Amber Chess: Aronian runs 9th, Ivanchuk leads

17:45 | In the world Newcastle’s Leon Best out for “number of weeks” with knee injury

He limped off in the first half of Sunday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
Source: BBC
17:26 | Armenia A. Ghukasyan: Some forces in Azerbaijan could help us to achieve goal

“The shortcoming is that the issue of Azerbaijani Armenians becomes a second element,” A. Ghukasyan said.
Source: Panorama.am
17:14 | Armenia Bako Sahakyan holds consultation with heads of regional administrations

Source: Artsakh President’s press office
17:13 | Armenia Armenian MPs vote for establishing ethics commission

The commission is to regulate the behavior of MPs as well as provisions stipulated in the Constitution.
Source: Panorama.am
16:57 | Armenia G. Ayvazyan: Obscene Turk cannot walk through holy lands of Artsakh

If Azerbaijan really thinks we can live next to Azerbaijanis then they are highly recommended to create conditions for us to return to Baku
Source: Panorama.am
15:46 | Armenia Alagyaz-Tsakhkahovit road now open to traffic

Source: Ministry of Transport and Communication
15:45 | In the world Iranian Mejlis: Iran to halt oil export to Europe

According to Iranian “FARS” news agency “Mejlis supports Iranian Oil Ministry’s initiative to halt oil export to Europe. Iran will not wait until EU imposes oil embargo.”
Source: FARS
15:28 | In the world Statue dismantled in Turkey having resemblance with Armenia’s national emblem

Statues of eagle and lion, erected in the yard of “Dumlupnar” University of Qyutahia province, Western Turkey, have been dismantled as the scientific council of the university thought the statues resembled to the national emblem of Armenia.
Source: CnnTurk
15:05 | In the world Turan: Opposition in Azerbaijan threatens with political surprises

“The opposition in Azerbaijan threatens to cause political surprises if the authorities don’t release prisoners of conscience,” Turan news agency reported.
Source: Turan
14:00 | In the world Iranian media: Azerbaijani diplomat proud of gay-parade

Advisor of Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran Ebrahim Ghafarov said in a conference that the gay parade to be held in Baku during Eurovision international song contest is a proof of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan.
Source: rajanews.com
13:55 | Armenia Armenians to build largest Armenian church in Ukraine

The church will have an Armenian school and cultural center built next to it.
Source: Union of Armenians of Ukraine press service
13:49 | In the world Argentina to protest UK in UN Security Council

Argentina will submit a complaint to the United Nations Security Council protesting the U.K.’s “militarization” of the southern Atlantic Ocean around the Falkland Islands
Source: BBC
13:27 | Armenia Pedophile Serob may be transferred to US

That is why he has been refusing to undergo surgery for about a week.
Source: Zhoghovurd daily
13:25 | Armenia CEC rejects proposal from US Embassy

The Embassy had suggested observing Hrazdan mayoral elections.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
13:17 | Armenia OSCE Mission monitors contact line between Karabakh, Azerbaijani armed forces

No violation of the ceasefire regime was fixed.
Source: NKR MFA Press Service
12:48 | Armenia Tavush police chief to become Kotayk governor

It is not known yet what position will be offered to current governor of Kotayk Kovalenko Shahgaldyan.
Source: Hayatsk daily
12:44 | Armenia Businessmen to be replaced by businesswomen

RPA’s election list will mainly include businesswomen candidates, Hraparak daily reports.
11:32 | In the world Magnitude 5.3 quake hits Philippines

The epicenter was 63 km (39 miles) WSW of Cebu Region.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
11:20 | In the world Yahoo's Chairman to resign

The move comes just weeks after Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang stepped down from the company's board of directors.
Source: Reuters
11:13 | Armenia Roads are closed or barely passable in Armenia

Intensive road cleaning activities are being carried out. Ministry of Transport highly recommends the drivers to use winter tyres.
Source: Minister of Transport
09:51 | In the world Costa Concordia captain to remain under house arrest

The court rejected a prosecution motion that Francesco Schettino be sent back to jail as well as a defense motion that he be set free.
Source: CNN
09:46 | In the world US drone strike kills eight in north-west Pakistan

