Football (Premier League)

Karen Muradyan, captain of Armenia's Under-21 team did not return with the team to Armenia following its 0-5 defeat in Spain April 1. Muradyan left the squad to go to the Netherlands. The Armenian Football Federation says it will try to bring Muradyan back to Armenia.

Meanwhile, teams are preparing for semifinal matches in the Armenian National Cup. Pyunik will play Banants and Shirak plays Mika May 17-18, with the second round the following week.

Chess (FIDE rankings)

According to the list of rankings for April 2003 released by FIDE, four Armenian men chess players are among the 100 best in the world and one Armenian woman player is among 50 best women chess players.

The list of the best Armenian chess players is headed by grandmaster Vladimir Hakobyan. He is holding 13th place in the world with an index of 2703 (which can change depending on wins, losses and draws).

As to April rankings the second Armenian chess player is grandmaster Rafael Vahanyan with 2663 points and 38th place in the FIDE rankings.

Grandmaster Smbat Lputyan is at 54th place with 2638 points. And grandmaster Levon Aronyan closes the list of Armenian chess players of the best 100 with 2606 points. He is 91st.

Lilit Mkrtchyan is the best female player, ranked 41.