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08
08, 2009
Address by President Serzh Sargsyan at the opening of the FIDE Grand Prix “Jermuk-2009” tournament dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Tigran Peterossian
Dear Mr. Ilyumzhinov,
Dear Chess players,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am happy to greet you all in Jermuk. Today, we are conducting in Armenia a momentous chess tournament which would be prestigious to host for any country. Tournaments of this standing are festive events for the nations which appreciate and cherish the world’s oldest intellectual game – chess.
I am confident that in the ensuing days, Jermuk will be the center of attention of the chess fans all over the world. They will be waiting for the news from the chess boards, where talent meets skill, will be following the matches, will be thrilled by the victories of their favorite players and together with you bemoan the failures, since nobody in big sport is immune from disappointment.
I anticipate that during this tournament we will witness a number of interesting and spirited matches. I believe it is not only my wish but that of all chess lovers.
This tournament bears great significance: it is dedicated to the 9th World Champion, our fellow citizen Tigran Petrossian’s 80th birthday. For us, the Armenians, Tigran Petrossian is more than just a chess genius. He has been a symbol of our national pride, one of the most dazzling personalities of our millennia long history.
We celebrate the great Armenian and the great chess player, who was gifted with unique and bright talent, who proved that the Armenian chess playing can and will have remarkable success. He inspired generations of the Armenian chess players, who today have enormous achievements, and he did his best to make chess one of the most popular and loved sporting activity in Armenia. Today, our small Armenia is home to two-time Olympic champions: I say this with great pride as I am sure, any Armenian would say. We are proud with any achievement of our chess players. The last success was brought by Levon Aronian, who just days ago became the World Champion in rapid chess.
Dear Levon, accept my congratulations.
Tigran Petrossian once said, “Chess is a game in form, art in essence, and science in its difficulty to master”. So let these days the winning spirit, enjoyable atmosphere, inspired by true art and scholar’s tenacity reign in the picturesque Jermuk. Good luck, Jermuk- 2009.
I wish all the participants of the tournament new achievements, and I wish the chess players to have spectacular matches.
Dear Chess players,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am happy to greet you all in Jermuk. Today, we are conducting in Armenia a momentous chess tournament which would be prestigious to host for any country. Tournaments of this standing are festive events for the nations which appreciate and cherish the world’s oldest intellectual game – chess.
I am confident that in the ensuing days, Jermuk will be the center of attention of the chess fans all over the world. They will be waiting for the news from the chess boards, where talent meets skill, will be following the matches, will be thrilled by the victories of their favorite players and together with you bemoan the failures, since nobody in big sport is immune from disappointment.
I anticipate that during this tournament we will witness a number of interesting and spirited matches. I believe it is not only my wish but that of all chess lovers.
This tournament bears great significance: it is dedicated to the 9th World Champion, our fellow citizen Tigran Petrossian’s 80th birthday. For us, the Armenians, Tigran Petrossian is more than just a chess genius. He has been a symbol of our national pride, one of the most dazzling personalities of our millennia long history.
We celebrate the great Armenian and the great chess player, who was gifted with unique and bright talent, who proved that the Armenian chess playing can and will have remarkable success. He inspired generations of the Armenian chess players, who today have enormous achievements, and he did his best to make chess one of the most popular and loved sporting activity in Armenia. Today, our small Armenia is home to two-time Olympic champions: I say this with great pride as I am sure, any Armenian would say. We are proud with any achievement of our chess players. The last success was brought by Levon Aronian, who just days ago became the World Champion in rapid chess.
Dear Levon, accept my congratulations.
Tigran Petrossian once said, “Chess is a game in form, art in essence, and science in its difficulty to master”. So let these days the winning spirit, enjoyable atmosphere, inspired by true art and scholar’s tenacity reign in the picturesque Jermuk. Good luck, Jermuk- 2009.
I wish all the participants of the tournament new achievements, and I wish the chess players to have spectacular matches.