Biography

Armenian Grandmaster. World Blitz Champion 2010. World Cup winner in 2005, World U20 Champion in 2002, World Champion U12 in 1994 and World U14 Champion in 1996, Chess960 World Champion in 2006 and 2007, FIDE Grand Prix winner in 2009. European U12 vice champion in 1994 and European U14 vice champion in 1995. Champion of Armenia in 2002.

Best results: Karabakh International 2005, 1^st; European championship, 2^nd; Linares-Morelia 2006, 1^st; Wijk aan Zee (shared) 2007 and 2008, 1^st; Melody Amber Nice 2008 and 2009, 1^st; Asirian Memorial 2008, 1^st; Sochi FIDE Grand Prix 2008, 1^st; Nalchik FIDE Grand Prix 2009, 1^st, Tal Memorial 2010, 1^st; Melody Amber Monaco 2011, 1^st. In the match, he defeated Vladimir Kramnik (rapid chess) 4-2 in 2007, Magnus Carlsen 3-3 (win after tiebreak) and Alexy Shirov 3½-2½.

A member of the national team since 1996 and the undisputed leader of the teams which won the 2006 and 2008 Olympiads. Silver medallist at the 2010 Olympiad for his individual performance on board one.

Best ELO: 2805 in 2011, he was then the 3^rd world ranked player.

Aronian-Ponomariov in 2010

Gallery