Armenia grandmasters won’t travel to Baku for World CupJune 13, 2023 - 13:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's leading grandmasters will not travel to Azerbaijan to participate in the Chess World Cup to be held in Baku from July 30 to August 24, Vice President of the Armenian Chess Federation, Grandmaster Smbat Lputyan has said. According to him, such a decision has been made made due to safety reasons. Grandmasters Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, Gabriel Sargissian, Hovhannes Gabuzyan, Shant Sargsyan and Hayk M. Martirosyan, as well as Elina Danielyan, Anna Sargsyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan from the women' team had qualified for the World Cup. Former leader of the Armenian team Levon Aronian, who currently represents the United States, raised the question earlier: “I have a dilemma. As a person who enjoys the World Cup very much, I would love to take part in the World Cup 2023, but as an Armenian I don’t feel safe traveling to Baku, Azerbaijan. Since FIDE has been promoting the hybrid format I am more than willing to play from place possible.” 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |