Varuzhan Akobian
Varuzhan Akobian is an Armenian-American chess grandmaster who represents the United States in international competitions.[1][2] Born on November 19, 1983, in Yerevan, Armenia, Akobian began playing chess at age five while his family lived in Mongolia, returning to Armenia at age seven to train at the Tigran Petrosian Chess House.[1] He earned the National Master title in 1999 and the FIDE International Master title in 2000 before relocating to the United States in 2001.[1] Akobian achieved the Grandmaster title in 2003 and has since become a prominent figure in American chess, residing in Saint Louis, Missouri, with his wife Lusine and daughter Tina.[1][2] Throughout his career, Akobian has secured numerous victories in major tournaments, including the World Open in 2004 and 2007, the Alajuela Open in 2005 with an undefeated 8/9 score, the Doeberl Cup and Chicago Open in 2008, and the National Open in 2009 and 2013.[1] He finished as runner-up in the 2014 U.S. Championship after tying for first place.[1] Representing the U.S. on the international stage, Akobian contributed to bronze medals at the 2006 and 2008 Chess Olympiads, a silver medal at the 2010 World Team Championship, and a gold medal at the 2013 World Team Championship.[1] As of November 2025, his FIDE standard rating stands at 2549, with a peak rating of 2673 achieved in June 2017.[2][3]Early life
Childhood in Armenia
Varuzhan Akobian was born on November 19, 1983, in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union. His family relocated to Mongolia when he was five years old due to his father's work, and it was there that Akobian first encountered chess at age five, learning the game from his father, who served as his initial opponent amid the harsh local conditions that limited outdoor activities. The family returned to Yerevan when Akobian was seven, allowing him to immerse himself in a more structured chess environment.[1][4][5] Upon returning to Armenia, Akobian began formal training at the Tigran Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, a renowned academy named after the former World Champion and Armenian chess icon. This institution provided rigorous instruction that honed his skills during his formative years. At age nine, in 1992, he entered his first rated event, the Armenian Junior Chess Championship, securing third place in his age group. The following year, 1993, marked his breakthrough with first place in the under-10 category, a victory he repeated multiple times in subsequent junior championships, including a win in the under-12 section in 1995 with a score of 7.5/9. These successes established his dominance in local youth competitions and qualified him for international play.[1][6][7][5] Akobian's early international exposure came in 1993 at the World Youth Chess Championship under-10 in Bratislava, Slovakia, where his national title performance propelled him to the event. In 1995, he earned bronze with 6.5/9 at the World Rapid Chess Championship under-12 in Paris, France, showcasing his tactical prowess in faster time controls. Two years later, in 1997, he competed in the elite Kasparov Cup in Moscow, Russia, achieving second place with 6.5/9 against strong opposition. These results highlighted his rapid ascent, as he consistently outperformed peers in Armenia's competitive chess scene.[7][5] By his mid-teens, Akobian's rating progress reflected his local dominance, with steady gains that positioned him among Armenia's top young talents; he earned his final International Master norm at age 16 and was awarded the title in 2001. His early career in Armenia laid a solid foundation, emphasizing positional understanding influenced by Petrosian's style.[7][1][2]Immigration to the United States
In 2001, at the age of 17, Varuzhan Akobian and his family immigrated to the United States from Armenia, settling in the Los Angeles area of California.[4][8] Adapting to American life brought challenges, including Akobian's limited proficiency in English upon arrival and cultural adjustments such as missing fresh, natural foods from Armenia and separation from relatives back home.[8] He noted feeling largely accepted in the diverse Los Angeles community, experiencing little discrimination as an immigrant compared to perceptions of other countries.[8] Akobian swiftly engaged with the U.S. chess circuit, competing in early post-immigration events like the 2001 Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, where he earned a strong second-place finish with 5 out of 6 points as an International Master.[9] The following year, he was awarded the Samford Chess Fellowship, an annual honor from the U.S. Chess Trust recognizing the most promising young American player and providing financial support for full-time chess training over two years.[8][10] Akobian built on this by delivering impressive performances in open tournaments, notably tying for first at the 2002 World Open with 7 out of 9 points.[8]Chess career
Rise to Grandmaster
Akobian earned his first Grandmaster norm at the 2002 World Open in Philadelphia, where he tied for first place with a score of 7/9 against a strong field that included several grandmasters.[11] This performance, highlighted by a critical draw against top-rated GM Ilya Smirin, marked a significant step in his progression from International Master status.[5] The following year, Akobian secured his second Grandmaster norm by winning the 2003 U.S. Junior Closed Championship outright with an impressive 8/9 score, including victories in his first seven consecutive games against top American juniors.[12] This dominant victory, held in Miami, Florida, not only solidified his reputation as a rising talent but also contributed to his overall title qualification. Later in 2003, he achieved his third and final norm at the American Open in Los Angeles, finishing first with 6/8.[7] FIDE officially awarded Akobian the Grandmaster title in June 2004, following the verification of his norms.[13] By October 2004, his FIDE standard rating had climbed to 2571, reflecting his rapid early progress in the United States.[2] In recognition of his potential, Akobian received the prestigious Samford Chess Fellowship in 2002, an award granted annually to the most promising American player under 25, providing financial support to focus on professional chess development for two years.[8]Major tournament victories