The dead include senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, as well as an unknown number of other militants and civilians.
Source: BBC
09:38 | In the world Gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors

The US closed its embassy in Syria on Monday, and several European countries have recalled their ambassadors.
Source: BBC
18:34 | In the world Pepe could miss Bologna with ankle injury

The Italian international picked up an ankle injury in the 0-0 draw with Siena on Sunday and will require up to four days’ rest.
Source: Football Italia
18:03 | In the world Iran’s air, water, land space aggressor’s grave

“I’m sure Iran’s Armed Forces are so powerful to turn Iran’s air, water and land space grave for aggressors,” General Sayyid said remarking on risks threatening Iran.
Source: ISNA news agency
16:36 | In the world Hypnotist to help Ali Adams beat Audley Harrison

“After a 15 minute session I can spar in a trance and feel no pain, it is amazing,” said Adams.
Source: Boxing News 24
16:14 | Armenia Eduard Arushanyan awarded Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports title

The respective decree was signed by Artsakh President.
Source: Artsakh President’s press office
16:04 | Armenia D. Karapetyan remarks on Oxford Analytica story

Those reforms chaired by Minister Seyran Ohanyan, are of system significance and are pivotal factors providing stable development in the Armed Forces.”
Source: Defense Ministry
15:13 | In the world Arthur Abraham to fight on March 31

“My goal is to become world champion again,” said the former IBF middleweight champion.
Source: Fightnews.com
14:42 | In the world White House: US to develop relations with Russia, China

We're going to work with all the friends of Syria and the Syrian people to continue to pressure the Assad regime.
Source: RIA Novosti
14:32 | In the world Fan Coaching wins European Football Supporters Award

The award was given for its tireless initiatives against violence in sport.
Source: Uefa.com
14:15 | Armenia Banks short of technical examination coupons

If a police officer fines me because of that coupon who will be responsible for my 50 thousand AMD?”
Source: Panorama.am
14:05 | In the world Barack Obama freezes Iran’s central bank assets

President Barack Obama ordered a freeze on all Iranian government and central bank assets imposing tougher unilateral economic sanctions against Iran.
Source: “asriran.com”
13:59 | Armenia Survey results – RPA 34%, PA 21%, HAK13%

Political Developments Research Center has carried out a pre-election survey including three different queries asked to 1200 people from Yerevan and Armenian regions
Source: Political Developments Research Center
13:47 | Armenia Hrazdan mayoral candidate Danielyan has advantage over Mikayelyan

Most citizens supporting Mikayelyan do not believe in his victory, said head of Sociometer Center Aharon Adibekyan.
Source: Panorama.am
13:32 | Armenia Frantisek Sebej: Turkey has no room in European family

Mr. Sebej has said he’s hopeful Armenian Genocide will be recognized by Israel’s Knesset soon.
Source: Forum of Armenian Association of Europe (FAAE)
13:09 | Armenia Armenia hosts Russian senior statesmen

Co-chairs of Armenian-Russian inter-governmental committee Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan and Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin have had a meeting in Yerevan.
Source: Government's information department
13:00 | Armenia Petros Ghazaryan to become MP

He will be in the top ten on Prosperous Armenia Party’s proportional election list.
Source: Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun
12:35 | Armenia Condition for preventing Khachikyan’s imprisonment

RPA promised not to imprison him provided that he spends the misappropriated money on winning over voters to party’s side.
Source: Zhoghovurd daily
11:53 | Armenia Head of NA Staff to be appointed Ambassador to UAE

On coming back from vacation Head of NA Staff Gegham Gharibjanyan will not return to his job, Haykakan Zhamanak writes.
11:46 | Armenia Yeritsyan vs Artak SAS

Former head of Arabkir administrative district Albert Yeritsyan will run for a parliamentary seat by majority system in Arabkir, Hraparak reports.
11:45 | Armenia Heritage, Free Democrats search for ways

Heritage Party will run for parliament with its election list which will include some “free democrats,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.
11:29 | Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan likely to continue working in government

