Armenia’s men’s and women’s national teams have made a strong start at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, currently underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After six rounds, the Armenian men’s team is in third place with 11 match points, while the women’s team is in seventh place with 10 match points.
In the first round, Armenia’s men’s team defeated Barbados with a score of 4–0. Robert Hovhannisyan, Shant Sargsyan, Gabriel Sargsyan and Manuel Petrosyan all secured victories.
In the opening round the women’s team defeated Hong Kong 3.5–0.5. Mariam Mkrtchyan, Susanna Gaboyan and Anahit Mkrtchyan won their games, while Elina Danielyan’s game ended in a draw.
In the second round, the men’s team defeated Scotland 3.5–0.5. Shant Sargsyan, Gabriel Sargsyan and Manuel Petrosyan secured victories, while Haik Martirosyan drew his game. The women’s team defeated Singapore 3–1, with victories by Lilit Mkrtchyan, Mariam Mkrtchyan and Susanna Gaboyan.
In the third round, Armenia’s women’s team defeated Croatia 4–0. Lilit Mkrtchyan, Mariam Mkrtchyan, Elina Danielyan and Susanna Gaboyan all recorded victories. The men’s team defeated Sweden 2.5–1.5, with Gabriel Sargsyan securing the winning point, while the games played by Haik Martirosyan, Shant Sargsyan and Manuel Petrosyan ended in draws.
In the fourth round, Armenia’s men’s team continued its winning run, defeating Argentina 2.5–1.5. Shant Sargsyan defeated Sandro Mareco to secure the winning point for the team. Haik Martirosyan, Robert Hovhannisyan and Gabriel Sargsyan all drew their games. In the same round, the women’s team was defeated by Kazakhstan.
In the fifth round, Armenia’s women’s team defeated Peru 3–1. Women’s Grandmasters Mariam Mkrtchyan and Anahit Mkrtchyan secured victories, while International Master Lilit Mkrtchyan and Grandmaster Elina Danielyan drew their games.
In the same round, Armenia’s men’s team drew 2–2 with China, the fourth-seeded team at the Olympiad. Haik Martirosyan drew with Ding Liren, the 17th World Champion; Robert Hovhannisyan drew with Wei Yi; Shant Sargsyan drew with Yu Yangyi; and Manuel Petrosyan drew with Kong Xiangrui.
In the sixth round, Armenia’s men’s team defeated Iran 2.5–1.5. Grandmaster Gabriel Sargsyan secured the winning point for the team, while the games played by Grandmasters Haik Martirosyan, Robert Hovhannisyan and Shant Sargsyan ended in draws.
In the same round, Armenia’s women’s team defeated Latvia 3–1. International Master Lilit Mkrtchyan, Women’s Grandmaster Mariam Mkrtchyan and Grandmaster Elina Danielyan secured victories.
Today is a rest day at the Olympiad. In the seventh round, scheduled for September 23, Armenia’s men’s team will face the United States, while the women’s team will play against Azerbaijan.
The men’s team is coached by Arman Pashikyan, while the women’s team is coached by Zaven Andriasyan.