David Arutinian Wins 5th Karen Asrian Memorial
The 5th Karen Asrian Memorial took place from 16-25 June in Jermuk, Armenia. GM Karen Asrian (pictured) passed away in 2008, aged just 28.
In chess-mad Armenia, Karen Asrian was strong enough to represent his country, including being part of the Armenian team that took first place at the 2006 Turin Olympiad.
The 2012 Memorial was a 9-round Swiss event with 57 players won by GM David Arutinian of Georgia with a score of 7½ points, a point clear of the strong field.
The time control was 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to a finish with a 30 second increment from the start. The total prize fund was 18,500 USD with 4,000 awarded for first place.
The top standings (full results available here):
| Name | Nat | Elo | Pts | |
| 1 | Arutinian David | GEO | 2561 | 7.5 |
| 2 | Grigoryan Avetik | ARM | 2581 | 6.5 |
| 3 | Minasian Artashes | ARM | 2506 | 6.5 |
| 4 | Babujian Levon | ARM | 2469 | 6.5 |
| 5 | Shanava Konstantine | GEO | 2589 | 6.0 |
| 6 | Aghasaryan Robert | ARM | 2339 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Gabuzyan Hovhannes | ARM | 2457 | 6.0 |
| 8 | Maghalashvili Davit | GEO | 2478 | 6.0 |
| 9 | Andriasian Zaven | ARM | 2615 | 6.0 |
| 10 | Melkumyan Hrant | ARM | 2642 | 5.5 |
| 11 | Hayrapetian Arman | ARM | 2372 | 5.5 |
| 12 | Harutyunian Tigran K | ARM | 2252 | 5.5 |
| 13 | Guramishvili Sopiko | GEO | 2408 | 5.5 |
| 14 | Kalashian David | ARM | 2408 | 5.5 |
| 15 | Simonian Hrair | ARM | 2475 | 5.5 |
| 16 | Harutjunyan Gevorg | ARM | 2460 | 5.5 |
| 17 | Mikaelyan Arman | ARM | 2216 | 5.5 |
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The Winner: David Arutinian
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