Gabriel Sargissian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel Sargissian |
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| Full name | Gabriel Eduardi Sargissian |
| Country | Armenia |
| Born | September 3, 1983 Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Title | Grandmaster (2002) |
| FIDE rating | 2682 (June 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2711 (September 2022) |
| Peak ranking | No. 32 (September 2022) |
Gabriel Sargissian (born September 3, 1983) is a famous Armenian chess player. He is a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can get. Gabriel has helped his country win gold medals at big chess tournaments like the Chess Olympiads in 2006, 2008, and 2012. He also won gold at the World Team Chess Championship in 2011. For his achievements, he has received special awards from Armenia.
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Early Life and Chess Beginnings
Gabriel Sargissian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, on September 3, 1983. His grandfather taught him how to play chess when he was just 6 years old.
Gabriel quickly showed he was a talented player.
- In 1996, he won the World Youth Chess Championship for players under 14.
- In 1998, he won the European Youth Chess Championship for players under 16.
- In the same year, he became an International Master, which is another high title in chess.
Chess Career Highlights
Gabriel Sargissian has won many important chess tournaments throughout his career.
National and International Wins
- He won the Armenian Chess Championship twice, in 2000 and 2003.
- In 2006, he won tournaments in Reykjavík, Iceland, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- At the 8th Dubai Open in 2006, he scored 7 out of 9 points, sharing first place.
- In 2007, he won the Ruy Lopez Festival in Spain with an amazing score of 6.5 out of 7 points. His performance rating for this event was very high, at 3021.
- He came in third place at the Second Ruy López International in 2008.
- In 2009 and 2012, he won the Annual Chicago Open.
- 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.
Recent Performances
- In November 2017, Gabriel won a silver medal 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 finished eighth at the Aeroflot Open, scoring 6 out of 9 points.
Team Competitions
Gabriel Sargissian is well-known for his strong performances in team chess events, especially the Chess Olympiads.
Chess Olympiads
Gabriel has played for Armenia in many Chess Olympiads: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2022.
- He helped his team win bronze medals in 2002 and 2004.
- Armenia won team gold medals with Gabriel in 2006, 2008, and 2012.
- In 2022, the team won a silver medal.
Grandmaster Peter Svidler once said that Gabriel Sargissian turns into a "real monster" at the Olympiads. This means he plays incredibly well during these big team events. This was especially true in 2022. Gabriel's strong play on board one, where he beat four grandmasters with high ratings, helped Armenia win the silver medal.
First Gold Medal (2006)
Armenia won its first ever Chess Olympiad in 2006. Gabriel Sargissian played on board five for the team. Armenia won the gold medal, finishing ahead of strong teams like China and the United States.
Second Gold Medal (2008)
In 2008, Gabriel Sargissian and the Armenian team won the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. This was their second gold medal in a row! Gabriel played on board three and had a key win against Alexander Grischuk from Russia. This win helped Armenia take the lead and secure the gold medal. Gabriel also won an individual gold medal for his excellent performance on board three. The Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, even flew the team back to Armenia on his presidential plane.
Third Gold Medal (2012)
Armenia and Gabriel Sargissian won their third Olympiad title in 2012 at the 40th Chess Olympiad. When the players received their gold medals, the Armenian national anthem was played. Back in Yerevan, the team was welcomed by many cheering people at the airport.
World and European Team Championships
- The Armenian national chess team won the World Team Chess Championship for the first time in 2011. Gabriel played on board four and was a key member of the gold medal-winning team.
- He also played for Armenia in the European Team Chess Championships from 2007 to 2015.
- He helped his team win silver medals in 2007 and 2015.
- He won an individual gold medal in 2009.
Club Competitions
Gabriel has also played for chess clubs.
- In 2007, he played for "CA Linex Magic Mérida" from Spain and won a team gold medal at the 23rd European Chess Club Cup.
- He also played for "MIKA Yerevan" in the European Chess Club Cup several times.
Awards and Recognition
Gabriel Sargissian has received several important awards from Armenia for his contributions to chess:
- In June 2006, he was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi medal.
- In December 2009, he received the Medal For Services Contributed to the Motherland.
- In July 2012, he was given the Order of Honor of the Republic of Armenia.
Chess School
In 2012, Gabriel Sargissian and another famous Armenian chess player, Levon Aronian, started a chess school in Yerevan. This school helps talented young chess players, aged 10 to 18, to improve their skills.
Personal Life
Gabriel Sargissian is married to Liana Avoyan. Their wedding took place on June 28, 2013, at the Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Yerevan. The Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, attended their wedding.
Notable Chess Games
Here are some of Gabriel Sargissian's interesting chess games:
- Gabriel Sargissian vs Etienne Bacrot, 1996
- Gabriel Sargissian vs Melikset Khachian, 1998
- Igor Kurnosov vs Gabriel Sargissian, 2005
- Gabriel Sargissian vs Marko Tratar, 2007
- Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Gabriel Sargissian, 2007
- Martin Neubauer vs Gabriel Sargissian, 2007
- Gabriel Sargissian vs Alexander Grischuk, 2008
- Gabriel Sargissian vs Sergey Karjakin, 2015
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Sargissian para niños
