Vladimir Akopian: chess is ‘too hard to be taken as a career’

PanARMENIAN.Net - Vladimir Akopian, a leading Armenian grandmaster says chess is too “hard to be taken as a career”.

"I don't want my boys to be professional chess players, because it's too hard," Akopian was quoted as saying by Xinhua, after he swept a clean victory against Wei Yi, a 13-year-old boy who is one year younger than his eldest son Valeri, in the 10th round of the 2012 Chinese Chess League Division A.

When he was 14 in 1986, Akopian was crowned the World Under-16 champion. Three years ago, he was named Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Armenia.

"Besides, if you want to become a top 10 chess player, you have to work very hard, thinking about nothing but the game," said Akopian.

Referring to the 40th Chess Olympiad which will run from August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey, Akopian said the twice champion Armenia will fight for the first place, though he admitted that luck is important.

"In team work, the sense of responsibility is the most difficult part to handle, but we will definitely go for the top spot," he said.