Akobian's breakthrough in major open tournaments came in 2004 when he won the World Open outright with 7.5/9, securing sole first place by defeating Alexander Shabalov in the final round.[14][7] In 2005, he claimed the Alajuela Open championship undefeated, scoring 8/9 to take clear first.[1] The following year, Akobian tied for first in the San Marino Open with 7.5/9, achieving a performance rating of approximately 2800.[1] His 2007 season marked a peak in open tournament success, beginning with a clear victory in the World Open—his third overall—with 6.5/9. He followed this by tying for first in the Miami Open at 6.5/9 and sharing first place in the American Continental Championship with 8/11, qualifying him for the 2007 FIDE World Cup.[7][15] During his competitive prime, he reached a peak FIDE rating of 2673 in June 2017, placing him at world number 76.[3] That year, he won the Spring Chess Classic in Saint Louis outright with 6/9. He tied for first in the 2018 Summer Chess Classic in Saint Louis with 6/9, though he lost the playoff.[16][17]Team achievements
Following his naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 2003, Varuzhan Akobian began representing the United States in international team competitions, marking a significant transition from his early career in Armenia.[18] Akobian's team debut came at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy, in 2006, where he played on board three for the U.S. team and achieved a strong score of 7/10, including key wins that helped secure the team's bronze medal behind Armenia and China.[19][20] One notable contribution was his victory over Norwegian Grandmaster Kjetil A. Lie in the final round, which bolstered the U.S. score in a crucial match against Ukraine.[21] The team finished third overall with 23 match points from 14 rounds.[20] He returned for the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, in 2008, competing on board four and scoring 6.5/9, again earning a bronze medal for the U.S. team, which placed third behind Armenia and Israel.[22][7] His consistent performances, including draws against top opposition, were instrumental in maintaining the team's competitive standing.[23] Akobian participated in multiple editions of the FIDE World Team Chess Championship, representing the U.S. in 2009 (Ningbo, China), 2011 (Zandvoort, Netherlands), 2013 (Antalya, Turkey), and 2015 (Tsakhkadzor, Armenia).[3] In 2010 (Bursa, Turkey), he scored 4.5/8 on board four, contributing to the U.S. team's silver medal, finishing second to Russia with 15 match points from 9 rounds.[24][7] At the 2013 event, Akobian earned an individual gold medal on board four with an undefeated performance, despite the U.S. team placing fourth overall behind Ukraine, China, and Hungary.[25] Beyond these major events, Akobian represented the U.S. in regional team competitions, including the Pan-American Team Championships. In 2013, he helped the team win gold at the 9th edition in Campinas, Brazil, scoring 3/5 and securing victories in key matches against strong South American sides.[26][7]Later career and contributions
Performances in US Championships
Varuzhan Akobian has competed in the United States Chess Championship multiple times since earning his grandmaster title in 2004, establishing himself as a consistent contender among the nation's elite players. His debut came in the 2004 event, where he scored 5.5/9 to tie for ninth place in a field featuring top American talent. Subsequent appearances in 2009 (6/9, fourth place, qualifying for the FIDE World Cup) and 2012 (6.5/11, fourth place) demonstrated his growing prowess in the closed invitational format.[27][7][7] Akobian's standout performance occurred in the 2014 U.S. Championship held in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he tied for first with 7/11, sharing the lead with Gata Kamsky and Aleksandr Lenderman. This result advanced him to a playoff, but he finished as runner-up after losing to Kamsky in a rapid tiebreak match. The event highlighted Akobian's tactical acumen, including key victories that propelled him to the top of the standings midway through the tournament.[28][29][7] In the 2017 U.S. Championship, also in Saint Louis, Akobian delivered another strong showing, scoring 6.5/11 to tie for third place alongside Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, behind winner Wesley So. His performance included a critical final-round encounter with Nakamura, where Akobian held a winning advantage but ultimately drew, missing a chance to vie for the title. This tie for top scores in the latter stages underscored his resilience against the world's best.[30][31][32] Akobian maintained his involvement in major U.S. national events through 2023–2025, competing in Saint Louis-based championships with scores typically around 50–60% against strong opposition. As of November 2025, his FIDE standard rating stands at 2549, placing him approximately 27th among American players. Notable moments from these years include draws and upsets against top competitors like Nakamura, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable performer in high-stakes domestic play.[2][33]| Year | Score | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5.5/9 | Tied 9th | Debut appearance[27] |
| 2009 | 6/9 | 4th | Qualified for World Cup[7] |
| 2012 | 6.5/11 | 4th | Solid mid-pack finish[7] |
| 2014 | 7/11 | 2nd | Tied 1st; lost playoff to Kamsky[28] |
| 2017 | 6.5/11 | Tied 3rd | Tied with Caruana and Nakamura[30] |