RPA has convinced Vardan Ayvazyan not to run for a parliamentary seat by the majority system, Yerkir writes.
Source: Yerkir
11:24 | Armenia All roads passable

Source: Ministry of Transport and Communication
11:00 | Armenia Russian first deputy PM says Armenian-Russian relations to become more strengthened

President Serzh Sargsyan received on February 6 first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Victor Zubkov.
Source: President's press office
10:22 | In the world Greece to build fence on border with Turkey

Thousands of illegal immigrants cross from Turkey into Greece at this point each year, often traveling from there to other parts of Europe.
Source: Vesti.ru
10:18 | In the world Iranian blogger condemned for criticizing president

Iranian renowned blogger Mehdi Khazali has been sentenced to 13 years and 10 months in jail, 10 years in exile.
Source: Utro.ru
09:36 | In the world Anders Breivik stays jailed

The court acknowledged that his mental health remains an issue.
Source: CNN
09:33 | In the world Search on for Philippine quake survivors

As of 08:00 local time, an official report put the death toll at 15 confirmed dead, 44 reported missing and 52 injured.
Source: BBC
09:12 | In the world Homs army assault enters fourth day

Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed since government troops began pounding known strongholds of opposition groups.
Source: BBC
15:21 | Armenia ICRC representatives visit Azerbaijani POW in NKR

The POW has been delivered a letter from parents and handed in a letter to ICRC representatives.
Source: Trend
15:01 | Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan: Armenia must take part in Eurovision 2012

Minister of Culture said kanon virtuous Narek Kazazian will present Armenia in “Classical Eurovision.”
Source: Panorama.am
14:20 | Armenia S. Nikoyan: Armenian-Turkish protocols under president’s jurisdiction

Head of “Heritage” Party faction Styopa Safaryan has again raised the issue of Armenian-Turkish protocols which are maintained in National Assembly agenda.
Source: Panorama.am
13:44 | Armenia H. Bisharyan: Time needed for 100% proportionate elections

Referring to proportionate list of Rule of Law, H. Bisharyan has ensured the party is seeking to exclude involvement of businessmen in it.
Source: Panorama.am
13:17 | In the world European Parliament members condemn Hrant Dink case verdict

Ria Oomen-Ruijten, European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, said in Brussels that Turkey had failed a favorable chance.
Source: Sondakika.com

15:13 22/03/2010 » Sport

In Round 7 of Amber Tournament underway in Nice, France, Armenian GM Levon Aronian won against the former world champion Vladimir Kramnik in the rapid while lost to him in the blindfold game.

In Round 8 the Armenian GM ended in draw both sets with Boris Gelfand.

So, in two rounds Levon Aronian scored 2 and now runs 9th with 7 points. Gashimov and Svidler have scored 1,5 points more than Aronian and rank 7-8th. The leader is Ivanchuk with 11 points.

Round 7

Blindfold

Kramnik - Aronian 1:0
Gelfand - Smeets 0,5:0,5
Gashimov - Carlsen 1:0
Grischuk - Ivanchuk 0,5:0,5
Dominguez - Svidler 0,5:0,5
Ponomariov - Karjakin 0:1

Round 8

Blindfold

Svidler - Ponomariov 1:0
Karjakin - Grischuk 0:1
Ivanchuk - Dominguez 0,5:0,5
Smeets - Gashimov 0,5:0,5
Carlsen - Kramnik 0:1
Aronian - Gelfand 0,5:0,5

Kramnik - Aronian 1:0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Bg4 8. Bg2 cxd4 9. exd4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Be6 12. Ne5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc8 14. g4 Qxc3 15. Rb1 Nc6 16. Rb3 Qa5 17. Rxb7 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. f4 Nc3 20. Qd2 d4 21. f5 Bc4 22. Re1 Qxa2 23. Rb2 Qa1 24. f6 1:0.

