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Gabriel Sargissian
GabrielSargissian23.jpg
Full name Gabriel Eduardi Sargissian
Country Armenia
Born (1983-09-03) September 3, 1983 (age 41)
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Title Grandmaster (2002)
FIDE rating 2682 (July 2025)
Peak rating 2711 (September 2022)
Peak ranking No. 32 (September 2022)

Gabriel Eduardi Sargissian is a famous chess player from Armenia. He is a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can get. Gabriel was born on September 3, 1983.

He was a very important part of the Armenian chess team. His team won gold medals at the Chess Olympiads in 2006, 2008, and 2012. They also won the World Team Chess Championship in 2011. Gabriel Sargissian has received special awards for his great achievements in chess.

Early Life and First Wins

Gabriel Sargissian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. His grandfather taught him how to play chess when he was just six years old. He quickly became very good at the game.

In 1996, Gabriel won the World Youth Chess Championship. This was for players under 14 years old. Two years later, in 1998, he won the European Youth Chess Championship for players under 16. In the same year, he earned the title of International Master.

Chess Career Highlights

Gabriel Sargissian won the Armenian Chess Championship twice, in 2000 and 2003. He took part in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2004.

He won big tournaments in Reykjavík and Dubai in 2006. At the 8th Dubai Open in 2006, he scored 7 out of 9 points. He shared first place with two other strong players. In 2007, he won the Ruy Lopez Festival in Spain. He finished with an amazing 6.5 out of 7 points.

In 2009, Gabriel won the 18th Annual Chicago Open. He also won the Annual Chicago Open again in 2012. In 2014, he tied for first place at the 23rd Annual Chicago Open. In 2015, he tied for first place at the 2nd PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament.

In November 2017, Gabriel won a silver medal. This was for his individual performance at the European Team Chess Championship. In December 2017, he shared first place at the 9th CSC London Chess Classic FIDE Open. In February 2018, he played in the Aeroflot Open. He finished eighth out of 92 players.

Playing for the Team

AM011-09
Sargissian (second from right) with his 2008 Olympiad teammates on a 2009 stamp of Armenia

Gabriel Sargissian has played for Armenia in many Chess Olympiads. These include 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2022. He helped his team win bronze medals in 2002 and 2004. They won gold medals in 2006, 2008, and 2012. In 2022, they won a silver medal.

A famous chess player, Peter Svidler, once said that Gabriel is like an "Armenian Hulk." He meant that Gabriel becomes an amazing player during the Olympiads. This is a big reason why Armenia has won the Olympiad so many times.

This was true again at the 2022 Chess Olympiads. Armenia won a silver medal. Gabriel played incredibly well on the first board. In the last five important games, he scored 4.5 points. He beat four grandmasters who had very high ratings.

Armenia won its first ever Chess Olympiad in 2006. Gabriel played on board five for the team. The Armenian team won gold, beating China and the United States.

In 2008, Gabriel Sargissian helped Armenia win the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden. This was their second gold medal in a row. He played on board three. He even beat Alexander Grischuk, which was the only win against Russia. This helped Armenia take the lead. Armenia won the Olympiad by one point. Gabriel also won a gold medal for his own great performance in this Olympiad. The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, was there to support the team. After winning, they flew back to Armenia on the presidential plane.

Armenia and Gabriel won the Olympiad title again in 2012. This was at the 40th Chess Olympiad. It was the third time Armenia won gold at the Olympiad. When the players received their gold medals, the Armenian national anthem was played. The Armenian flag was raised in Istanbul. When they returned to Yerevan, many people welcomed them at the airport.

The Armenian national chess team won the World Team Chess Championship for the first time in 2011. Gabriel played on board four in this tournament. He also played for Armenia in the European Team Chess Championships. He won a team silver medal in 2007 and 2015. He also won an individual gold medal in 2009.

Gabriel Sargissian also played for chess clubs. He played for "CA Linex Magic Mérida" from Spain in 2007. They won a team gold medal. He also played for "MIKA Yerevan" in other European Chess Club Cups.

Awards and Recognition

Gabriel Sargissian has received several important awards from Armenia. In June 2006, he was given the Movses Khorenatsi medal. In December 2009, he received the Medal For Services Contributed to the Motherland. In July 2012, he was awarded the Order of Honor of the Republic of Armenia.

Chess School

In 2012, Gabriel Sargissian and another famous chess player, Levon Aronian, started a chess school. It is in Yerevan, Armenia. This school helps talented young chess players. Students between 10 and 18 years old can study there.

Personal Life

Gabriel Sargissian is married to Liana Avoyan. They got married on June 28, 2013. Their wedding took place at the Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Yerevan. The Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, was also at their wedding.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gabriel Sargissian para niños

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