Armenia gains a point on second-place China by beating them 2.5-1.5 but Russia gains a half-point on Armenia with a 3-1 victory over the Ukraine. France and the U.S.A. draw 2-2. Kamsky lost to Bacrot, Onischuk drew Lautier, Nakamura saved a draw from a lost position against Fressinet, and Ibragimov beat Bauer.
My unofficial calculation of [...]
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From issue 8 (May 30) of “Turin moves,” the official bulletin of the Olympiad:
“Chess is also subject to antidoping controls.
“Chess is recognized as a sport internationally by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) aind in Italy by CONI. In fact the Italian Chess Federation is recognised as an associated sports discipline by the Italian Olympic Committee. [...]
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Right now, I just have the bare outline and will update when I have the details.
The Afghan Chess Federation endorsed the Kok ticket and sent a team to Turin. Then, a pro-Ilyumzhinov faction took over the federation two weeks before Turin and new players (men only) were sent Turin in addition to the players who [...]
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As he had promised me, Yasser took a few minutes of from his busy schedule for a brief conversation in the press room. He is here as a commentator on the ChessBase website and spends the rest of his time campaigning for Bessel Kok.
I began by asking him how life has treated him since his [...]
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The Olympiad is a long event. And chess journalists are, in general, underpaid and on a shoestring budget. So a lot of journalists skip the first week and only come for the last few days (that would have been the rational choice for me). Yesterday, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam of New In Chess arrived, as [...]
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The team captains receive the team pairings by 11 pm the night before the game (usually a little before). They are required to hand in their lineup for the day by 9am. The players find out who they will play by 11 am (usually 10:30). The games start at 3 pm.
Thanks to Ian Rogers for [...]
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The U.S. plays France, in both the men’s and women’s tournament. Board one is Bacrot-Kamsky (they must have played a lot lately), followed by Onischuk-Lautier, Fressinet-Nakamura, and Ibragimov-Bauer.
Armenia (ave. rating 2680) gets to put some distance between them and their rivals by beating up on China (2621) while the rivals beat up on each other. [...]
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Breathes There the Man
by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
Breathes there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High [...]
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I was too pessimistic in my last post about the U.S. men. They still have a good chance to prove me right and contend for a medal. Nakamura fought hard to save an inferior position (he probably missed a win earlier) and then, admirably if perhaps recklessly, pressed for a win.
Anyway, the U.S. and the [...]
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All those predictions about Russia walking away with the gold–into the memory hole.
The Russians have lost to the French 2.5-1.5 while Armenia beat the Ukraine by the same score. Armenia now has a 3 point lead with four rounds to go. And China leads Georgia 3-0 and moves into second place.
The U.S. hopes are fading [...]
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