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Armenian President and President of the Armenian Chess Federation Serzh Sargsyan today attended the opening of the international conference “Chess in Schools” being held on October 16-18 at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, the President’s press service reported.

Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and First Vice-President of the Armenian Chess Federation Smbat Lputian made speeches at the conference, organized by the Ministry of Science and Education, the FIDE, the Armenian Chess Federation and the Chess Academy of Armenia in cooperation with the Armenian State Pedagogical University. The speakers considered the conference a wonderful opportunity for exchange of experience, which, according to them, will foster further development of chess and will raise its role and importance in education.

Further, Serzh Sargsyan, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the conference participants attended the unveiling of Double World Chess Champion Tigran Petrosyan’s sculpture at the Chess House bearing his name. The sculpture, created by eminent sculptor Ara Sargsyan in 1965 on the occasion of Tigran Petrosyan’s chess triumph, has been kept by the sculptor’s relatives in his house-museum for almost half a century. Ara Sargsyan’s family has decided to donate it to the Chess House on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of Tigran Petrosyan.

The Armenian President also attended the opening of a new chess school in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district of Yerevan. Up to 350 5-8-year-old children, as well as alumni representing schools in other administrative districts can study at the school for free.