Highlights: 2004 World Open, tied for first place in the 2002 World Open

Bio: Varuzhan Akobian qualified to play his first rated tournament, the Armenian Junior Chess Championship in 1992, earning 3rd place in the under 10 section, then went on to take 1st place the following year. He participated in his first World Chess Championship in Czechoslovakia at the age of 9 and placed 8th. He won the Samford Chess Fellowship in 2002, which allowed him to focus on chess for two years. It paid off: Akobian reached his first long-time goal of becoming a Grandmaster in 2004. Akobian is known for being a great team player: He was a member of the bronze medal Olympiad teams in 2006 and 2008. He was also featured on MTV’s “True Life” series. Akobian is the highest-ranked Californian player.

Varuzhan Akobian qualified to play his first rated tournament, the Armenian Junior Chess Championship in 1992, earning 3rd place in the under 10 section, then went on to take 1st place the following year. He participated in his first World Chess Championship in Czechoslovakia at the age of 9 and placed 8th.

He won the Samford Chess Fellowship in 2002, which allowed him to focus on chess for two years. It paid off: Akobian reached his first longtime goal of becoming a Grandmaster in 2004. Akobian is known for being a great team player: He was part of the Bronze Medal Olympic squads in 2006 and 2008. He was also featured on MTV’s “True Life” series. Akobian resides in California, where he’s the highest-rated player in the state.

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