Tatev Abrahamyan

International Master Tatev Abrahamyan has been one of the top American female players for over two decades. Abrahamyan made her debut in the U.S. Championship in 2004 and hasn’t missed an event in over twenty years. Though she has never won the event, Abrahamyan finished second or tied for second in the 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014 (losing a playoff for first), 2016 and 2019 U.S. Women’s Championships.

Abrahamyan will be a member of the 2026 U.S. Women’s Olympiad team, the eighth time she has represented her country in this competition. She won team bronze in the 2008 and 2020 (online) competitions.

2025 was a banner year for Abrahamyan who had the best result of her career – first place by a full point in the Budapest One Week 2025 August GM norm invitational tournament. Her performance was not only good for her first Grandmaster norm but also earned her the International Master title. Tatev made her third and final norm to become an IM twelve years ago, but it was only in Budapest that she completed the other requirement for the title – raising her FIDE rating over 2400.

Abrahamyan has not done as well in 2026 but with her experience and love for the game is this the year she wins her first U.S. Championship?

Chess Life readers know Abrahamyan for her excellent monthly instructional column “Getting to Work”.