7th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2026: Aravindh wins, Nihal misses

By admin May 30, 2026 0 comments

The defending champion, Aravindh Chithambaram made a winning start at 7th Stepan Avagyan Memorial Round-Robin 2026.

Aravindh scores the sole win of the round

Aravindh Chithambaram scored the only win of Round 1. Nihal Sarin missed a win against the winner of the fourth edition, Sam Sevian.

Aravindh – Sargsyan: 1-0

The only time Aravindh Chithambaram (2692) and Shant Sargsyan (ARM, 2644) faced each other in a Classical rated game was over seven years ago. Aravindh won that game. This time also the result was the same.

Position after 52.e5!

After waiting for nearly 18 moves, White found the breakthrough 52.e5! Find out why it works now and did not before. Aravindh went on to win the game in another 20 moves.

The defending champion, Aravindh Chithambaram scored the sole win of the round | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Nihal – Sevian: 0.5-0.5

The only Classical rated game between Nihal Sarin (2723) and Samuel Sevian (USA, 2696) occured over three years ago. It had ended in a draw. This time, Nihal had a great chance to win in the rook endgame. However, he misplayed.

Position after 51…Rxc2

52.Ra6+ Kf7 53.Kf5 would have sufficed. Instead, White played the strange 52.Kh5?? Rc8 and Black managed to escape with a draw.

Nihal Sarin would like to put this game behind him | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Ray Robson (USA) – Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Alexander Donchenko (GER) – Szymon Gumularz (POL): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Customized pen with the player’s name engraved for players | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM FST Smbat Lputian, Vice-President, Armenian Chess Federation | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Round 1 in progress | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Official commentators – GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and WGM Maria Fominykh | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Replay live stream

Replay Round 1 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and WGM Maria Fominykh | Video: Chess Academy of Armenia

Replay Round 1 games

Time Control

40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Prizes

The total prize fund is 10050000 AMD (≈ US$ 26000). The top three prizes are AMD 3200000, 2200000 and 1700000 each. The top three Chessify prizes are bundle worth $350, $300 and $250 each.