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David Edmonds from BBC enjoys much Armenians playing chess and their victories; hence he traveled to Armenia to find out the secret of those victories.

The reporter tells in his story that he speaks not a word of Armenian, and the first man he met in Armenia spoke not a word of English. He was much surprised to hear that the drivers name taking hi to the city center from the airport was Tigran Petrosian.

“This seems a weird coincidence. In 1963, his namesake, Tigran Petrosian, had defeated Mikhail Botvinnik to take the world chess title,” BBC reporter writes.

He recollects that tens of thousands of people gathered in Opera Square in the capital Yerevan, to watch the games being displayed on giant boards, as the moves were relayed from Moscow. From that moment on, chess became a national obsession.

“My driver, Tigran, was not the only Tigran I met. Tigran is an ancient Armenian name. Tigran the Great built a vast empire here in Roman times. But since the chess conquests of Tigran Petrosian, Tigrans have multiplied. Tigran Xmalian is a director, who has made a film that uses chess to tell the history of modern Armenia. It is a tragic story,” writes the reporter.

It is said that since the late 1980s, Armenia has experienced a catastrophic earthquake, war with Azerbaijan and economic collapse. Tigran Xmalian told to the BBC reporter that chess offers the people hope - the chance of salvation. For in chess every pawn can become a queen.

“Later I meet the president of the Armenian Chess Federation. The interview had taken months to arrange. That may seem odd until you realise that in his spare time, he is also president of the country. His cabinet consists of two Tigrans - the prime minister and the finance minister,” David Edmonds writes.

Armenian President told the BBC reporter, as it is written in the story, that the state already offers free training to the most promising players, and a guaranteed salary (equivalent to the average wage) to any Armenian who reaches the elite title of grandmaster.

The president told that it is planned to introduce chess into the school curriculum. "We don't want people to know Armenia just for the earthquake and the genocide," President said as BBC writes. "We would rather it was famous for its chess."

The BBC reporter had a meeting with another Tigran Petrosian who is chess grand master. Tigran Petrosian junior said that he hopes to make the Armenian side that will defend its gold medal in 2010. He said the name gives him a good feeling but it is too much pressure at the same time as with that name everyone expects him to win every game.

Another Armenian GM Levon Aronian has been called to be the equivalent of David Beckham as a spectator told BBC.

The tournament held in Jermuk is called the Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament. Reporter concludes his story pointing that the world champion, who died two decades ago, would have turned 80 this year.