GM Robert Hovhannisyan and WIM Susanna Gaboyan successfully defended their titles, emerging as the 2025 Armenian Champions. Hovhannisyan claimed his third national title, while Gaboyan secured her fourth.
The 85th Armenian Championship and the 80th Women’s Armenian Championship took place simultaneously in Yerevan from January 14-22. Traditionally, both events, 10-player round robins with classical time control, were hosted by the Tigran Petrosian Chess House in the Armenian capital.
The 85th Armenian Championship missed the top five Armenian players, but still attracted seven grandmasters. The defending champion and top seed Robert Hovhannisyan confirmed his status as a pre-tournament favorite, delivering a very solid performance. Robert took the lead in Round 6 and finished strong with 6.5/9, a full point ahead of IM Artur Davtyan and Sargis Sargsyan who tied for second place.
Although the top five Armenian players were absent, the tournament featured a competitive field, including seven grandmasters. Defending champion and top seed Robert Hovhannisyan lived up to expectations, delivering a consistent performance throughout.
Hovhannisyan took the lead in Round 6 and finished convincingly with 6.5/9, a full point ahead of his closest competitors. IM Artur Davtyan and FM Sargis Sargsyan tied for second place with 5.5/9, but Davtyan claimed silver on tiebreaks, leaving Sargsyan with the bronze. Notably, Sargsyan overcame a rough start after losing his first two games.
85th Armenian Championship final standings:
| 1 | GM | Hovhannisyan, Robert | 2626 | 6½ |
| 2 | IM | Davtyan, Artur | 2458 | 5½ |
| 3 | FM | Sargsyan, Sargis | 2370 | 5½ |
| 4 | GM | Andriasian, Zaven | 2554 | 4½ |
| 5 | GM | Petrosyan, Manuel | 2590 | 4½ |
| 6 | FM | Agasarov, Benik | 2387 | 4½ |
| 7 | GM | Harutyunyan, Tigran | 2513 | 4½ |
| 8 | GM | Grigoryan, Karen H. | 2572 | 4½ |
| 9 | GM | Gharibyan, Mamikon | 2486 | 3 |
| 10 | GM | Hayrapetyan, Hovik | 2462 | 2 |
The 80th Women’s Armenian Championship was a close race between the defending champion WIM Susanna Gaboyan and WFM Anna Khachatryan. Going into the final round a half-point ahead of her main rival, Susanna defeated the lowest rated participant Llia Danielyan and clinched the title with 7/9. Anna also secured a victory in Round 9 game and finished second on 6.5/9.
Three players tied for third place, with WFM Marian Avetisyan claiming bronze thanks to a superior Sonneborn Berger tiebreak.
80th Women’s Armenian Championship final standings:
| 1 | WIM | Gaboyan, Susanna | 2202 | 7 |
| 2 | WFM | Khachatryan, Anna | 2076 | 6½ |
| 3 | WFM | Avetisyan, Mariam | 2067 | 6 |
| 4 | Gasparyan, Milena | 1949 | 6 | |
| 5 | Hayrapetyan, Nvard | 2014 | 6 | |
| 6 | WFM | Kobak, Polina | 2071 | 4 |
| 7 | Danielyan, Lilia | 1712 | 3 | |
| 8 | Harutyunyan, Meline | 1919 | 2½ | |
| 9 | Arakelyan, Syuzanna | 1903 | 2½ | |
| 10 | Khachatryan, Mariam | 1842 | 1½ |
Photos: Armenian Chess Federation Facebook
Official website: chessfed.am/en