Levon Aronian

Not to be confused with Lev Aronin.

Levon Aronian
Լևոն Արոնյան
Aronian in 2019
Born
Levon Grigori Aronian

(1982-10-06) 6 October 1982 (age 42)
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Spouses
​
​
(m. 2017; died 2020)​
Anita Ayvazyan
​
(m. 2022)​
Chess career
Country
  • Armenia (before 2003; 2004–2021)
  • Germany (2003−2004)[1][2]
  • United States (since 2021)[3]
TitleGrandmaster (2000)
FIDE rating2739 (November 2024)
Peak rating2830 (March 2014)
RankingNo. 14 (November 2024)
Peak rankingNo. 2 (January 2012)
Levon Aronian's voice
Levon Aronian describing in an interview a time he was recognized in public
Recorded 2019
Websitelevonaronian.com

Levon Grigori Aronian (Armenian: Լևոն Գրիգորի Արոնյան, romanized: Levon Grigori Aronyan; born 6 October 1982) is an Armenian-American chess grandmaster. A chess prodigy, he earned the title of grandmaster in 2000, at age 17. He is a former world rapid and blitz champion and has held the No. 2 position in the March 2014 FIDE world chess rankings with a rating of 2830,[4] becoming the fourth highest-rated player in history.

Aronian won the FIDE World Cup in 2005 and 2017. He led the Armenian national team to the gold medals in the Chess Olympiads of 2006 (Turin), 2008 (Dresden) and 2012 (Istanbul)[5] and at the World Team Chess Championship in Ningbo 2011. He won the FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010, qualifying him for the Candidates Tournament for the World Chess Championship 2012. He was also world champion in Chess960 in 2006 and 2007, in rapid chess in 2009, and in blitz chess in 2010.

Aronian has been the leading Armenian chess player since the early 2000s.[6] His popularity in Armenia has led to him being called a celebrity[7] and a hero.[8] He was named the best sportsman of Armenia in 2005[9] and was awarded the title of Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of Armenia in 2009. In 2012, he was awarded the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots.[10] In 2016, CNN called Aronian the "David Beckham of chess".[11]

Aronian announced his decision to transfer from the Armenian chess federation to the United States federation in late February 2021, citing a decline in government support for the sport as his motivation.[12] The transfer was completed in December 2021.[13]

  1. ^ "Transfers in 2003". FIDE. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Transfers in 2004". FIDE. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Transfers in 2021". FIDE. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Top 100 Players March 2014". FIDE.
  5. ^ Bartelski, Wojciech. "Men's Chess Olympiads: Levon Aronian". OlimpBase. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  6. ^ Scimia, Edward. "World Championship Candidate Levon Aronian". about.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2014. ...for the last decade [...] leading Armenia to victory in team competition and being constantly in the World Championship discussion.
  7. ^ "Players 2013". Norway Chess. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Aronian is a major celebrity in his chess-loving home country.
  8. ^ Davies, Caroline; Pein, Malcolm (7 June 2006). "Pawn queens". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2013. And Mr Aronian enjoys a similar level of hero-worship to, say, David Beckham.
  9. ^ "Aronian Presented World Cup to Armenian Community of Khanty-Mansiysk". Armtown.com. 22 December 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Levon Aronyan awarded St. Mesrop Mashtots Order". Mediamax.am. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  11. ^ McKenzie, Sheena (1 February 2016). "Pawn star: How the 'David Beckham of chess' became a national hero". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  12. ^ Shah, Sagar (27 February 2021). "Levon Aronian relocates to Saint Louis and will represent the USA". Chessbase India.
  13. ^ Svensen, Tarjei. "Levon Aronian relocates to Saint Louis and will represent the USA". Chess 24.