On the initiative of the Department of Youth of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, with the support of the Diocesan Primacy and blessings of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, a chess tournament among chess players under 17 years of age kicked off in the places populated by Armenians in Georgia. The tournament is dedicated to the 100th jubilee of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia.
On April 1, 2018, the first stage of the tournament started in Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of “Hayartun” Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
Head of the Department Valery Badalyan welcomed the participants and presented the format of the tournament, clarified that it is held in two stages. With the blessings of the pastors and support of youth centers, the first stage will take place in the all places populated by Armenians in Georgia: in the regions of Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Akhaltsikhe and nearby villages, as well as in Batumi and Rustavi. Regardless of the number of participants there will be one winner from each place who afterwards will participate in the final stage of the tournament which will be held in Tbilisi.
As a result of the properly carried out preparatory work done by the Director and Coordinator of programs of the Department, in front of the chessboard, the competition was held among participants from different schools of the city, students of the Youth Palace and Chess Palace of Tbilisi.
The first stage of the tournament, held in Tbilisi, was attended by 14 chess-players and students which have participated in various competitions and tournaments. Daniel Safarov, student of the chess group of the Tbilisi Youth Palace, who studies at N20 public school, became the winner of the tournament and passed to the final stage.
Winners of the first stage of the tournament in the regions populated by Armenians will participate in the final stage, which will take place in “Hayartun” Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, in Tbilisi.
For the first, second and third place winners the awards and rewards are prepared.
The organizers of the chess tournament wished success to the participants.