Levon Aronian agrees to participate in Azeri-hosted World Chess CupOctober 21, 2014 - 18:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Grandmaster Levon Aronian agreed to participate in Azeri-hosted World Cup in 2015. The news was reported after FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s visit to Yerevan. The grandmaster announced his desicion during an official dinner hosted by Armenian leader, chess federation president Serzh Sargsyan, Ilyumzhinov’s assistant Berik Balgabayev said in his Twitter post. Earlier, Ilyumzhinov announced plans to discuss the matter with Sargsyan. Armenian sportsmen’s participation at Baku-hosted tournaments has always abounded in unpleasant incidents and concerns over the delegation’s safety. In 2012, Aronian addressed a letter to Ilyumzhinov explaining his refusal to participate in Baku-hosted Candidates Tournament. “General atmosphere in Azerbaijan and continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in such high ranked tournament in Azerbaijan impossible. A responsible and important event, such as the Candidates Tournament, requires peace of mind and special concentration. No circumstances, if they are not chess-related, should prevent the grandmaster from demonstrating all of his skills. Unfortunately, at this moment no Armenian can find favorable or adequate psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas that is something absolutely necessary,” the Armenian grandmaster’s letter said at the time. Related links: Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |