The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis warmly welcomes back GM Varuzhan Akobian as its Resident Grandmaster through January 18.
The Armenian-American "Var" is highly regarded as one of the country's premier chess players, a two-time competitor in the FIDE Chess World Cup who recently broke into the world's top 100 players in 2014. Now a veteran name on the top ranks of American chess, the 31-year-old is in the prime of his career after taking second place in last year's U.S. Championship, forcing national champion GM Gata Kamsky to the brink with an armageddon playoff for the 2014 title. He was also one of the stars of the Saint Louis Arch Bishops, who won their first national title last December to become 2014 champions of the U.S. Chess League.
Away from competition, Akobian's reputation extends even further as an outstanding tutor to all levels of chess players. His outstanding knowledge and expertise from the upper tiers of chess makes him a favored coach for improving tournament players, while his patience and easy-to-follow, straightforward instruction keeps Var as one of the most popular lecturers -- especially for kids classes -- in the CCSCSL Resident GM cycle.
Akobian will be available for one-on-one private lessons in the Chess Club during his stay, as well as leading all of the Club's weekly programming free for members, including Beginner's Chess for both Kids and Adults, as well as several lectures designed for tournament players.
He's only here for a short stay, come reap the benefits from one of America's best players and instructors while he is here. Welcome Var!
