YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: The next Chess Olympiad will kick off on September 27 in Istanbul. This year too all strongest players will be in the staff of national team. Armenpress tried to find out in which condition the leader of the taem Levon Aronyan is.

 -Some days later 40^th chess Olympiad starts. How is the mood and in which conditions are you?  

- I think this time we have prepared well. We do everything in order to be prepared. As always we will struggle for high positions. This time I can surely say that we are one of the favorites as the team has been untied for many years. The performances of last period show that our grandmasters are in good conditions.

 - Do you think that the fact that Olympiad wakes place in Turkey can have any influence on the team?

- No, I do not think so. This is not the first time that we have to play in Istanbul. We have such experience. It is twice more pleasant when Armenian flag rises in Turkey than in another country.

 - Which teams do you consider to be favorites of the Olympiad?

- As always there are chess superpowers which no matter of conditions are always among favorites. Such countries are Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Israel. I have difficulty to say who will manage this time.