Chess: Levon Aronian switches to US as new regime in Armenia cuts support
Press
Published on: March 5, 2021
Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian has announced his move to the U.S., joining the elite chess hub in St. Louis backed by billionaire Rex Sinquefield. The former Olympiad champion will compete alongside top American players like Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So, strengthening the U.S. team ahead of the 2022 Chess Olympiad. Aronian’s decision follows reduced chess funding in Armenia, despite recent wins against world champion Magnus Carlsen. His transfer underscores Sinquefield’s influence in reshaping global chess talent, raising questions about future moves—including whether rising star Alireza Firouzja might follow suit.
Armenia’s world No 5, Levon Aronian, has upped sticks and announced that he will quit his native Yerevan and represent the United States in future. The 38-year-old, who memorably led his national team to Olympiad gold ahead of the Russian and American favourites at Turin 2006, Dresden 2008 and Istanbul 2012, will transfer to the billionaire Rex Sinquefield’s global centre at St Louis, venue of the annual elite Sinquefield Cup which Aronian has already won twice.
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