GMRafael A Vaganian

Rafael Vaganian was born in Armenia in 1951 and became a GM in 1971 after winning at Vrnjačka Banja ahead of Leonid Stein and Ljubomir Ljubojević. His tournament victories included Hastings in 1982-83 and the 1985 Biel Interzonal. He reached the Candidates matches in 1986 and 1988. In 1989 he won the Soviet championship in Odesa.

Vaganian represented both the Soviet Union and Armenia in international team events. At the 2004 Olympiad he earned third-board gold and helped Armenia win team bronze. His later career included the 2019 World Senior Championship title in the over-sixty-five section and coaching junior players in Armenia. He is married to WIM Irina Vaganian.