Karen Grigorian
Encyclopedia
Karen Ashotovich Grigorian (7 September 1947 – 30 October 1989) was an Armenia
n chess
master, and son of the poet Ashot Grashi.
Born in Moscow
, Russia, Grigorian won the Armenian Chess Championship
three times (joint winner 1969, winner 1971, joint winner 1972), and the Moscow City Chess Championship
twice (1975, 1979). He also participated in several of the USSR Chess Championship
s in the 1970s, with one of his best performances being at the 1973 USSR Chess Championship
s. He was awarded the International Master title in 1982.
Grigorian's trainers included Lev Aronin
, and he was friends with the Latvian chess master Alvis Vitolins
. Grigorian and Vitolins were excellent blitz players, but both also suffered from psychiatric disorders. At the age of 42, Grigorian committed suicide
by jumping from the highest bridge in Yerevan
.
His brother Levon Grigorian was also a chess player and won several chess championships.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
master, and son of the poet Ashot Grashi.
Born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia, Grigorian won the Armenian Chess Championship
Armenian Chess Championship
This is a list of all the winners of the Armenian Chess Championship. The first championship was played in 1934, when Armenia was a part of the Transcaucasian SFSR. Championships were held sporadically in the Armenian SSR until 1945, when they became contested every year; this has continued today...
three times (joint winner 1969, winner 1971, joint winner 1972), and the Moscow City Chess Championship
Moscow City Chess Championship
-References: ****** from chessbase.com...
twice (1975, 1979). He also participated in several of the USSR Chess Championship
USSR Chess Championship
This is a list of all the winners of the USSR Chess Championship. It was the strongest national chess championship ever held, with eight world chess champions and four world championship finalists among its winners...
s in the 1970s, with one of his best performances being at the 1973 USSR Chess Championship
USSR Chess Championship
This is a list of all the winners of the USSR Chess Championship. It was the strongest national chess championship ever held, with eight world chess champions and four world championship finalists among its winners...
s. He was awarded the International Master title in 1982.
Grigorian's trainers included Lev Aronin
Lev Aronin
Lev Aronin was a Soviet International Master of chess. He was a meteorologist by profession.- Early years :...
, and he was friends with the Latvian chess master Alvis Vitolins
Alvis Vitolinš
Alvis Vītoliņš was a Latvian chess master.Awarded the International Master title in 1980, he was Latvian Champion in 1973 , 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1985...
. Grigorian and Vitolins were excellent blitz players, but both also suffered from psychiatric disorders. At the age of 42, Grigorian committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by jumping from the highest bridge in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
.
His brother Levon Grigorian was also a chess player and won several chess championships.