Chess–a game that has been played for thousands of years. Armenians have been playing chess since the early Middle Ages, although it was only standardized during the early Soviet era. It became popular when grandmaster Tigran Petrosian won the World Chess Championship in 1963. Today, Armenia is regarded as one of the most powerful chess countries in the world.
Universities from all over the world were invited to compete in the Second Annual Kasparov Chess Foundation University Cup on Feb. 5-6, 2022. Two AUA students, EC sophomore Vahan Nalbandyan and CS freshman Tigran Fahradyan, participated in the competition along with 10 other students.
“It’s tough to compete against grandmasters. You have to play against everyone. There are nine rounds in total and you get paired up against teams of all strengths depending on how many points you have,” explains Vahan, the team captain. He began playing chess when he was four years old. As he watched his father play chess with his cousin, Vahan’s curiosity grew and soon, he found himself in a world full of black and white figures and strategies. “It was a great opportunity to compete against great players, a wonderful experience to learn from the games,” he says. “It was also a warm-up for our team. We got to bond as a team.”
AUA students who have just returned from their military service joined the AUA chess team, including Tigran. “My grandfather taught me how to play chess,” he explains. “We used to play together all the time. As I grew up, I stopped playing for some reason. This competition gave me the chance to come back to chess. But of course, chess has always been a part of my life.”
Chess is a phenomenal game that uses calculations, logic and strategies that can help you develop your brain. When your moves are timed, it helps your brain concentrate and focuses more on making the right move in a short amount of time. It’s a great form of entertainment, plus there are different types of chess one can play.
“One of the most important lessons I have taken from chess is self-awareness. The better you get at it, the more you realize how important working hard is,” shares Vahan. In many ways, it’s just like life: it teaches you valuable lessons.
Tigran shares that chess in his life is so much more than a hobby: “It’s the curiosity towards the game. I hadn’t played for six years, so this was a great chance to get back into playing. When I saw the email AUA had sent us, I applied and I’m glad I did because I got to meet other chess players at AUA.”
He details that as much as it was challenging to play online, it was also interesting to play as a team. “You are more eager to play well because you want to make your team proud and your university proud,” says Tigran.
Vahan and Tigran are now focused on their studies at AUA, but different tournaments and competitions help them keep chess a part of their lives. “We signed up for a new competition already,” mentions Tigran.
The young chess players are planning to compete next in the Collegiate Chess League organized by Chess.com, the biggest chess platform in the world. “I’m really excited for this one. It’s going to last for a couple of months. We are going to have matches each week against universities worldwide,” says Vahan. “We are planning on creating an AUA Chess Club soon. We will have tournaments at AUA, everyone will get better at chess and new students will join us.”
AUA continues to help students follow their passions besides performing well in their academic life. When asked if he still plays chess with his father, Vahan didn’t hesitate to answer, “Yes, we do and he still wins. I still have a long way to go. I’ll get close one day.”
