Armenia President opens world deaf chess championships (PHOTOS)

By Lusine Shahbazyan

YEREVAN. – Opening ceremony of the 16th World Individual Deaf Chess Championships was held Tuesday in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

The event also brought together President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also President of the Chess Federation of Armenia, as well as President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Armenia Gabriel Ghazaryan, and President Philip Gardner of the International Chess Committee of the Deaf (ICCD).

The World Individual Deaf Chess Championships are held in Armenia for the first time.

A total of 120 hearing impaired chess players from 24 countries will compete in this tournament.

Sargsyan and Ilyumzhinov made the first two symbolic moves, signaling the start of the championships.
Photos by Emma Asatryan

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