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ARMENIA RETAINS TOP SPOT IN CHESS OLYMPIAD
The Associated Press
November 21, 2008
DRESDEN, Germany: Top-seeded Russia held off the United States in
the 38th Chess Olympiad in round eight of open division play Friday,
but the Armenian team crushed France and stayed in first place.
In women's division play, the U.S. team dealt a severe blow to the
medal hopes of the Russian team, also the top seed, beating it 3-1. The
win gave the U.S. team 6.5 match points to keep it in a second-place
tie with several others.
The U.S. was led by Irina Krush, who beat women's world champion
Alexandra Kosteniuk on board one. She sacrificed a pawn on move 16. Her
compensation was dubious until Kosteniuk misplaced her rook. Kosteniuk
managed to come up with some tactical complications but they could
not save her in the end.
The Americans also picked up a win from Anna Zatonskih on board two
against Tatiana Kosintseva, who sacrificed a pawn only to fritter
away her compensation before losing a second pawn and the game.
The other two games in the match, Rusudan Goletiani against Tatiana's
sister Nadezhda Kosintseva, and American Katerina Rohonyan against
Ekaterina Korbut, were drawn.
The Americans won on board one as Gata Kamsky downed Peter Svidler. But
the other three boards went badly, although Alexander Onischuk salvaged
a draw for the U.S. on board three when Alexander Morozevich blundered
in a=2 0winning endgame.
Alexander Grischuk picked up a pawn, traded it in for an exchange
and ground down Hikaru Nakamura on board two, and Dmitry Jakovenko
steamrolled Varuzhan Akobian on board four.
The Chess Olympiad, a biennial event that started Nov. 13, includes
146 teams in the open division -- often referred to as the men's
division, even though it includes a few women. The separate women's
division includes 111 teams.
Armenia leads the open division with 7.5 match points after beating
France 3.5-0.5 in round eight.
Israel has seven, and Russian and Ukraine are tied with 6.5.
In other open division matches, England kept its medal hopes alive by
beating Georgia 2.5-1.5 behind Nigel Short's victory over Zviad Izoria.
England is tied with several other teams at six points.
Thirty-seventh seed Vietnam scored an upset tie match against third
seed China 2-2. India and Slovenia tied 2-2. These teams, along with
the U.S., Hungary and several others, have 5.5 points and only dim
hopes of getting a medal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina edged Australia 2.5-1.5 behind Zeljko Bogut's
win over Darryl Johansen. It was Johansen's first loss after winning
his first five games. Ukraine annihilated New Zealand 4-0 in one of
the many mismatches that the modified pairing system has produced in
this event.
On the women's side, China tied Ukraine 2-2 to stay in first place
with seven points. Poland, Serbia, the United S tates and Ukraine
are all tied for second with 6.5 points.
Round nine takes place here on Saturday with play continuing on Sunday.
Monday is an off-day, and the tournament concludes Tuesday.
Some of the pairings Saturday in open division play include
Armenia-Israel, Russia-Ukraine, Serbia-Azerbaijan, France-China,
Poland-Germany, Vietnam-England, India-U.S., and New Zealand-Georgia.
In the women's section, China plays Serbia and the U.S. plays Poland.
On the Net:
http://www.dresden2008.de/site/en/main.htm
http://www.fide.com
The Associated Press
November 21, 2008
DRESDEN, Germany: Top-seeded Russia held off the United States in
the 38th Chess Olympiad in round eight of open division play Friday,
but the Armenian team crushed France and stayed in first place.
In women's division play, the U.S. team dealt a severe blow to the
medal hopes of the Russian team, also the top seed, beating it 3-1. The
win gave the U.S. team 6.5 match points to keep it in a second-place
tie with several others.
The U.S. was led by Irina Krush, who beat women's world champion
Alexandra Kosteniuk on board one. She sacrificed a pawn on move 16. Her
compensation was dubious until Kosteniuk misplaced her rook. Kosteniuk
managed to come up with some tactical complications but they could
not save her in the end.
The Americans also picked up a win from Anna Zatonskih on board two
against Tatiana Kosintseva, who sacrificed a pawn only to fritter
away her compensation before losing a second pawn and the game.
The other two games in the match, Rusudan Goletiani against Tatiana's
sister Nadezhda Kosintseva, and American Katerina Rohonyan against
Ekaterina Korbut, were drawn.
The Americans won on board one as Gata Kamsky downed Peter Svidler. But
the other three boards went badly, although Alexander Onischuk salvaged
a draw for the U.S. on board three when Alexander Morozevich blundered
in a=2 0winning endgame.
Alexander Grischuk picked up a pawn, traded it in for an exchange
and ground down Hikaru Nakamura on board two, and Dmitry Jakovenko
steamrolled Varuzhan Akobian on board four.
The Chess Olympiad, a biennial event that started Nov. 13, includes
146 teams in the open division -- often referred to as the men's
division, even though it includes a few women. The separate women's
division includes 111 teams.
Armenia leads the open division with 7.5 match points after beating
France 3.5-0.5 in round eight.
Israel has seven, and Russian and Ukraine are tied with 6.5.
In other open division matches, England kept its medal hopes alive by
beating Georgia 2.5-1.5 behind Nigel Short's victory over Zviad Izoria.
England is tied with several other teams at six points.
Thirty-seventh seed Vietnam scored an upset tie match against third
seed China 2-2. India and Slovenia tied 2-2. These teams, along with
the U.S., Hungary and several others, have 5.5 points and only dim
hopes of getting a medal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina edged Australia 2.5-1.5 behind Zeljko Bogut's
win over Darryl Johansen. It was Johansen's first loss after winning
his first five games. Ukraine annihilated New Zealand 4-0 in one of
the many mismatches that the modified pairing system has produced in
this event.
On the women's side, China tied Ukraine 2-2 to stay in first place
with seven points. Poland, Serbia, the United S tates and Ukraine
are all tied for second with 6.5 points.
Round nine takes place here on Saturday with play continuing on Sunday.
Monday is an off-day, and the tournament concludes Tuesday.
Some of the pairings Saturday in open division play include
Armenia-Israel, Russia-Ukraine, Serbia-Azerbaijan, France-China,
Poland-Germany, Vietnam-England, India-U.S., and New Zealand-Georgia.
In the women's section, China plays Serbia and the U.S. plays Poland.
On the Net:
http://www.dresden2008.de/site/en/main.htm
http://www.fide.com