Armenia’s Aronian: 2017 World Chess Cup was very difficult and stressful for me

YEREVAN. – The 2017 World Chess Cup was very difficult and stressful for me, since this was the last chance to qualify for the Candidates Tournament [to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship].

Two-time World Chess Cup winner Levon Aronian—who plays first board for the three-time World Chess Olympiad champions and the former World Team Chess champions, Armenia—on Thursday stated the above-said at a press conference in capital city Yerevan.

“I’ve participated in many World [Chess] Cup competitions, but it wasn’t necessary that I would win for the first or the second time,” said Aronian. “But this time I knew that I won’t have another opportunity to gain the right to participate in the Candidates Tournament; in that case, I would have lost one or two years. The main objective for all strongest chess players is to become world champion.

“It’s a great pride that they compare my game to, and find a similarity with, ninth World [Chess] Champion Tigran Petrosian. But he’s a pure genius. I tried to be like [him], but I’m very hot-blooded.”
As reported earlier, Levon Aronian on Wednesday was once again declared the FIDE World Chess Cup winner, after 12 years.

He is also the 2005 FIDE World Chess Cup winner.

To note, Levon Aronian will get married on Saturday.

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