Interview with Hovik Khalikyan, Vice-President of Armenia’s Chess Federation
– Mr. Khalikyan, Levon Aronyan achieved great success in Veik-an-Zee super championship.
– Indeed, Aronyan’s play was very impressive, but the major victory for his class of chess-player is to become the world champion, which we are all waiting for.
– And, it is possible? The present world champion is a very young man and has full potential.
– At the moment, Aronyan is the best in understanding chess, he is higher from his opponents in technique, his “Achilles’ heel” is his debuts in which Carlsen is not particularly good in it. Armenian people must do everything for our compatriot to win in the upcoming Candidates Tournament, and we would be witnesses of a titanic struggle.
– In recent months, there is serious activeness in Armenian chess.
– If you mean Armenia’s men and women championships, then, yes. Surprisingly, at one stroke, Tigran Kotanjyan, a participant of the tournament by individual coefficient, a Grandmaster passing coaching and bee-keeping operations in recent years, achieved the title of the Armenian champion, who will supplement our national team. Shushan Sargsyan celebrated the victory in Women’s tournament.
– Yerevan mayor is also the President of the Yerevan Chess Federation. What is your opinion?
– Was there someone who was obstructing the Mayor to develop chess in Yerevan along with acting and competent President of the Yerevan Chess Federation? The point is that Ashot Vardapetyan, International Arbiter of chess, a chess-player, chief arbiter of the last 2 individual World Championship matches, enjoying the respect and position in FIDE, was the President of the Yerevan Chess Federation, who was also the chief of “MIKA” chess team, and the team achieved exceptional success in recent years.
– In fact, it turns out “to cut off someone’s bread and butter”.
– Glory is the most tempted weapon of evil. The leader of all Armenian capital should never make a move, which somewhat will make the reputation of the position vulnerable.
– On the day of election for the Yerevan Chess Federation President, Andranik Margaryan traditional chess tournament was launched in the Chess Academy.
– Andranik Margaryan is the founder and sponsor of the Chess Academy; he has entered the chess world by urging of Serzh Sargsyan, during his tenure the issue of him becoming the president of the Chess Federation has been repeatedly discussed, and, in honor of the former Prime Minister, I would say that I do not consider him competent in this position. Glory and honor to those who do not forget merited, but also shame, thousands of shame to those who have obliviously neglected the memory of Loris Khachatur Kalashyan, academician, second of Tigran V. Petrosyan, Armenia’s Chess Champion, founder of the chess school in Armenia, founder of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Institute, President of the Armenia Chess Federation, and President of Armenia and the Soviet Union “Knowledge” company, and many others. There is not only a memorial tournament missing in the name of Kalashyan, but there is no class in his established structures. Today’s glorious present of the Armenian chess could not have rotten past.
Aravot Daily
