Yerevan hosted Fischer Random Chess tournament, where 7 grand masters and 3 international masters competed for champion’s title.

Hrant Melkumyan won champion’s title and AMD 100 000 prize, having scored 7,5 points. 2nd and 3rd places were shared by Samvel Ter-Sahakyan and Levon Babujyan.

Chess960, known as Fischer Random Chess, is a chess variant invented by former World Champion Bobby Fischer by modifying the rules of Shuffle Chess so that castling possibilities exist for all starting positions. It was originally announced on June 19, 1996, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The chess variant emphasizes creativity and talent instead of memorization and analysis of opening moves by using a randomized initial chess position.