Sam Sevian Claims Victory at Stepan Avagyan Memorial with Final Round Triumph
Sam Sevian wins Stepan Avagyan Memorial after obtaining dramatic final-round victory
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Sam Sevian won the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Jermuk, Armenia, after a dramatic final round, finishing tied with Vladislav Artemiev but winning on tiebreaks. Both players ended with 5.5 points from 9 rounds, with Sevian's victory over Aravindh Chithambaram securing his title.
- 01Sam Sevian secured his second Stepan Avagyan Memorial title after winning a dramatic final round.
- 02Sevian and Vladislav Artemiev both finished the tournament with 5.5 points, but Sevian won on tiebreaks due to a better Sonneborn-Berger score.
- 03The tournament was held from May 28 to June 6, 2026, in Jermuk, Armenia, featuring a 10-player round-robin format.
- 04Sevian's victory over Aravindh Chithambaram in the final round was marked by a critical blunder from Chithambaram that led to Sevian's win.
- 05Sevian's win increased his rating, allowing him to return to the 2700 club in live ratings.
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Sam Sevian triumphed at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial for the second time, held in Jermuk, Armenia, from May 28 to June 6, 2026. He finished tied with Vladislav Artemiev on 5.5 points after both players remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. Sevian's final round victory over Aravindh Chithambaram was pivotal; he capitalized on a blunder by Chithambaram, who misplayed a critical position. This win allowed Sevian to match Artemiev's score, but he claimed first place based on a superior Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak score. The tournament format was a 10-player round-robin, with each player competing in one round daily. Sevian's performance not only secured him the title but also boosted his rating, bringing him back into the 2700 club. Nihal Sarin and Ray Robson finished half a point behind the leaders, with Robson winning his final game to share third place.
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