USA humbled India 3-1 with wins on
the top two boards to join Azerbaijan in the lead after two
rounds in the World Team Chess Championship being played at
Bursa in Turkey on January 6, 2010.
USA and Azerbaijan are on four points after two wins from as
many matches. India is tied for the third to eighth places on
two points after a win and a defeat. Seven rounds remain to be
played.
The highlight of the second round was low rated Greece scoring
over top seed and defending champion Russia by a 2.5-1.5 margin.
At one stage, the Russians had slipped 0-2 on grease.
In team competitions, India had a good record against USA. At
Turkey ten years before in the Chess Olympiad, Sasikiran crushed
Shabalov on the top board and Kaidanov tried to level the scores
on board two by taking greater
risk and Kunte scored the second point. India had made draws on
board three and four and won that match 3-1.
Similarly, USA beat India to avenge the defeat of 2000 in the
second round in 2010. Arun Prasad drew on bottom board by
repetition against Akobian with white. Ganguly played like a
machine with black to draw Yuri Shulman.
Shulman is known in Ganguly's hometown Kolkata for playing in
the Goodricke Open and also for marrying one of the Goodricke
volunteers.
With the scores 1-1, India was counting on a win from
Sasikiran's board and a draw from Harikrishna to wrap up this
match. Harikrishna faltered to Onischuk and the pressure was
high on Sasikiran who lost after reaching a
superior position against Nakamura. India could have easily
maintained their streak against USA but Harikrishna's defeat
turned the tide against us.
India takes on tough Azerbaijan in the third round and then
Turkey in the fourth game. Lev Psakhis has a task on hand as to
whom to rest and whom to field in the third round. Exposing the
bottom to a tough opponent might not be the wise decision as it
might hurt the team morale. Resting either Sasikiran or
Harikrishna would mean Ganguly would be taking his third
straight black.
The results (round two): Armenia (2) bt Israel (2) 2.5-1.5,
Brazil (2) bt Egypt (0) 2.5-1.5, Greece (2) bt Russia (2)
2.5-1.5, USA (4) bt India (2) (H. Nakamura bt K. Sasikiran, A.
Onischuk bt P. Harikrishna, Yuri Shulman drew with S.S. Ganguly,
V. Akobian drew with Arun Prasad) 3-1, Azerbaijan (4) bt Turkey
(0) 3-1.
July 07 2010 - This is to inform all chess
players / organisers / officials that any chess event organized
under the banner of "Chess Association of India" is not
recognized by the All India Chess Federation... more news
Kind Attention : Tournament Organizers / State
Associations
May 06 2010 - Please be informed that the FIDE has announced that, here after
all the rating tournaments should be registered 30 days in
advance. We therefore request all the organizers / State chess
associations to send their Bidform along with prescribed fee to
organize any FIDE rating events, 45 days in advance to All India
Chess Federation for onward submission to FIDE and enable us to
allot the FIDE / AICF event code for the event. Download the Bidform
Caution
