Vladimir Akopian

Vladimir Akopian (Russian: Владимир Акопян,

Armenian: Վլադիմիր Հակոբյան; born December Vladimir Akopian
7, 1971) is an Armenian-American chess Grandmaster.

Career
Akopian was born in Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist
Republic, Soviet Union. He won the World Under-16
Championship in 1986 at the age of 14 and the World
Under-18 Championship at 16. In 1991, he won the
World Junior Chess Championship.[2]

He won the Armenian Chess Championship in 1996

and 1997.[3] In 1999 he made his way through to the
final of the FIDE knockout World Chess
Championship, but lost to Alexander Khalifman by Full name Վլադիմիր Հակոբյան
3.5-2.5.[4] Country Soviet Union (until 1992)
Armenia (1992–2021)
At the Russia vs the Rest of the World 2002, Akopian
defeated FIDE #1 ranked Garry Kasparov in 25 moves United States (since 2021)[1]

in the final eighth round.[5] Born December 7, 1971

Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet
Akopian defeated World Champion Vladimir Kramnik Socialist Republic, Soviet Union
in the first round of the Corus chess tournament 2004
Title Grandmaster (1991)
and was in the lead for the beginning of the
FIDE rating 2595 (https://ratings.fide.com/pr
tournament.[6] He finished the contest in tenth place.[7]
ofile/13300032) (February
He made it to the quarterfinals in the FIDE World 2025)
Chess Championship 2004, where he lost to eventual Peak rating 2713 (July 2006)
tournament runner-up Michael Adams. Peak ranking No. 11 (January 2003)

In 2005, he tied for 1st–5th with Emil Sutovsky,

Andrei Kharlov, Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexander Motylev at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow. Akopian had
a score of 6.5 at the Aeroflot Open 2005 and took part in a five-way tie. After the tiebreaker, he came in
fifth.[8]

It was reported that Akopian had to withdraw from the 2005 Dubai Open when he was arrested at Dubai
airport, having been mistaken for an individual of the same name wanted by Interpol for murder.[9]

Early in 2007, Akopian won the Gibtelecom Masters in Gibraltar with a score of 7.5/9 ahead of a group
of players tied at 7/9 including Michael Adams.[10]
Akopian came in third place at the Fourth FIDE Grand Prix in April 2009 with a score of 7.5/13, one
point behind compatriot Levon Aronian. He lost to Peter Leko, who had the same score, in a
tiebreaker.[11]

In December 2009, he was awarded the title of "Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of
Armenia".[12]

On the May 2013 FIDE list, he has an Elo rating of 2705, making him number 39 in the world and
Armenia's number two player, behind Levon Aronian.

In 2021, Akopian switched federations to represent the United States of America.[1]

Team competitions
The Armenia national chess team made its Chess Olympiad debut at the 30th Chess Olympiad in 1992
and won bronze. Akopian played on board two for the Olympiad, behind Rafael Vaganian.[13]

Akopian was one of the contributing players on the Armenian

chess team which won gold at the 2006 Chess Olympiad ahead
of second placed China and third placed United States.[14]
Akopian played on board two for the Olympiad.[15]

Akopian won the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden (2008) with

the Armenia national Chess team, winning gold for the second
time in a row at a Chess Olympiad.[16][17] Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan attended the Olympiad to support the team.
After the Olympiad, they flew back to Armenia with him on the
presidential plane, Air Force Armenia One.[18]

Armenia and Akopian regained their Olympiad title at the 40th Vladimir Akopian (3rd left) with his
Chess Olympiad (2012). This was the third time Armenia won 2008 Olympiad teammates on a 2009
gold at the Olympiad. Akopian played on board two at the stamp of Armenia

previous two and board three for the latest. As the players were
awarded their gold medals, the Armenian national anthem Mer Hayrenik was played and the Armenian
flag was raised in Istanbul. Levon Aronian was holding an Armenian flag up as he and his team were
standing on the first place podium.[19][20] Upon returning to Yerevan, the players were welcomed back
with a ceremony by many people in the city the moment their airplane touched down in Zvartnots
Airport.[21]

Akopian revealed after the 40th Olympiad that he is unsure if he will ever compete at the Chess
Olympiads again.[22]

He was a member of the gold medal-winning Armenian team at the World Team Chess Championship in
2011. It was the first time that the Armenian team won this tournament. Akopian played on board
three.[23]
Notable games
Vladimir Akopian vs Kiril D Georgiev, Ch World FIDE, Las Vegas (USA) 1999, Queen's
Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack (E12), 1-0 (http://www.ch
essgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1010088,)
Junior (Computer) vs Vladimir Akopian, SuperGM 2000, Owen Defense: General (B00), 1/2-
1/2 (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1292649,)
Vladimir Akopian vs Garry Kasparov, Russia vs The Rest of the World 2002, Sicilian
Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack (B30), 1-0 (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ch
essgame?gid=1254316,)
Alexey Korotylev vs Vladimir Akopian, Aeroflot Open 2006, Benoni Defense: Classical
Variation, General (A70), 0-1 (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1392644,)

