Serzh Sargsyan takes part in opening of conference “Chess in Schools”

RA President and the President of the Armenian Chess Federation Serzh Sargsyan today took part in the opening of the international conference “Chess in Schools” being held October 16-18 at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan.

The RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, the President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the First Vice-President of the Armenian Chess Federation Smbat Lputian made speeches at the conference being organized by the RA Ministry of Science and Education, the FIDE, the Armenian Chess Federation and the Chess Academy of Armenia in cooperation with the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan. The speakers considered the conference a wonderful opportunity for exchange of experience which, according to them, will foster further development of chess and will heighten its role and importance in education.

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 almost 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 RA 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.