Rafael Arturovich Vaganian is an Armenian chess grandmaster known for his imaginative and innovative style of play. He was born on 15 October 1951 in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Vaganian was granted the title of International Grandmaster in 1971 and throughout his career, he has consistently been among the top players in the world.
Vaganian's major achievements include winning the USSR Chess Championship in 1989, the Linares tournament in 1990, and several tournaments in the 1980s and 1990s. He played in the Candidates Tournament for the 1985 and 1986 World Championships, reaching the quarterfinals in 1986. Vaganian has been a member of the Armenian national team in ten Chess Olympiads, winning three team bronze medals and one individual gold medal.
He was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Armenia in October 2021 for his great contribution to the development of chess in Armenia. Vaganian also serves as a chess coach in his home country.