YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenia’s sixtieth annual chess championship–aimed at strengthening ties between Armenian and Iranian communities–began Monday in Yerevan. "Since chess is a game of Indo-Arian origin," a senior official of the Armenian Chess Federation told Armenpress–it is appropriate that the tournament involves players of Armenian and Iranian origin.
Chess is popular both in Armenia and Iran. Taking its popularity into account–the FIDE has decided to hold the final stage of the men’s world championship this year in Tehran. The preliminary rounds will be played in New Delhi.