Following the opening of the fourth leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, visited the Chess Academy of Armenia in Yerevan.

Founded in 2002 through the initiative of GM Smbat Lputian, under the auspices of the Armenian Chess Federation, and supported by the Armenian Government, the Chess Academy of Armenia is the leading center of chess training and organization in Armenia today.

The Academy's mission is multi-faceted: preparing tomorrow's elite players and trainers to maintain Armenia's position as an epicenter in the chess world, organizing top-class chess tournaments attracting top chess players worldwide, and popularizing chess throughout the nation, primarily through its ever-growing network of affiliated chapters.

Under the patronage of the Armenian Federation President, the Hon. Serge Sargissian, the Academy with over 2,500 square metres of floor space, is the largest in the world, and contains a playing hall for over 360 players, several classrooms, seminar and conference rooms to accommodate 40 people.

FIDE President expressed his confidence in GM Lputian's work which apart from the main academy in Yerevan extends to another 43 Academies around Armenia. He also met members of the Chess Academy as well as several children and parents.