Kotanjian wins 4th Karen Asrian Memorial

4th Karen Asrian Memorial
GM Tigran Kotanjian wins the event for second year in succession

The Armenian Chess Federation organized the 4th Karen Asrian Memorial from 15th to 25th June, in the prominent resort town of Jermuk. 71 players participated in the 9-round Swiss tournament. The total prize fund amounts to 15,000 US dollars.

GM Tigran Kotanjian repeated the last year’s success and after obtaining the lead in the 7th round he defended the top position to claim another trophy dedicated to the memory of Armenia’s favourite player.

Five players are sharing the 2nd place with 6.5 points each – reigning Armenian champion Robert Hovhannisyan, his compatriot Levon Babujian, Russians Mikhail Ulibin and Maxim Turov, and Georgia’s Konstantine Shanava.

Iranian junior FM Idani Pouya has had an impressive tournament, and despite being paired against seven Grandmasters, he maintained the clean sheet and earned an IM norm.

Top seed GM Arman Pashikian (2643) and World U18 vice-champion GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (2592) experienced a bumpy ride to finish with only five points each and a massive rating loss.

Karen Asrian passed away in June 2008, at the age of 28. He was member of the Armenian national team which won the first gold medal at the 2006 Chess Olympiad in Turin.

Top 30 final standings:

1 GM Kotanjian Tigran ARM 2517 – 7
2 GM Shanava Konstantine GEO 2539 – 6.5
3 GM Turov Maxim RUS 2634 – 6.5
4 GM Ulibin Mikhail RUS 2532 – 6.5
5 GM Hovhannisyan Robert ARM 2553 – 6.5
6 GM Babujian Levon ARM 2448 – 6.5
7 IM Nadanian Ashot ARM 2426 – 6
8 FM Idani Pouya IRI 2372 – 6
9 IM Azaladze Shota GEO 2423 – 6
10 GM Dubov Daniil RUS 2505 – 6
11 GM Gleizerov Evgeny RUS 2600 – 6
12 GM Chibukhchian Artur ARM 2500 – 6
13 GM Petrosian Davit G ARM 2480 – 6
14 FM Hayrapetian Ovik ARM 2390 – 5.5
15 IM Maghalashvili Davit GEO 2469 – 5.5
16 FM Gabuzyan Hovhannes ARM 2394 – 5.5
17 GM Simonian Hrair ARM 2468 – 5.5
18 IM Turova Irina RUS 2442 – 5.5
19 Mikaelyan Arman ARM 2176 – 5
20 Matinian Nikita RUS 2383 – 5
21 GM Moradiabadi Elshan IRI 2536 – 5
22 GM Ter-Sahakyan Samvel ARM 2592 – 5
23 WGM Kursova Maria RUS 2308 – 5
24 IM Hayrapetian Arman ARM 2352 – 5
25 GM Minasian Artashes ARM 2558 – 5
26 WFM Saduakassova Dinara KAZ 2207 – 5
27 Shahinyan David ARM 2317 – 5
28 WGM Batsiashvili Nino GEO 2399 – 5
29 GM Pashikian Arman ARM 2643 – 5
30 Petrosyan Manuel ARM 2125 – 5
31 FM Lorparizangeneh Shahin IRI 2120 – 5
32 Manukyan Sargis A ARM 2017 – 5
33 Barseghyan Harutyun ARM 1961 – 5