Since 2020, the Pan-Armenian Chess Camp and Tournament (PACT) has been a major and much-anticipated annual event for chess lovers from all around the world. With competitive tournaments, simultaneous and rapid games, masterclasses, gatherings with chess champions and other exciting activities, it connects Armenians with similar interests and promotes chess education.
The PACT tournament was initiated by the AGBU Armenian Virtual College in collaboration with the Chess Academy of Armenia. Over the years, it attracted participants from more than 30 countries and became a dynamic hub for young chess players to learn and test their knowledge.
Besides the tournament, AGBU AVC also provides a platform, the Pan-Armenian Chess Community, with all-year access for the participants to explore free resources, rewatch previous games and tournaments, receive information on upcoming events and socialize within the chess community.
"We started the tournaments to bring people together during the lockdown, to let them interact with each other. We now have an online chess community of more than 1200 people who love chess and participate in our activities,” says AGBU AVC Founding President and AGBU Central Board Member Dr. Yervant Zorian.
Garry Kasparov, World Chess Champion in 1985-2000, mentioned the importance of such initiatives during his encouraging speech in the closing event of PACT-3, "I am very happy to see Armenian players taking part in this competition. The reason our nation has survived and thrived throughout our difficult history is the ability to always promote intellectual values. That's why I think participating in such a great intellectual competition is very important. It shows that nothing can stop the Armenian people from trying to improve our intellectual ability and move forward."
During the past three tournaments, participants had the opportunity to meet and learn from such renowned chess players as four-time Armenian Women Champion Maria Gevorgyan, 2020 Armenian Champion Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, Grandmasters Anna Sargsyan, Tigran Harutyunyan and others.
Each year, groups of participants take part in regional semi-final games which determine the final rounds where they compete for the three winning spots.
After the educational camp and tournament is completed, a grand online closing ceremony is organized to celebrate the participants and award certificates and special gifts to the winners.
PACT-2 winner of the Europe semifinal Dimitros Levon Zakarian from the UK shared about his experience in 2021, “I am very happy to be able to play with Armenian chess players in different countries around the world.”
During PACT-3 closing ceremony, Smbat Lputyan, founder of the Chess Academy of Armenia and chairman of the FIDE Committee of Chess in Educational System, said, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Armenian Virtual College for their dedication to organizing such an interesting and important tournament for our children from all over the world. Our cooperation with AVC has always been very effective."
Recordings of previous tournaments, chess puzzles and updates on upcoming events can be found on the AGBU AVC Pan- Armenian Chess Community platform. To join, visit here.
This year, the fourth Pan-Armenian Chess Camp and Tournament (PACT-4) will take place from September 23 to October 20 with more exciting guests and events. Enrollment will open on September 23.
