Olympiad R1: Armenia & Azerbaijan start convincingly
The defending champions had a most convincing start in Dresden: Armenia defeated Italy 4-0. Azerbaijan crushed the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with the same score; Switzerland almost held Russia to a tie: only Jenni lost to Morozevich. Round 1 of the Olympiad with games, results and photos.
The Chess Olympiad takes place 12-25 november in Dresden, Germany. ChessVibes provides daily coverage and will be reporting from the venue in Dresden during the last six rounds. But for now... let's check out the first round!
On board one, FIDE Honorary President Florencio Campomanes started the first round of the 38th Olympiad by playing the move 1.e4 in the game Svidler-Kortchnoi. In a very interesting game, the 77-year-old drew his first game in Dresden - will he meet more 2700s? Let's hope so. The match ended in three draws and one win: Morozevich, on board three, beat Jenni.
Fabiano Caruana tested Levon Aronian in an Anti-Moscow Gambit but the Armenian was clearly more comfortable in this opening and crushed the young Italian. His team members Akopian, Sargissian and Petrosian also won and so the title defenders had a most convincing start. The team from Azerbaijan, with Radjabov and Mamedyarov on the first two boards, also won their first match 4-0.
The very strong home team with Naiditsch, Khenkin, Gustafsson and Baramidze defeated Scotland 3?Ǭ?-?Ǭ?. Like their Russian colleagues, Ukraine could only win on one board and so they defeated Vietnam 1?Ǭ?-2?Ǭ?. With the same score China beat Philippines but the talented Wesley So won his game.
Norway beat Austria 3-1 with Magnus Carlsen beating Markus Ragger on board one. 2-2 was a fantastic result for Iran against the Hungarians with Polgar and Almasi on one and two. Germany's second team managed to beat Bulgaria who started without Topalov. Australia, for the first time in ages without Ian Rogers on board one, lost ?Ǭ?-3?Ǭ? to the Czech Republic.
We're secretly rooting for The Netherlands who went to Dresden with a young team led by KingLoek: first board Loek van Wely brought Stellwagen, Smeets, L'Ami and Werle. Watch out for them - especially in the last few rounds!
Few surprises also in the women's section, where favourite Russia crushed Azerbaijan (with Mamedyarov's sisters on the first two boards) 4-0 and Iran copied their men's stunt by holding Germany to a 2-2 tie. Argentina's 2-2 versus Ukraine and Greece-Mongolia, also 2-2, were also quite amazing.
Results for the first twenty matches in both sections:
[TABLE=455]
[TABLE=456]
At the moment of writing, Mark Crowther of The Week in Chess is still working very hard to create a PGN file of the first round (I know he is!). I've collected the games of the first twenty matches (men) for replay:
Susan Polgar is in charge of the English speaking media for the Olympiad; her husband Paul Truong is the official photographer. Here's a first selection of much more available:
The opening ceremony on Wednesday night...
...was a spectacular show, with ice skating...
...rays of lazer lights...
...and of course the presentation of the nations...
...or, more accurately, federations.
Because of Ilyumzhinov's absensce due to a small car accident, Honorary President Florencio Campomanes opened the 38th Chess Olympiad...
...and the next day he also played the offical first move at the board of Peter Svidler and Viktor Kortchnoi, in the match Russia - Switzerland. Also in the picture are Alexander Grischuk (l.) and Yannick Pelletier playing on board two.
Surprise, surprise: Alexander Morozevich on board 3 (playing Florian Jenni) and Dmitry Jakovenko versus Joe Gallagher on board 4. The Swiss team have protested because of a last-minute board change by the Russians - wel'll try to keep you informed on this matter
The strong team from Azerbaijan, with Teimour Radjabov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Gadir Huseynov and Rauf Mammadov
Le Quang Liem (Vietnam) versus Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine), with Vassily Ivanchuk next to him
Judit Polgar playing board one for Hungary (Peter Leko is also in the team); Zoltan Almasi on her right
Jan Gustafsson, board three for the strong home team
Philippines lost to China but Wesley So managed to beat Ni Hua
Anna Ushenina (Ukraine)
Board one and two of Russia-Azerbaijan: Alexandra Kosteniuk - Zeinab Mamedyarova (1-0) and Tatiana Kosintseva - Turkan Mamedyarova (1-0)
India-Switzerland (2?Ǭ?-1?Ǭ?) with Harika Dronavalli vs. Dr. Heinatz Gundula on board one
The Dutch women team on the right, with the same mascotte (an orange lion) as two years ago in Turin
Links:
- Official website
- All results and standings
- (Live) games for replay
- Games of the first 20 matches (men) in PGN
- TWIC's games in PGN: Men rd 1 & Women rd1
Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.
Comments
Pedro
3 years 2 months ago
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Espectacular el reportaje fotografico de la olimpiada. Debe ser una gozada el poder estar en directo en la sala de juego. Que envidia, san, para todos los aficionados.
Michiel
3 years 2 months ago
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Interesting picture. Korchnoi is not too happy with Campomes that close nearby!
Popuscu (Bulgaria)
3 years 2 months ago
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Pardon (wrong adress),
Manager of GM Gata Kamsky
Postal Address: Kovpaka str. 17, app. 131. Kiev, Ukraine, 03150.
Private office: Phone: +380445694162; Fax: +380445694163.
E-mail: multiinvest.holding@gmail.com
International mobile phone: +37253687587; Mobile in Ukraine: +380504628674.
Date: November 13, 2008.
Re: Kamsky-Topalov match
I was asked several times from several sides to give my point of view regarding the financing of the match Kamsky-Topalov from my side. It is especially topical after FIDE's letters of November 06 and November 07 blaming me that I lied about availability of funds for the match Kamsky-Topalov in city Lviv in Ukraine.
