Patriotic chess moment

[xBaron Dants]

Well, not everyone follows chess closely (myself included), but this is pretty big news. Armenia's top-ranked player, Vladimir Akopian, ranked number 19 in the world, beat Vladimir Kramnik today, ranked number 2 in the world.

Hats off to our chess team who never ceases to impress...and as I've said so many times: let's hope our futbol can be just as strong.

*******************************************


ABS CBN News, Philippines
Jan 11 2004

Akopian defeats Kramnik

By Manny Benitez
Chess Columnist

Armenian Grandmaster Vladimir Akopian thrashed world No. 2 Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in a stunning opening-round upset as the Corus Tournament of Superstars got off to a sensational start in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Ranked No. 19 in the world, Akopian, 32, forced the resignation of
the 28-year-old unofficial world champion in the face of a mating
attack on the 32nd turn.

All the other six games ended in draws -- Viktor Bologan vs. Zhang Zhong, Peter Leko vs. Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler vs. Alexei Shirov, Veselin Topalov vs. Michael Adams, Ivan Sokolov vs. Jan Timman, and Loek van Wely vs. Evgeny Bareev.

Akopian, playing White, breached Kramnik's Sicilian Defense and was weaving a mating net around the Russian's king when the end came.

[xBaron Dants]

May I add that this is a very nice way to kick off a year that has been named "Tigran Petrosyan Year" by the International Chess Federation.

[Anonymouse]

Vladimir vs Vladimir, a match-up of the ages. Two bad we can't throw any Lenin in the mix.

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by Anonymouse Vladimir vs Vladimir, a match-up of the ages. Two bad we can't throw any Lenin in the mix.

Or him..

https://www.malakhov.com

[TJ]

this thread was going real good until you posted that link baron.

im cleaning the puke off the computer screen now

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by TigranJamharian this thread was going real good until you posted that link baron.

im cleaning the puke off the computer screen now

I've fallen victim to it too. A friend once asked if I wanted to know what Vladimir Malakhov was doing now (also the name of a hockey player who played for Montreal, he's with the Rangers now I think), and gave the link.

It was also not one of the greatest moments in my life.