The Executive Secretary of Armenian Chess Federation Gaguik Oganessian passed away at the age of 68. His last appearance at the chess scene was in Stavanger, Norway, just a couple of days ago.
Rest in piece Gaguik Oganessian!
Armenian Chess Federation website / Chess in Armenia Magazine
Part of Gagik Hovhannisyan’s remarkable biography and great personality is described below:
- Born on April 21, 1947 in Yerevan, Armenia;
- Graduate from the Journalism Department of the Philological Faculty of Yerevan State University in 1968, Post-graduate course of ”Journalism”, YSU – in 1971;
- General Secretary of Armenian Chess Federation (since 1970);
- Professor, associate professor of the Journalism Department, YSU since 1971;
- Lecturer at Journalism Faculty of Yerevan State University (since 1971), associate professor;
- Chess commentator on the National Television of Armenia;
- Author and presenter of the weekly chess program “Chess64” (since 1972);
- Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Chess in Armenia Magazine (since 1972);
- President of the European 5th Zone of World Chess Federation (FIDE) (1994-2010);
- Chairman of FIDE Chess Information, Publication and Statistics Committee (CHIPS) (1995-2002, 2007-2009);
- International Chess Organizer (since 1996);
- Chess Oscar Laureate (1996);
- 6th World Chess Amateur Champion (1998-1999);
- FIDE Master (since 1999);
- FIDE Golden Book Laureate (1999);
- FIDE Golden Sign Laureate (2007);
- Knight of Movses Khorenatsi Medal (2007);
- Head of FIDE Mass Media Committee Program (2009-2013);
- Honored Journalist of the Republic of Armenia (2012);
- Honorary Academician of Television and Radio Academy (2012);
- Awarded ”Loyal to Profession ”Gold Medal by Union of Journalists of Armenia (2012), Yerevan State University Gold Medal (2010), Griboyedov Medal (2010), ”Loyalty to Subject” Prize by Yerevan Press Club (2005).
- Member of FIDE Commission of Chess Journalists (since 2013);
- Author of 51 chess books in the Armenian, English and Russian languages.