Cheparinov and Leko start with wins in first round Jermuk Grand Prix
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/cheparinov-jakovenko290/http/affce63421.jpg)
Round 1
While it's still highly unclear whether this first FIDE Grand Prix will be concluded as planned, with no news whatsoever about the 6th and last tournament scheduled for December, the 5th event has started, and quite smoothly or so it seems, in Jermuk, Armenia. In New in Chess Magazine 2009/4 yours truly wrote that "perhaps it's best to look at the Grand Prix tournaments like most of the participants are doing by now: as a series of individual super-tournaments with many strong players and good prize money."With two Grand Prix victories already in the pocket, Levon Aronian should be considered favourite to win this tournament and the GP in general. Armenia's number one player needs to do very little to surpass Grischuk's 2nd place in the overall GP standings: he's just 3⅓ points behind the Russian while one more tournament result will be counted and Grischuk has already played his 4 tournaments.Aronian started on home ground with a solid draw with the Black against Ivanchuk. With his bishop pair White kept a very small plus in a Guioco Pianissimo - apparently Ivanchuk had little appetite to test the already legendary preparation of the Aronian/Sargissian tandem in either the Marshall or the Berlin Wall.![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/handshake/http/84b274020a.jpg)
The tournament is officialy opened with a handshake between FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, with Vassily Ivanchuk, Levon Aronian and all other players watching (Zahar Efimenko to the left)
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/karjakin-kasimdzhanov/http/999125251b.jpg)
Karjakin and Kasimdzhanov at the press conference, hosted by IM Lilit Mkrtchian (2467), who celebrated her 27th birthday yesterday
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/cheparinov-jakovenko_pc/http/ea3648023c.jpg)
Jakovenko and Cheparinov at the press conference
Round 1 games
Click on the pairings at the top of the board to reveal a drop down list of all the games. More info on our new game viewer can be found here. Game viewer by ChessTempoJermuk Grand Prix 2009 | Round 1 Standings
![Jermuk Grand Prix 2009](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/tabellen/jermuk09_r1/http/466d674331.jpg)
Jermuk Grand Prix 2009 | Schedule & results
As the tournament website reports, the opening ceremony was quite spectacular last night, covered live on Armenia’s Public TV channel and witnessed by nearly 3000 people who crowded around the central pond in the quaint center of Jermuk, Armenia.Spectators were treated to a variety of live songs, a retrospective short film about World Champion Tigran Petrosian, speeches by the President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and President of FIDE Kirsan Iljumdzhinov as well as a clip documenting the last two Olympiad victories by Armenia’s national team. The participants had a unique vantage point, viewing the entertainment while cruising around the pond on a motorized raft while enduring the evening cold temperatures.![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/stage/http/a4053a15f1.jpg)
The drawing of the lots took place on the raft itself
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/lputian/http/513a8fa390.jpg)
An organizer this time: GM Smbat Lputian
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/gligoric/http/2fd2bff70d.jpg)
Peter Leko talking to special guest GM Svetozar Gligoric
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/spectators2/http/5b01cd9d38.jpg)
Thousands of spectators in chess-loving Armenia...
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/stage2/http/701c3b8a14.jpg)
...who had a beautiful view especially when it got dark...
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/stage3/http/5fdfb57b2b.jpg)
...of the raft and the ceremonies
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/aronian/http/3a513fcd02.jpg)
A big star: Levon Aronian
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/presidents/http/20ef274f72.jpg)
The two presidents playing a game themselves during the first round
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/alekseev-akopian/http/f7e3afebd3.jpg)
Traditionally, by now, the press conferences are held with a TV screen showing the position
![Jermuk GP](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/jermuk2009/r1/Kurnosov-&-Khismatulin/http/ce6364c9fd.jpg)
Also pretty typical: seconds working with laptops in a hotel lobby - Igor Kurnosov and Denis Khismatullin