Armenian grandmaster Tigran Kotanjyan is leading the Karen Asrian Memorial going on in Jermuk, Armenia.

In the 7th round, he defeated Konstantin Shanava (Georgia) playing with black pieces and gaining 6 points. Shanava is currently second with 5 points. Ashot Nadanyan who proved to be stronger than Samvel Ter-Sahakyan is the third.

Karen Asrian Memorial hosts 71 participants (including 19 grandmasters) from 6 countries. The tournament prize fund is USD 15 thousand, to be awarded to 1-15th places winners. The tournament will end on June 24.

Karen Asrian was a winner of 2006 Chess Olympiad. He was awarded with Movses Khorenatsi medal. He had 2634 points in FIDE ratings, securing the fourth place in the list of Armenia’s best chess players. In 2008, Asrian died of stroke. Chess Giants tournament suspended on the occasion of the chess player’s death was renamed to Karen Asrian Memorial.