HAKOBIAN Vladimir

Born Dec. 7, 1971 in Baku

FIDE World Cup finalist in 1999
Grandmaster since 1991.

Professional rating of 1 November 2001. - 2607
FIDE Rating October 1, 2001. - 2660


Recently in our category, that neither the hero - a child prodigy. Vladimir Akopian, too, from the same cohort. A brilliant chess talent he brought to his attention in early youth. Needless to say, Akopian got into an elite school Botvinnik-Kasparov. And not lost, but was on a par with Aleksei Shirov of this star. That's about it Michael Moiseevich, glancing sideways at Harry Kimovich said that he knew the name of the fourteenth World Champion. But the patriarch was wrong. In order to reach the heights champion Vladimir lacked perseverance and efficiency.

Once a famous chess grandmaster, explaining why Hakobyan, despite his enormous talent anything, in fact, not reached, said: "He is fantastic, incredible it can defend itself. But where have you seen a champion to defend themselves? ". However, after the FIDE world championship in Las Vegas the first part of the previous sentence has lost relevance - Vladimir Akopian, beating a number of very strong grandmasters, reached the final knock-out tournament with a hard-fought struggle gave way to Alexander Halifmanu. Amazing how different was the fate of these players after their match. Champion went to Linares and another two or three strong krugovikov, and vice-champion, continued his speech at Open.

But Hakobyan not complain of his fate, not used. And in the Open, he really knows how to play. In February, Vladimir won the strong Swiss in Ubeda and now a new success - first place in Bad SIGI (for coefficient). Between these two victories was also a triumph of representative round robin event in the French Engen-les-Bains. Odnko in the ointment there is a fly in the ointment - Hakobyan could not selected on the FIDE world championship. Mass, he would be there just is not spoiled ...