Barcelona (Editorial / Agencies) .- Armenia has made chess a compulsory subject in primary school, aiming to become a global force in the game, as said the education ministry. According to the Armenian government has confirmed local media, this game will be considered mandatory in the country's education system.
The ministry official said Arman Aivazian: "Teaching chess in schools will create a solid foundation for the country to become a chess superpower." With three million inhabitants, Armenia has won the last two men's chess world championships, beating rivals such as Russia, China and the U.S..
It seems a strange coincidence. In 1963, Tigran Petrosian defeated Mikhail Botvinnik and won the world chess title. For Westerners was a Soviet defeat to another. The Soviets used the chess to show the superiority of communism over capitalism and set up an efficient factory that produced chess prodigies like sausages.
But the Armenians did not have that perception. For them, Petrosian was above all things, an Armenian. Since late 1980, Armenia has experienced a catastrophic earthquake, a war with Azerbaijan and economic collapse. According to Tigran Xmalian, chess offers hope, a chance to escape. Is that in chess, he says, all the pawns can become queens.
Later I met the president of the Chess Federation of Armenia. It took me months to arrange this interview. It may sound strange, until one realizes that in his spare time that man is the president. His cabinet is composed of two Tigrans: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The state offers free training to the most promising players and guarantees a salary equivalent to the average salary for all Armenians who reached grandmaster title.
The president plans to incorporate chess into school curricula. 
The ministry official said Arman Aivazian: "Teaching chess in schools will create a solid foundation for the country to become a chess superpower." With three million inhabitants, Armenia has won the last two men's chess world championships, beating rivals such as Russia, China and the U.S..
It seems a strange coincidence. In 1963, Tigran Petrosian defeated Mikhail Botvinnik and won the world chess title. For Westerners was a Soviet defeat to another. The Soviets used the chess to show the superiority of communism over capitalism and set up an efficient factory that produced chess prodigies like sausages.
But the Armenians did not have that perception. For them, Petrosian was above all things, an Armenian. Since late 1980, Armenia has experienced a catastrophic earthquake, a war with Azerbaijan and economic collapse. According to Tigran Xmalian, chess offers hope, a chance to escape. Is that in chess, he says, all the pawns can become queens.
Later I met the president of the Chess Federation of Armenia. It took me months to arrange this interview. It may sound strange, until one realizes that in his spare time that man is the president. His cabinet is composed of two Tigrans: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The state offers free training to the most promising players and guarantees a salary equivalent to the average salary for all Armenians who reached grandmaster title.
The president plans to incorporate chess into school curricula.
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