Chess: Armenian GM Aronian to play against Ding Liren at the Candidates Tournament

Panorama, Armenia
Feb 12 2018

Armenian GM Levon Aronian is set to play with Chinese chess grandmaster Ding Liren in the Round First of the Candidates Tournament that will take place in Berlin, Germany on March 10-28, 2018.

To note, eight of the world's top grandmasters will come to Berlin to play in the tournament that will be held as a double round-robin over 14 games. The winner will contest the title currently held by Magnus Carlsen, the reigning World Champion, in November 2018.

The eight Candidates Tournament participants include Sergey Karjakin, Vladimir Kramnik, and Alexander Grishuk of Russia, Shahriyar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan, Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So of the United States. 

The prize fund will total €420,000, or an estimated $460,000 at the current exchange rate. In addition to €420,000, the prize will also include 10% of the pay-per-view revenues from the event.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS