37th Chess Olympiad

An enviable nine matches played and nine won score has finally pushed the second seed Ukraine into sole lead women's section of the Chess Olympiad after nine rounds. They humbled USA 2.5-0.5 to reach 21 points from 27 games. Top seed and overnight leader Russia were held to a 1.5-1.5 draw by China and they slid to second place on 20.5 points. Third seed Georgia humbled Hungary 2.5-0.5 to move to third place on 19 points. India women came from behind to defeat Kazakhstan to tie for the 13th place on 16.5 points from 27 games.

When everybody was guessing by how many points will Russia bridge the gap on leader Armenia in this round, top seed Russia suffered a shocking 1.5-2.5 defeat to France. Fressinet beat Rublevsky in the fourth board. If the Olympiad stops with round nine, Russia will be out of medals podium! Hard to believe but true.

China made a big dash with a 4-0 sweep over Georgia to swing to the second place with 25.5 points. In the tenth round, our neighbours are taking on the leader Armenia. Third seed Armenia on its part, overcame Ukraine 2.5-1.5 with Sargissian the hero once again on the fourth board. Armenia which led by two full points and wins 2.5-1.5 finds itself only a point ahead of China on 26.5. France with Bacrot on top board is in third place with 24 points. India is on 22.5 points from 36 games and is tied for the tenth place.

All four Indians were higher rated than the Uzbeks but none of us could win. The biting power was lacking. Sasikiran drew Kasimdzhanov quickly on the top board with white while Harikrishna drew Barsov with the black pieces in 47 moves. Ganguly came close to winning but his extra knight did not win as Gareyev found a perpetual. Chanda drew an ending in 39 moves against Iuldachev. A 2-2 result against seed 30 does not speak well for India.

In the tenth round, India faces Cuba. Anand should be back after the rest to provide the team with some fresh hopes of a medal. Exactly in the tenth round, India met Cuba at Calvia 2004 and Anand was rested thinking it was a weaker team and we lost 1.5-2.5.

Humpy and Harika rebounded with victories. Humpy won a pawn with the black pieces on the 30th move. She converted this advantage into a victory over Akeetayeva in 64 moves. Harika placed her knights at strategic squares in the middle of the board to control the game better and defeat Zigangirova with the white pieces in 62 moves. Swati Ghate is another player with the black pieces. She lost the castling right herself and fell playing poorly to Dauletova in 29 moves. Ninth seed India faces Mongolia, seed 29. One can expect an Indian victory but we play black on the top and bottom boards.

37th Chess Olympiad Live

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