13:32  ,  September 12, 2012

I might no longer play in World Chess Olympiad – Vladimir Akopian

YEREVAN. – I still will think about playing in the next World Chess Olympiad, the latter’s three-time champion and Armenian men’s national chess team’s number-three player, Grandmaster Vladimir Akopian stated at a press conference, during which the national squad members commented on the 40th World Chess Olympiad, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey, and where Armenia was crowned world champion for a third time.

“All victories are precious. Everything everywhere was done for the team. I haven’t made a final decision yet. I’m already a three-time champion. I would like to leave the Olympiad as a winner, [but] I definitely will play in the world championships. I still will think about playing in the next World Chess Olympiad. In any case, I might no longer play,” Akobian stated.

“When the calculations were made and it had become clear that Armenia’s team had become the Olympiad’s champion, the Turkish press didn’t want to write about this for several hours. But our [national] anthem was sung, [and] the tricolor [flag] was raised during the ceremony,” the team’s head coach Arshak Petrosyan specifically said in his turn.

 “The organizers’ way of behaving was normal. The reaction by the Armenian community was superb; they were so excited. Such thing had never happened,” Armenian Chess Federation Secretary Gagik Hovhannisyan noted in particular, and with respect to the atmosphere in Istanbul during the Olympiad.

To note, aside from becoming the World Chess Olympiad champion for a third time, Armenian men’s national team is also a three-time bronze medalist in this event

Follow NEWS.am SPORT on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram