Mayor Ardy Kassakhian Highlights the Southern California Open at the State Capitol

We were proud to hear Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian highlight the Southern California Open during a California State Assembly hearing at the State Capitol on Aug. 5.

The inaugural hearing of the Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange focused on economic and cultural ties between California and Armenia. Kassakhian spoke about Glendale’s role in that relationship, and one of the examples he gave was the Southern California Open.

He noted that the tournament will return to Glendale Sept. 4 through 7 and called it “one of California’s largest chess tournaments.”

Kassakhian also spoke about the importance of chess in Armenian culture and education. He described the game as representing “patience, discipline, strategy, and thinking several moves ahead” and called the Southern California Open “one more example of how culture, education, tourism, and economic activity come together in Glendale.”

We appreciate Mayor Kassakhian highlighting the Southern California Open during the committee’s first hearing at the State Capitol.