GMVladimir Akopian

Vladimir Akopian won world titles at under-16, under-18 and junior level between 1986 and 1991. His major senior breakthrough came in 1999, when he reached the final of the FIDE World Championship before losing narrowly to Alexander Khalifman. He later defeated Garry Kasparov in the 2002 Russia versus the Rest of the World match and won the 2007 Gibraltar tournament. He was also an important member of Armenia's national team from its earliest Olympiad appearances. In the United States, he won the 2024 Senior Championship unbeaten with a round to spare. He won the senior title again in 2026 after a playoff with Alexander Onischuk.