Pawn star: How the 'David Beckham of chess' became a national hero

By Sheena McKenzie, for CNN

Updated 1333 GMT (2133 HKT) February 1, 2016

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Levon Aronian is the <a href="https://ratings.fide.com/top.phtml?list=men" target="_blank">fourth-best chess player</a> on the planet. And in his native Armenia, that also makes him a national treasure.

Photos: Levon Aronian: Armenia's chess champion

A brilliant mind – Levon Aronian is the fourth-best chess player on the planet. And in his native Armenia, that also makes him a national treasure.

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"What I really love about chess is it's kind of an art form, but at the same time you have a distinct level of judging who's better and who's worse -- which is the rating system," said Aronian.

Photos: Levon Aronian: Armenia's chess champion

An intimate game – "What I really love about chess is it's kind of an art form, but at the same time you have a distinct level of judging who's better and who's worse -- which is the rating system," said Aronian.

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"I've played a couple seven, eight-hour games. Consider the fact that you also train for three hours, generally, before the game. So it's an 11-hour working day," he added.<br />

Photos: Levon Aronian: Armenia's chess champion

Mental stamina – "I've played a couple seven, eight-hour games. Consider the fact that you also train for three hours, generally, before the game. So it's an 11-hour working day," he added.

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"Women are generally weaker than men at chess, because they are told from a very young age: 'Oh honey, you lost, you're a girl, it's OK.' So it's also a psychological thing," said Aronian.<br />The chess champion believes women should play with men.<br />"When you limit women to playing against each other, that creates a disbalance. Every woman who stopped playing against women, and started against men, became a much stronger player."

Photos: Levon Aronian: Armenia's chess champion

Female players – "Women are generally weaker than men at chess, because they are told from a very young age: 'Oh honey, you lost, you're a girl, it's OK.' So it's also a psychological thing," said Aronian.
The chess champion believes women should play with men.
"When you limit women to playing against each other, that creates a disbalance. Every woman who stopped playing against women, and started against men, became a much stronger player."

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The world's No. 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen (pictured left playing Aronian, in 2008), has said the Armenian is one of his toughest opponents.<br />"There are several players who I find it difficult to play against. Probably the most difficult is Aronian," <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/16/sport/magnus-carlsen-chess-world-number-one/">Carlsen told CNN. </a>"I have a pretty good score against him, but he's probably outplayed me more times than anyone else at the top."

Photos: Levon Aronian: Armenia's chess champion

Magnus' match – The world's No. 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen (pictured left playing Aronian, in 2008), has said the Armenian is one of his toughest opponents.
"There are several players who I find it difficult to play against. Probably the most difficult is Aronian," Carlsen told CNN. "I have a pretty good score against him, but he's probably outplayed me more times than anyone else at the top."

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