Levon Aronian

Born on 6 October 1982 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Learned chess at age nine from his older sister, and quickly showed prodigious talent.

His childhood was marked by the economic hardships of post-Soviet Armenia, but chess became his path to international recognition.

Attended the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture, though his chess career took precedence.

He was a product of the strong Armenian chess school, which emphasized creativity and fighting spirit.

One of the strongest players in the world from the mid-2000s to the present, ranked as high as No. 2 in the world.

World Rapid Champion in 2009 and World Blitz Champion in 2010.

Won the Chess World Cup in 2005 and 2017.

A World Championship Candidate on multiple occasions, reaching the semifinals in 2011 and 2014.

Led Armenia to three consecutive Chess Olympiad gold medals (2006, 2008, 2012), a historic achievement.

Known for his creative, dynamic style and his deep opening preparation; he is considered one of the most imaginative players of his generation.

Moved to the United States in 2021 and now represents the USA.

Aronian's creativity is legendary; he has produced some of the most brilliant attacking games of the modern era.

He is known for his humor and his love of music, often sharing his eclectic taste with fans.

His rivalry with Magnus Carlsen has produced many thrilling encounters, and he is one of the few players with a positive lifetime score against the Norwegian in classical chess (though the sample is small).

"Chess is an art, and I try to create something beautiful on the board."

Levon Aronian: The Rising Star by Tibor Karolyi — a collection of his best games up to 2005.

Aronian: Move by Move by Cyrus Lakdawala — a modern instructional work.