Grandmaster Manuel Petrosyan secured his second Armenian national chess title, while Anahit Mkrtchyan claimed her first in the women's event. The championships concluded in Yerevan with both victors earning spots in international team competitions. The tournaments featured intense round-robin formats that kept outcomes uncertain until the final rounds.
The 86th Armenian Chess Championship and the 81st Armenian Women’s Chess Championship took place from January 13 to 21, 2026, at the Tigran Petrosyan Chess House-Sports School in Yerevan. Both events adopted a 10-player round-robin structure with classical time controls, drawing top Armenian players into a battle for national honors.
In the open section, competition was tight, with no player finishing undefeated. Heading into the ninth and final round, GM Manuel Petrosyan, IM Artur Davtyan, and GM Zaven Andriasian shared the lead at 5 points out of 8. Petrosyan broke the deadlock by defeating IM Arsen Davtyan, reaching 6 points and clinching the title. Davtyan and Andriasian drew their games, as did GM Aram Hakobyan, leaving the trio tied at 5.5 points for second place. Tie-breaks awarded silver to Davtyan and bronze to Andriasian.
The women's championship unfolded as a close contest between Anahit Mkrtchyan and WFM Astghik Hakobyan. Hakobyan seized the lead by beating Mkrtchyan in round 6. However, she faltered in the closing stages, losing her final two matches and ending with 6 points for silver. Mkrtchyan responded with draws in her last two games, securing gold at 6.5 points. WFM Sona Krkyasharyan, Ani Avetisyan, and WFM Anna Khachatryan all scored 5.5 points, tying for third; Krkyasharyan took bronze on tie-breaks.
These victories qualify Petrosyan and Mkrtchyan to represent Armenia in upcoming international team events, highlighting the depth of talent in the nation's chess community.
