ANNUAL CHESS TOURNAMENT DEDICATED TO THE FEAST OF ST. ABGAR KING

On December 20, an annual chess tournament was held dedicated to the feast of St. Abgar King. The event was especially noteworthy as it brought together not only the young people of the Diocese, but also clergymen and representatives of partner organizations, such as the Yerevan Municipality, the National Leadership Institute and the Armenian General Benevolent Union. The event started with a prayer after which the International Arbiter Vahagn Khachatryan introduced the rules of the tournament to the participants. At first the participants competed with each other, then International Grandmaster Vladimir Hakobyan played a simultaneous chess game with the twelve winners. The simultaneous chess game that lasted more than three hours was over with the victory of the world champion. The game was attended by Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan, the president of the Chess Academy of Armenia Smbat Lputian, young people and journalists. On behalf of the Armenian Chess Federation Vahagn Khachatryan awarded the Youth Spiritual Council of the Diocese with certificate for organizing and conducting the annual chess tournament, as well as encouraging chess among youth.