Tatev Abrahamyan

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Title: 
Woman Grandmaster
Rating: 
2450
Federation: 
Glendale, CA, U.S.
Age: 
30
Status: 
Accepted
Chess Highlights: 
Abrahamyan has competed in the U.S. Women’s Chess Championships over the last several years, but has never won despite many valiant attempts that often ended in tie-breaker decisions. She is known for her solid and determined style of gameplay, qualities that earned her the Goddesschess Award. Some of her most remarkable victories include two games against former U.S. Champion Alexander Shabalov.
Bio: 

WGM Tatev Abrahamyan started playing chess at eight after her father took her to the Chess Olympiad games in 1996. There she met Grandmaster Judit Polgar, arguably the greatest woman player of all time and the only woman in the tournament. "I was in complete awe," Tatev said. "My first thought was, 'I want to be just like her.'" She was soon playing competitively among the top players her age in Europe and has played in the U.S. Women's Chess Championship eight times.

Tatev is a formidable competitor. At the 2010 U.S. Women's Championship she played her heart out to a fantastic 7/9 score, which would usually be enough to net first place, but actually put her in a tie for second place, half a point behind Irina Krush. Tatev's strong play and fighting qualities in 2010 earned her the 9 Queens/Goddesschess Fighting Chess award, which was selected by former Women's World Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk.

At the 2011 U.S. Women's Championship, Tatev turned in a remarkable performance, falling just short to Anna Zatonskih in the playoff finals to finish in second place. That same year, Abrahamyan graduated from California State University Long Beach with a double major in psychology and political science. These days she is a regular face of the Saint Louis Chess Club commentary and journalism crew.

Tag: 
2018 U.S. Women's Championship