References
1. "Transfers in 2021" (https://ratings.fide.com/fedchange.phtml?year=2021). FIDE.
2. "Pähtz-Korbut, Harikrishna-Zhao poised for victory" (http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.
asp?newsid=2053). ChessBase.com. 2004-11-29. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
3. "All Champions of Armenia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120120000741/http://www.armc
hess.am/all_ch_arm.htm). Armchess.am. Archived from the original (http://www.armchess.a
m/all_ch_arm.htm) on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
4. Crowther, Mark (1999-08-30). "TWIC 251: Alexander Khalifman, FIDE World Chess
Champion" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121012180325/https://chess.co.uk/twic/twic251.h
tml#2). London Chess Center. Archived from the original (https://theweekinchess.com/html/t
wic251.html#2) on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
5. "What is wrong with the great Ks?" (http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/400
0501/what-is-wrong-with-the-great-ks-.aspx). ChessBase. 10 September 2002. Retrieved
23 May 2013.
6. "Corus Round 1: Akopian beats Kramnik and leads" (http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabI
d/211/PostId/4001410/corus-round-1-akopian-beats-kramnik-and-leads.aspx). ChessBase.
10 January 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
7. "Corus Round 13: Anand Anand! Wins 2nd straight Wijk aan Zee" (http://www.chessbase.co
m/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4001445/corus-round-13-anand-anand-wins-2nd-straight-wijk-aa
n-zee.aspx). ChessBase. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
8. "Aeroflot Open: Sutovsky winner on tiebreak" (http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/
PostId/4002216/aeroflot-open-sutovsky-winner-on-tiebreak.aspx). ChessBase. 24 February
2005. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
9. ChessBase.com - Chess News - News and views from the world of chess (http://www.chess
base.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2315)
10. ChessBase.com - Chess News - Akopian wins GibTel Masters in Gibraltar (http://www.chess
base.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3650)
11. "Nalchik R13: Levon Aronian wins Fourth FIDE Grand Prix" (http://www.chessbase.com/Ho
me/TabId/211/PostId/4005387/nalchik-r13-levon-aronian-wins-fourth-fide-grand-prix.aspx).
ChessBase. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
12. "High Titles of Olympic Champions" (http://www.armchess.am/). Armchess. 2009-12-19.
Retrieved 19 December 2009.
13. "30th Chess Olympiad: Manila 1992" (http://www.olimpbase.org/1992/1992arm.html).
OlimpBase. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
14. "Olympiad R12: Armenia leads, China or Russia for Silver" (http://www.chessbase.com/Hom
e/TabId/211/PostId/4003157/olympiad-r12-armenia-leads-china-or-russia-for-silver.aspx).
ChessBase.com. 4 June 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
15. "Olympiad R13 Armenia and Ukraine take Gold" (http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.as
p?newsid=3159). ChessBase. 2006-06-05. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
16. "Olympiad Dresden 2008 Open" (http://chess-results.com/tnr16314.aspx?art=20&lan=1&fla
g=30&m=-1&wi=1000&snr=9). Chess-Results.com. 2009-02-05. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
17. "Olympiad R11: Armenia wins Gold, Israel second" (http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/
211/PostId/4005034/olympiad-r11-armenia-wins-gold-israel-second.aspx). ChessBase.com.
25 November 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
18. "Olympiad in Dresden: Closing ceremony and prize giving" (http://www.chessbase.com/Hom
e/TabId/211/PostId/4005041/olympiad-in-dresden-closing-ceremony-and-prize-giving.aspx).
ChessBase.com. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
19. "2012 Chess Olympiad Istanbul: Armenia, Russia win Gold" (http://www.chessbase.com/Ho
me/TabId/211/PostId/4008466/2012-chess-olympiad-istanbul-armenia-russia-win-gold.asp
x). ChessBase.com. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
20. "Ստամբուլում հնչեց Հայաստանի հիմնը, բարձրացվեց հայկական եռագույնը"
(http://sport.news.am/arm/news/11084/stambulum-hnchec-hayastani-himny-bardzracvec-ha
ykakan-eraguyny.html). NEWS.am Sport. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013. (in
Armenian)
21. "2012 Chess Olympiad: a hero's welcome for the Armenian team" (http://www.chessbase.co
m/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4008470/2012-chess-olympiad-a-hero-s-welcome-for-the-armeni
an-team.aspx). ChessBase. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
22. "Վլադիմիր Հակոբյան. Միտք կա այլեւս չխաղալ օլիմպիադայում" (http://sport.ne
ws.am/arm/news/11240/vladimir-hakobyan-mitq-ka-aylevs-chkhaxal-olimpiadayum.html).
NEWS.am Sport. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013. (in Armenian)
23. "World Team Ch. – Armenia gold, China silver, Ukraine bronze" (http://www.chessbase.com/
newsdetail.asp?newsid=7407). ChessBase.com. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 27 July 2011.

External links
Vladimir Akopian (https://ratings.fide.com/profile/13300032) rating card at FIDE
Vladimir Akopian (https://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?12561112) rating and
tournament record at US Chess Federation
Vladimir Akopian (https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=14125) player profile
and games at Chessgames.com
Vladimir Akopian (https://www.365chess.com/players/Vladimir_Akopian) chess games at
365Chess.com
Vladimir Akopian (https://www.chess.com/players/vladimir-akopian) player profile at
Chess.com
Vladimir Akopian (http://www.olimpbase.org/players/ntvrzvph.html) Chess Olympiad record
at OlimpBase.org
Grandmaster Games Database - Vladimir Akopian (http://www.redhotpawn.com/chess/gran
dmaster-games/index.php?player=Vladimir_Akopian&masterplayerid=392) at
redhotpawn.com
Akopian 2019 interview at Chessbase.com (https://en.chessbase.com/post/interview-with-vl
adimir-akopian-1)
Part 2 (https://en.chessbase.com/post/so-near-yet-so-far-the-life-story-of-vladimir-akopia
n-2-2)
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