IM Levon Altounian

USCF 2538
FIDE 2454

Levon Altounian is a young Armenian International Master that was an incredibly strong junior player in the early 1990s. He was the U.S.S.R Junior Team Champion in 1991 and the Armenian Junior Champion from 1992-1993. He also tied for tenth place in the World Junior Championships in 1993. Additionally, Levon has been very successful in playing and coaching while in Tucson, Arizona.

Levon has been the top chess player and an active coach in Southern Arizona since moving to Tucson in 2002. Lev is a 6 time California State champion (1996-2003) and has continued this streak by becoming both the 2008 and 2009 Arizona State Champion. He is currently among the top 40 chess players in the country and is highly respected as a player with a profound understanding of the game by the country’s best players.

Levon is also one of the most successful coaches in Arizona. Shortly after his arrival to the state in 2002, the school where he taught, Castlehill Country Day School, became the 2003 National K-5 Champions.  He has coached numerous state champion teams as well as individuals among all age groups. He also coached Landon Brownell who became the 2006-2007 National Individual Champion.

2009 Season

Week 1: FM Florin Felecan (CHC) vs IM Levon Altounian (ARZ)  1/2-1/2

2008 History (2.5/5):
Week 1: IM Levon Altounian (ARZ) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (CHC)  1-0
Week 2: IM Drasko Boskovic (DAL) vs IM Levon Altounian (ARZ)  1/2-1/2
Week 5: IM Levon Altounian (ARZ) vs IM Lev Milman (CAR)  1/2-1/2
Week 8: GM Hikaru Nakamura (SEA) vs IM Levon Altounian (ARZ)  1-0
Week 10: IM Levon Altounian (ARZ) vs GM Gregory Serper (SEA)  1/2-1/2

2008 Performance Rating: 2560