GM Vladimir Akopian

Vladimir Akopian is an Armenian grandmaster and is currently one of the top-10 players in his country (as of February 2021). As a young player, Akopian enjoyed great success by winning the U16 World Youth Chess Championship in 1986 and the U18 World Youth Chess Championship two years later.

In 1999, Akopian surprised by reaching the final of the FIDE Knockout World Championship. He lost 3.5-2.5 to GM Alexander Khalifman.

Akopian won the Armenian Chess Championship in 1996 and 1997. He also won three Olympic gold medals with the Armenian team in 2006, 2008, and 2012. The grandmaster also helped Armenia to win its first World Team Chess Championship in 2011.