.5 31.0 33.0
19 Հովհաննիսյան Կարեն 2050 Գյումրի 4.5 29.5 32.5
20 Թադեւոսյան Գալուստ 1772 Աշտարակ 4.5 25.5 29.0
21 Քարամյան Վարդան 2068 Գորիս 4.5 25.5 28.0
22 Մելքոնյան Վարդան 2230 Երեւան 4.5 25.5 27.5
23 Քարամյան Լեւոն 2090 Երեւան 4.5 24.5 27.5
24 Գեւորգյան Կամո 1975 Կապան 4.5 23.0 26.0

Names in English transliteration:

Rk Name Rtg Club / City Pts TB1 TB2
1 Apresyan Zohrak 2185 Yerevan 6.0 29.5 31.0
2 Virabyan Gor 2160 New Hadjer 6.0 28.0 30.0
3 Petrosyan Manuel 2188 Shushi 6.0 26.0 28.0
4 Tigran Gasparyan 2195 Yerevan 5.5 29.5 33.0
5 Rafael Bakunts 2193 Yerevan 5.5 29.5 32.5
6 Ter-Karapetyan poor 2060 Tbilisi 5.5 27.0 29.0
7 Deruni Perch 2123 Istanbul 5.5 26.0 29.5
8 Diloyan Ara 1873 The 5.5 25.5 28.0
9 Pluzyan Aram 2143 Vanadzor 5.0 30.5 34.5
10 Ter-Akopian Bagrat 2049 Moscow 5.0 27.5 30.5
11 Free Tavakalyan 1876 Charentsavan 5.0 27.5 30.5
12 Botoyan Smbat 2216 Armavir 5.0 25.0 26.5
13 Garik Martirosyan 1671 Chambarak 5.0 24.0 26.5
14 Arthur Gharagyozyan 2233 Byureghavan 5.0 23.5 26.0
15 Misha Gasparian 0 Akhalkalaki 5.0 23.5 25.5
16 Spertsyan Kamo 0 Volgograd 5.0 21.5 24.0
17 Dennis Aslangil 0 Istanbul 5.0 19.0 21.0
18 Interviews Michael 2325 Don 4.5 31.0 33.0
19 Karen Hovhannisyan 2050 The 4.5 29.5 32.5
20 Said to 1772 Ashtarak 4.5 25.5 29.0
21 The Karamyan 2068 Goris 4.5 25.5 28.0
22 Vartan Melkonian 2230 Yerevan 4.5 25.5 27.5
23 Karamyan is 2090 Yerevan 4.5 24.5 27.5
24 Search Kamo 1975 Ligament 4.5 23.0 26.0

Click for complete standings


Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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