President of the Republic of Armenia, President of the Armenian Chess Federation Serzh Sargsyan attended the opening of the “Chess in Schools” international conference underway in Yerevan from October 16 to 18. The event has brought together 180 representatives from 30 countries.
Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, First Vice-President of the Armenian Chess Federation Smbat Lputyan offered speeches at the conference.
The speakers said the conference provides a wonderful opportunity to exchange experience and noted that it will help boost further development of chess, and contribute to the raise of its rile and importance in the educational system.
Later on, Serzh Sargsyan, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the participants of the conference “Chess in Schools” attended the opening of Double World Chess Champion Tigran Petrosyan’s sculpture at the Chess House bearing his name. The sculpture, created by the eminent sculptor Ara Sargsyan in 1965 on the occasion of Tigran Petrosyan’s chess triumph, has been kept by the sculpture’s relatives in his house-museum for more than half a century. Ara Sargsyan’s family has decided to donate it to the Chess House on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of Tigran Petrosyan.
The Armenian President also attended the opening of a newly-created chess school in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district. Up to 350 5-8-year-old children, as well as alumni representing schools in other administrative districts can study at the school for free.
