Vladimir Akopian

Vladimir Akopian
Full name Վլադիմիր Հակոբյան
Country Soviet Union
Armenia
Born (1971-12-07) December 7, 1971
Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union
Title Grandmaster (1991)
FIDE rating 2656 (May 2016)
Peak rating 2713 (July 2006)

Vladimir Akopian (Russian: Владимир Акопян; born December 7, 1971 in Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union) is a leading Armenian chess Grandmaster. In Armenia, his surname is more commonly written Hakobyan (Armenian: Վլադիմիր Հակոբյան) however, most English texts and FIDE use a transliteration of the Russian version.

Career

Akopian 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.[1]

He won the Armenian Chess Championship in 1996 and 1997.[2] In 1999 he made his way through to the final of the FIDE knockout World Chess Championship, but lost to Alexander Khalifman by 3.5-2.5.[3] In the 2004 event, he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by the player he had defeated in the 1999 semi-finals, Michael Adams.

In 2005 he tied for 1st–5th with Emil Sutovsky, Andrei Kharlov, Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexander Motylev at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow. 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.[4]

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.[5]

In December 2009, he was awarded the title of "Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of Armenia".[6]

Team competitions

Vladimir Akopian
Medal record
Men's chess
Representing  Armenia
Chess Olympiad
Istanbul 2012 Open
Dresden 2008 Open
Turin 2006 Open
Calvià 2004 Open
Bled 2002 Open
Manila 1992 Open

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[7] and the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden, 2008.[8] He was a member of the gold-medal winning Armenian team at the World Team Chess Championship in 2011.[9]

Notable games

Results timeline for Chess World Cup

Year200520072009201120132015
Chess World Cup 1R 1 4R A 1R 1 1R A

1 In 2005 and 2011, Akopian forfeited his first round matches.

References

  1. ↑ "Pähtz-Korbut, Harikrishna-Zhao poised for victory". ChessBase.com. 2004-11-29. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "All Champions of Armenia". Armchess.am. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  3. ↑ Crowther, by Mark (1999-08-30). "TWIC 251: Alexander Khalifman, FIDE World Chess Champion". London Chess Center. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. ↑ ChessBase.com - Chess News - News and views from the world of chess
  5. ↑ ChessBase.com - Chess News - Akopian wins GibTel Masters in Gibraltar
  6. ↑ "High Titles of Olympic Champions". Armchess. 2009-12-19. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  7. ↑ "Olympiad R13 Armenia and Ukraine take Gold". ChessBase. 2006-06-05. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Olympiad Dresden 2008 Open". Chess-Results.com. 2009-02-05. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "World Team Ch. – Armenia gold, China silver, Ukraine bronze". ChessBase.com. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 27 July 2011.

External links

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