YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The regular World Cup Tournament started in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on November 24 by the "Knockout" contest rules. Levon Aronian, the current world cup-holder, defeated Argentine Huan Pablo Hobarica a master of FIDE, in the two games of the first stage and entered the second stage. Among Armenian chess players Vladimir Hakobian, the former world deputy champion, ended the game with international master Anton Filippov (Uzbekistan) in a draw. The games between Zaven Andriasian, the 2006 world champion among chess players under 20, and grand master Alexander Ponishchuk (United States of America), Varujan Hakobian living in America, and Mikhail Royz (Israel) also ended in a draw. The above-mentioned three chess players will hold additional two games of quick chess with the same competitors on November 26. If the games end in a draw again, according to contest rules, a lightning chess will be held.

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