Catholicos of All Armenian Karekin II on Tuesday received the 2013 World Chess Champion, Grandmaster (GM) Magnus Carlsen (Norway), who tops the World Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings—and who is visiting Armenia—, and GM Levon Aronian, who is second in the FIDE rankings and who plays first board for the three-time World Chess Olympiad champions and the former World Team Chess champions Armenia.     

The Catholicos stressed that the reining world chess champion’s arrival in Armenia will bring great enthusiasm to the chess lovers in the country. He noted that chess is widely popular in Armenia, and being a program of study in the country’s public schools, it contributes to the development of the children’s minds.  

Carlsen and Aronian, for their part, presented Karekin II their impressions of their visit Monday to Armenia’s medieval Tatev Monastery, where they held a chess session with clergy and also with the children from nearby Halidzor and Tatev villages. 

The Catholicos reflected on the important role which the Armenian Church has played in the lives of the Armenian people. 

At the end of the talk, Karekin II conveyed his blessings to the two chess masters, wished them new triumphs, and urged them to serve as good examples.