Gyumri Teenagers Become World Champions in School Chess

Gold and silver medals from the World Championship have been awarded not only to Greco-Roman wrestlers from Gyumri, but also to young chess players from the city. They have become the World Champions in school chess.

For the first time, a World Championship for school students was held, with Armenia as the host country. Approximately one hundred chess players aged 15-18 from seven countries participated in the tournament.

Students Simon Tumanyan and Lyova Davtyan from the Chess Sports School of Gyumri were crowned champions in team and individual competitions, while Anahit Mkrtchyan became the runner-up.

The hall of the Chess Sports School is adorned with photographs and awards showcasing the victories of Gyumri's chess players, dating back to the 1950s. The streak of victories continues as the school students have brought home the championship trophy.

Simon, Lyova, and Anahit are the winners of this prestigious tournament that concluded three days ago. “Everyone considers us champions now, but it doesn't hinder us, nor does it help, because we won’t get arrogant from this victory; we are still the same, just having achieved a certain success,” said Lyova Davtyan, the World School Chess Champion.

The story of their first participation in such a prestigious tournament is also interesting. The young chess players were not included in the Armenian national team or participants' list for the World Championship due to insufficient ratings.

Anahit, a three-time champion of Armenia, has represented the Yerevan team at national championships, which psychologically affected her concentration during the games. She was unfamiliar with the playing potential of the other female chess players on her team. Knowing a partner's capabilities beforehand is a crucial factor in achieving victory.

In the World Championship, her achievement was the title of runner-up. The victory of Lyova, Simon, and Anahit in this tournament has given them the confidence to participate in larger competitions. Without wasting time, they have begun preparing for the national tournament starting in October, where the points earned will open up opportunities to participate in international championships.