I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want to blame anybody but I would like to explain why the announced amount of USD 935 thousand (including FIDE charges) was not transferred to the FIDE account. At first my sponsors and then I promised to do it, several times. I will explain now why it has not yet happened (the same situation will be with sponsors from the Bulgaria side). The money was and is available now.
The main reason is that FIDE did not present the necessary contracts beforehand: for the match Kamsky-Topalov and for match Anand-Kramnik. We asked about it dozen times. The position of FIDE, money first, is not acceptable for us. We don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know what kind of ?¢‚Ǩ?ìtricks?¢‚Ǩ? can be contained in these contracts. As soon as the money will be on FIDE?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s account we could not change any issues, and FIDE will push on us to sign the proposed variant.
I see only one way out: conditional transfer. As soon as the contracts will be looked through, and as soon as the contract will be acceptable for everybody (Topalov, Kamsky, FIDE) and will be signed, only after that the money will be lodged to FIDE account.
I will be present at the FIDE Congress as the Manager of GM Gata Kamsky and as a sponsor also. I think we will find a solution to the main issue, and the match will definitely take place. I still hope that will happen in Ukraine (city Lviv). The time that is proposed by the Bulgarian Chess Federation is acceptable.
In the mean time I wish good health to President FIDE Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov after yesterday?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s car incident. Also best regards to our counterpart: Mr. Danailov and Mr. Topalov.
Sincerely,
Oleksandr Chernenko
Rini Luyks
3 years 2 months ago
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Was Carlsen lost against Ragger after 38...h3! instead of 38...f3?
And wasn'tit a draw after 56...Bxd5 instead of 56...Ba2?
Good fight anyway!
henk
3 years 2 months ago
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What the ufck is Campomanes doing in all these recent pictures? That corrupt and incompetent man should be BANNED from all FIDE events, not welcomed like a long lost family member.
Theo
3 years 2 months ago
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Yes i knew about the Zsofi Polgar vs Korchnoi video. One of his worst ever performances!
He's not a nice man. ***blablabla - rest deleted**
Theo
3 years 2 months ago
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@Michiel: Korchnoi is not a nice man. This picture shows a lot again too... He has no respect at all.
Popuscu (Bulgaria)
3 years 2 months ago
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@Theo and Miciel,
This is video shows that Korchnoi is terrible when he loses :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9k5oBgaZGI
vosuram
3 years 2 months ago
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@: multiinvest.holding@gmail.com
That's something new for me, but... In a case if FIDE is requesting money before a contract it is not funny indeed. It means they are nor capable of organization of events of that scale, or they are looking for something hidden for us.
James
3 years 2 months ago
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http://au.youtube.com/watch?emb=0&aq=-1&v=M9k5oBgaZGI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2F... to see Korchnoi go ballistic...over a blitz game! LOL
vosuram
3 years 2 months ago
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@ multiinvest.holding@gmail.com
BTW, why do you have such a spam-looking-like email address?
James
3 years 2 months ago
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Drat, Popuscu beat me to the punch, so I have to create a new post...
Next time Korchnoi plays blitz, his opponent should have some n00b repellent. Teach the guy a lesson :)
Coco Loco
3 years 2 months ago
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@Theo
Korchnoi is not a nice man, but Campones is? You must know both their biographies very well...
Peter Visser
3 years 2 months ago
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Victor is terrible sometimes. I like him.
Popuscu (Bulgaria)
3 years 2 months ago
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To Peter Visser,
I followed Konchnoi game against Svidler at the Olymiad.
He plays an agressive line in the french defence, and defended perfectly an inferior endgame. His game was very instructive - for me at least -.
No boddy humilates Korchnoi, we have just said that he is verry expressive when he loses.
I am sorry if my behaviour annoys Korchnoi's funs.
Minor Remark. The deadline for the signature of the contracats of the match by Topalov and Kamsky is the 14th November 2008 (If I well remember), otherwise -according to FIDE- Shirov will be the chalenger of Anand in 2009. Any new about this ??? Neither the bulgarian chess federation nor FIDE web site tells somthing about this.
Manu
3 years 2 months ago
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Anna Ushenina is getting more and more beautiful every time i see her.
James
3 years 2 months ago
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I'm glad you liked my joke :)
Peter, fabulous report! It's far more detailed and accurate than any of the other websites I have seen. The Germans should have hired you as their reporter :)
Popuscu (Bulgaria)
3 years 2 months ago
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to James,
Nice Joke. I am OK.
Peter Doggers
3 years 2 months ago
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@ Popescu, theo
Stop talking crap about one of the legends of chess. Mr Korchnoi is and has always been a fantastic fighter and his contributions to our game are enormous. We should respect him for that. The fact that he doesn't like losing, and still can't really handle it very well, is known, and doesn't need to be repeated all the time. Certainly not here - please go and find some other forum to humilitate people.
Peter Doggers
3 years 2 months ago
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@ James
Thanks, appreciate it!
Xtra
3 years 2 months ago
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I wanna see some interviews :)
Frans
3 years 2 months ago
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Korchnoi is just what they call "a grumpy old man".
semipatz
3 years 2 months ago
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"Anna Ushenina is getting more and more beautiful every time i see her."
Well, given your avatar, Manu, are you planning to tie her to the railroad track? :)
Phil Bourke
3 years 2 months ago
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Korchnoi ranks among the all time greats. In 50+ years of chess at the elite level. If one considers how hard he had to fight to even play at this level, then I am sure we can forgive him a few incidents where he hasn't been the 'perfect' player that many seem to demand.
Manu
3 years 2 months ago
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Im afraid i would end with my mustache tied to the railroad track.
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