AURORA PRIZE

 

Levon Aronian is a chess grandmaster and one of the highest-ranked players to ever play the game. As the top-ranked player on the team, he led several Armenian national teams to Chess Olympiad championships - three times into winning gold.

 

A native of Yerevan, Aronian grew up in Armenia and was taught to play chess by his sister; he turned pro at the age of nine. After going through the youth circuit and establishing himself as a chess powerhouse, Aronian became a grandmaster at the age of 17. His professional career has included winning the Armenian National Champion, the World Junior Championship, as well as other international championships. 

 

For his accomplishments, Aronian was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, as well as the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots.  

 

He is engaged to Arianne Caoili, a professional chess player with the title of Women International Master. 

 

 

CNN and the BBC reported that Aronian is considered the David Beckham of chess in Armenia.