13:25  ,  July 16, 2012

Armenia will definitely go for top spot in Istanbul – GM Akopian

TIANJIN. – Chess is too hard to be taken as a career, said the leading Armenian chess Grand Master (GM) Vladimir Akopian on Saturday, speaking to Xinhua state-run news agency of China. Akopian is in China these days to compete in the 2012 Chinese Chess League Division A.

“I don’t want my boys to be professional chess players because it’s too hard. I swept a clean victory against Wei Yi, a 13-year-old boy who is even one year younger than my oldest son Valeri. Besides, if you want to become a Top-ten chess player, you have to work very hard, thinking about nothing but chess,” said Akopian.

And referring to the 40th Chess Olympiad which will run from August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey, Akopian said the twice champion Armenia will fight for the first place, though he admitted that luck is important.

“In team work, the sense of responsibility is the most difficult part to handle, but we will definitely go for the top spot,” said Vladimir Akopian.

Follow NEWS.am SPORT on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram