Harutyunian and Paravyan share first in Vanya Somov’s Memorial 2014

The 12th “World’s Youth Stars” Vanya Somov’s Memorial took place from 13th to 24th May, 2014 in the town of Kirishi, situated in the Leningrad Region, Russia.

The tournament was a 12 player round robin with an average rating 2355 (fifth category). The time control was 90 minutes per player plus 30 seconds increment starting from move 1.

The Armenian IM Tigran Harutyunian and the local IM David Paravyan shared first place with 8/ 11 points.

IM Olexandr Bortnyk from Ukraine took the bronze with 7.5/11 points.

Tournament website/ Previous reports: 2012, 2010, 2009

Final standings:

1. IM Tigran Harutyunian ARM (2421) – 8
2. IM David Paravyan RUS (2417) – 8
3. IM Olexandr Bortnyk UKR (2516) – 7.5
4. IM Daniil Yuffa RUS (2430) – 7
5. FM Abdulla Gadimbayli AZE (2100) – 6.5
6-7. IM Alexey Zenzera RUS (2442) – 6
6-7. FM Haik Martirosyan ARM (2287) – 6
8. Saveliy Golubov RUS (2344) – 4.5
9. Mihail Nikitenko BLR (2189) – 4
10-11. Alexey Sarana RUS (2377) – 3
10-11. FM Pavlo Vorontsov UKR (2413) – 3
12. FM Andrey Esipenko RUS (2316) – 2.5

About Vanya Somov:
by the tournament director Gennady Nesis

The “World’s Youth Stars” chess tournament is devoted to the memory of Vanya Somov (20 February 1990-31 July 2002). He could have rightfully been a participant of this representative competition. But Vanya’s star burned brightly and faded away having no time to shine in the sky if chess.

Though young, he was a rightful member of the team of the World champion 1999 Alexander Khalifman at the World Championship in Las Vegas, at the biggest International tournament in Linares (2000) at the math play with the leading young grandmaster of the world P. Leko in Budapest (2000).

In his chess biography he took part in such bright events as the Youth Championship of Russia (Sochi-2002), World Junior Championship (Spain-2000), International chess tournaments in Helsinki, Dortmund, Maintz, Sankt-Ingbert. He played for his school, town and Leningrad Region at the All-Russia’s competitions, twice he became the winner of chess tasks and etudes in the Academy of Chess Art in St. Petersburg.

Vanya was surprisingly talented and kindhearted boy with a big sole and a special sunny smile.