YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Solemn opening ceremony of the world chess championship of chess-players below 20 took place on October 3 at the Central Chess House after Tigran Petrosian. Grand master Smbat Lputian, Vice-Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation, champion of world olympiad, Mikael Ispirian, Vice-Chairman of RA State Sport Committee, Gagik Hovhannisian, Secretary General of the Armenian Chess Federation, and Ashot Vardapetian, principal coach of the championship, made greeting speeches addressed to the championship participants. Before this the championship participants laid wreaths to the monument to 9th world champion T.Petrosian. Armen Hambartsumian, head of the U.S. delegation, Armenian deserved coach, Tatev Abrahamian, former pupil of Yerevan Chess School, Hamlet Tumanian representing Iran are among the guests who have arrived in Armenia. To recap, the championship organizers have a great experience of holding such tournaments. World championship of chess-players below 20 was held in Yerevan in 1999 and in 2000.

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