Vladimir Akopian

Vladimir Akopian (born December 7, 1971) is a leading Armenian chess master.

In 1991 he won the World Junior Chess Championship and in 1999 he unexpectedly made his way through to the final of the FIDE Knock-Out World Chess Championship, but lost to Alexander Khalifman, 3.5-2.5. In the 2004 event, he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by the player he had defeated in the 1999 semi, Michael Adams.

On the April 2005 FIDE list, Akopian had an Elo rating of 2703, making him number 17 in the world and Armenia's number one player.

It was reported that Akopian had to withdraw from the 2005 Dubai Open when he was arrested at Dubai airport having been mistaken for an individual of the same name wanted by Interpol for murder [1].