Aronian - Gelfand 0,5:0,5

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. O-O b6 8. d4 Bb7 9. Rd1 cxd4 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nxd4 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc8 13. Nd2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rac1 Qb7+ 16. N2f3 O-O 17. Qc6 Qxc6 18. Nxc6 Nc5 19. b4 Rfc8 20. Nfd4 e5 21. Nb3 Rxc6 22. bxc5 Rac8 23. Rd6 bxc5 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Nxc5 Be7 27. Nd3 e4 28. Ne5 f6 29. Nc6 Bc5 30. Nd8 Bb6 31. Nb7 f5 32. Nd6 g6 33. f3 exf3+ 34. Kxf3 Kg7 1/2:1/2.

Standings

1. Grischuk-6
2. Carlsen-5
3. Ivanchuk-5
4. Gelfand-4,5
5. Karjakin-4,5
6. Kramnik-4,5
7. Gashimov-4
8. Svidler-4
9. Aronian-3
10. Ponomariov-3
11. Smeets-3
12. Dominguez-1,5

Round 7

Rapid

Aronian - Kramnik 1:0
Smeets - Gelfand 0:1
Carlsen - Gashimov 0,5:0,5
Ivanchuk - Grischuk 1:0
Svidler - Dominguez 1:0
Karjakin - Ponomariov 1:0

Round 8

Rapid

Ponomariov - Svidler 1:0
Grischuk - Karjakin 0,5:0,5
Dominguez - Ivanchuk 0,5:0,5
Gashimov - Smeets 1:0
Kramnik - Carlsen 0,5:0,5
Gelfand - Aronian 0,5:0,5

Aronian - Kramnik 1:0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 b6 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5 h6 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Re8 12. Nd2 f5 13. O-O fxe4 14. c4 d6 15. Bb2 Qg5 16. f3 Bh3 17. Qe2 e3 18. Ne4 Qg6 19. a4 Nd7 20. Ra3 Ne5 21. Kh1 Nxc4 22. gxh3 Rxe4 23. Rg1 Qh5 24. Rxg7+ Kf8 25. Rh7 Nxb2 26. Rxe3 Rxe3 27. Qxe3 Kg8 28. Rxh6 Qf5 29. Rh4 Nd3 30. Rg4+ Kf7 31. Re4 Qxd5 32. Re7+ Kf8 33. Rh7 Kg8 34. Rc7 Nf2+ 35. Qxf2 Kf8 36. Qe3 Qd1+ 37. Kg2 Qc2+ 38. Kg3 Qg6+ 39. Kh4 Qf6+ 40. Qg5 Qxg5+ 41. Kxg5 d5 42. f4 d4 43. f5 Re8 44. Kf6 d3 45. Rf7+ Kg8 46. Rg7+ Kh8 47. Rd7 c4 48. Kf7 Rc8 49. f6 c3 50. Rd4 Rc7+ 51. Kg6 1:0.

Gelfand - Aronian 0,5:0,5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Ne2 O-O 8. Nc3 Qd8 9. Be2 c6 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. e4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Be6 14. f4 Bc7 15. Be3 Nd7 16. Rac1 Bb6 17. Kf2 Nf6 18. h3 h5 19. Bf3 Rfd8 20. e5 Ne8 21. b3 f6 22. Na4 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 fxe5 24. fxe5 Ng7 25. g4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Rf8 27. Ke2 Bc7 28. Nc5 Bc8 29. Nd7 Rd8 30. Nf6+ Kf7 31. Rxd8 Bxd8 32. Bxa7 Bc7 33. Bd4 Ne6 34. Bb2 Ng5 35. Bg2 Ke6 36. Ne4 Nf7 37. Nd6 1/2:1/2:

Standing

1. Ivanchuk 6
2. Carlsen 5
3. Gelfand 5
4. Kramnik 5
5. Svidler 4½
6. Karjakin 4½
7. Gashimov 4½
8. Aronian 4
9. Ponomariov 3½
10. Grischuk 3
11. Dominguez 2
12. Smeets 1

Final Standing

1. Ivanchuk 11
2. Carlsen 10
3. Kramnik 9.5
4. Gelfand 9.5
5. Grischuk 9
6. Karjakin 9
7. Gashimov 8.5
8. Svidler 8.5
9. Aronian 7
10. Ponomariov 6.5
11. Smeets 4
12. Dominguez 3.5