YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 12, the members of the Armenian men's national team that won the gold medal and the olympic cup at the 37th Chess World Olympiad were awarded diplomas of Yerevan Mayor, as well as were given monetary prizes amounting to 450000 drams (about 1000 USD) each. The members of the Armenian women's national team that took the 8th place at the Olympiad also received diplomas and prizes of the Mayor. As Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharian mentioned at the solemn ceremony at Yerevan Mayor's Office, the Armenian people has long waited for this victory. "This is a very important event for the Armenian people. We are proud of our chess-players who defeated the national teams of such states as the U.S., Russia, China, etc. I hope the Armenian chess-players will have such victories in the future, as well," the Mayor mentioned. According to grand master Smbat Lputian, Vice-Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation, the Armenian people highly estimates this victory as "this is not only our victory but the victory of all Armenians spread all over the world."

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