Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram set to battle at 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 29/05/2025

R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram will make their debut at 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2025 in Jermuk, Armenia. Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh are two of the highest rated players in the field. Last year Arjun won this event. Since he is not playing, a new champion is guaranteed to be crowned. The remaining eight participants are - Samuel Sevian (USA), Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB), Benjamin Gledura (HUN), Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN), Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM), Dmitrij Kollars (GER), Xiangyu Xu (CHN) and Aram Hakobyan (ARM). The tournament will take place at Jermuk Ashkarh Health Center in Jermuk, Armenia from 28th May to 6th June. The total prize fund of the tournament is 7450000 AMD (≈ US$ 19325). The top three prizes are 3100000 AMD (≈ US$ 8041), 1 850 000 AMD (≈ US$ 4799) and 1500000 (≈ US$ 3891). Round 1 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Aravindh vs Praggnanandhaa in Round 1

GM Samuel Sevian (USA) is the sole former champion among the ten-player line-up. He won the fourth edition in 2023.

Stepan Avagyan Memorial will take place from 29th May to 6th June 2025 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Players

World no.7 - R Praggnanandhaa, World no.12 - Aravindh Chithambaram, World no.37 and winner of the fourth edition - Samuel Sevian (USA), 44th Olympiad Gold medalist and World no.60 - Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB), Hungary no.3 and World no.62 - Benjamin Gledura, Denmark no.1 and World no.87 - Jonas Buhl Bjerre, Armenia no.4 and World no.99 - Robert Hovhannisyan, Germany no.5 - Dmitrij Kollars, China no.11 - Xiangyu Xu and Armenia no.6 - Aram Hakobyan.

Players at the opening ceremony | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Xiangyu Xu (CHN) got number ten at the Draw of Lots | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Smbat Lputian, Vice President, Armenian Chess Federation, delivering his speech | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Screening of 'A Bright Legacy' documentary at the opening ceremony | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

A special documentary, 'A Bright Legacy', was shown during the opening ceremony to celebrate Stepan Avagyan's contributions. He was a a true chess lover, former president of the Vayots Dzor Chess Federation, and former director of the health center.

Watch live stream

Watch live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Time Control

90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game (with 30 seconds increment starting from move one).

Prizes

The total prize fund is 7450000 AMD (≈ US$ 19325). The top three prizes are 3100000 AMD (≈ US$ 8041), 1 850 000 AMD (≈ US$ 4799) and 1500000 (≈ US$ 3891).

Round 1 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	2635	GM	Hovhannisyan Robert		GM	Xu Xiangyu	2623	10
2	2	2749	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.		GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2758	9
3	3	2641	GM	Bjerre Jonas Buhl		GM	Hakobyan Aram	2620	8
4	4	2694	GM	Sevian Samuel		GM	Gledura Benjamin	2663	7
5	5	2665	GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek		GM	Kollars Dmitrij	2625	6

Details

Schedule

Wednesday	28 May at 19:00	Opening Ceremony
Thursday	29 May at 15:00	Round 1
Friday	30 May at 15:00	Round 2
Saturday	31 May at 15:00	Round 3
Sunday	1 June at 15:00	Round 4
Monday	2 June at 15:00	Round 5
Tuesday	3 June at 15:00	Round 6
Wednesday	4 June at 15:00	Round 7
Thursday	5 June at 15:00	Round 8
Friday	6 June at 11:00	Round 9
Friday	6 June at 18:00	Closing Ceremony