Levon Aronyan won’t take up politics in case of leaving chess

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: The leader of the Armenian National Chess Men team, the triple Olympic Chess Champion Levon Aronyan does not see himself in politics. As Armenpress was told by the Armenian Grand Master, in case of leaving chess, he will take up charity activities. “I do not think that in case of leaving chess, I will get into the field of politics. If I decide to take up something besides chess, it will be humanitarian activities”, - said Levon Aronyan.

Levon Aronyanis anArmenianchessGrandmaster. On the May 2012FIDElist, he had anElorating of 2825, making him number two in the worldandthird highest of all time.

Aronyan won theChess World Cup 2005. He led the Armenian national team to the Gold medals in the2006 (Turin),2008 (Dresden) and2012 (Istanbul)Chess Olympicsand at theWorld Team Chess ChampionshipinNingbo2011. He won theFIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010, qualifying him for the Candidates tournament for theWorld Chess Championship 2012, where he was knocked out in the first round. He was also WorldChess960Champion in 2006 and 2007,World Rapid Chess Championin 2009, andWorld Blitz Chess Championin 2010.

Aronyan was declared the best sportsman of Armenia in 2005and was awarded the title of "Honored Master of Sport of the Republic of Armenia" in 2009.

Aronyan was born on 6 October 1982 in Yerevan, Armenia.He was taught to play chess by his sister Lilit at the age of nine. His first coach was the Grand MasterMelikset Khachiyan. An early sign of his ability came when he won the 1994World Youth Chess Championship(under-12) inSzegedwith 8/9, ahead of future luminariesÉtienne Bacrot,Ruslan Ponomariov,Francisco Vallejo Pons, andAlexander Grischuk.

Aronyan holds a diploma from theArmenian State Institute of Physical Culture.

Aronyan played for Armenia in theChess Olympiadsof 1996, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.He took team bronze medal in 2004 and team gold medal in 2006, 2008 and 2012. In the2010 Chess Olympiadhe won the silver medal for his individual performance on board one.He was a member of the gold-medal winning Armenian team at theWorld Team Chess Championshipin 2011.

By July 1 2013 Levon Aronyan is the second world chess player (2813).

Currently the member of the Armenian National Chess Men team is preparing for the World Chess Cup to be held on August 10 in Norway.