Tigran Petrosian- The Symbol of Armenian Chess

Tigran Petrosian- The Symbol of Armenian Chess, would have celebrated his 94th birthday today.

An international chess grandmaster, Petrosian earned the nickname “Iron Tigran” for his nearly impenetrable defensive playing style. He held the title of world chess champion twice, from 1963 to 1969. Along the way, Petrosian set numerous records.

Tigran Petrosian began his chess journey at the age of 8 and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging players to defeat in the history of chess.

Petrosian believed that “Chess is a game in form, art in content, science in the complexity of mastering.”

Tigran Petrosian is often credited with popularizing chess in Armenia, and it gained widespread recognition during the 1960s when he became the World Chess Champion. Today, Armenia is considered a chess superpower, boasting the highest number of chess grandmasters per capita.

Since the 2011 school year, chess lessons have been incorporated into the curriculum of every public school in Armenia, making it the first country in the world to make chess mandatory in schools.