YEREVAN (Novosti Armenia), June 24–The Armenian Chess Federation intends to turn Jermuk into a world chess center, said its vice president, Grandmaster Smbat Lputian, at the opening of the Fourth Tournament of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix.

The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix will take place in Jermuk from June 23 to July 5. The Men’s FIDE Grand Prix was also held in Jermuk last year.

“Jermuk is already a chess town in Armenia, and we will try to make it a world chess center,” said Lputian.

He noted that these days one of the world’s most powerful women’s tournaments will take place in Jermuk. Twelve female chess players from seven countries will take part, among whom three are champions of the world.

Participants in the female Grand Prix tournament are Hou Yifan (China), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Pia Cramling (Sweden), Tatiana Kosintseva (Russia), Maya Chiburdanidze (Georgia), Sue Yuhua (China), Nana Dzanidze (Georgia), Lilith Mkrtchyan (Armenia), Elina Danielian (Armenia), Shen Yang (China), Bair Kovanova (Russia) and Martha Fierro (Ecuador).

“We can say that the strongest chess players of the world are in Jermuk and it’s difficult to predict the winner of the tournament as all members are geared up to win,” said Lputian.

He expressed hope that Danielian and Mkrtchyan will do everything possible to please Armenian chess fans.

Translated from Russian by Yerevan Report