Samarkand:On the chessboard in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Iraqi player Arian Ali Ihsan faced off against Grandmaster Levon Aronian in a challenging match at the 46th Chess Olympiad. Despite their vastly different ratingsAronian at 2725 and Arian at 216the game concluded in a draw, marking a significant achievement for the Iraqi national team player.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Arian’s participation in the tournament, which took place from September 16 to 27, 2026, involved ten matches where he secured four victories along with the draw against Aronian. The Olympiad offered him the opportunity to compete against players of varying skill levels from around the world.

Arian’s journey from Khanaqin to the international chess stage began as a childhood hobby encouraged by his father. Under the guidance of his father and uncle, his interest in chess grew into a competitive pursuit. Arian eventually became a Candidate Master and earned a place on the Iraqi national team, representing his country in numerous tournaments.

Reflecting on his early days, Arian shared with the Iraqi News Agency that he initially found limited opportunities in Khanaqin. It was only after moving to Sulaymaniyah that he discovered competitions, leading to his participation in tournaments and achieving notable success within a year.