The US Men’s Team defeated Poland by the score of 3-1. Kamsky, Nakamura and Ibragimov won while Kaidanov lost.
The US Women’s Team defeat Romania 2-1. I know Anna Zatonskih and Irina Krush drew on board 1 and 2. Baginskaite won on board 3.
The Russian Men’s Team defeated China 3-1 with wins by Svidler and Grischuk.
India defeated Hungary 2.5-1.5. Anand drew on board 1.
The biggest upset is Turkey over England by the score of 2.5-1.5. Vietnam also upset Moldava 2.5-1.5. Uzbekistan held the powerhouse Ukraine to a 2-2 tie with Kasimdzhanov downing Ivanchuk.
150 year old (or it seems like it) Korchnoi outlasted our friend from Canada Pascal Charbonneau with the Black pieces. Don’t worry Pascal, you can revenge in 15 years. Gosh, I wish I can play chess like Korchnoi when I am his age!
Russia and Armenia are now in the lead with 13.5 points, followed by the Netherlands with 13. The US Men’s team are 2 full point back with 11.5. The US team will play Georgia next.
The Russian Women’s Team crushed the perfect 9-0 Lithuania team 3-0 while China lost to Ukraine by the score of 1-2. Ukraine will face Russia next round while Bulgaria will face USA. Even though the US has won all 4 matches, the problem is the US is already behind Russia by 2 full points.
Our friends from Mexico stunned Latvia by the score of 2-1. WIM Nelly Estrada, winner of the 2006 Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls in Corpus Christi is a member of the Mexican National Team. The co-winner of the 2005 Susan Polgar National Invitational Invitational for Girls WGM Anya Corke plays for the Hong Kong Men’s Team and drew a strong GM in round 1. WIM Luciana Morales, participant of the upcoming 2006 Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls is playing for the Peruvian National Team.
A few upsets include Turkey over the Czech Republic 2-1, Australia over Serbia & Montenegro 2-1, El Salvador over Norway 2.5-.5, etc. Things are heating up fast! Thanks to everyone for helping with updates!
Krush drew on 2, Baginskaite won on 3.
Excellent game by Svidler!! Just arrived from Sofia, hadn’t had time to, you know, eat properly, and blew the Chinese GM right off the board!!
Use this link for online games and results http://www1.chessolympiad-torino2006.org/sungam/round4_0.html
Round 5 Women’s pairings
Ukraine vs. Russia
Bulgaria vs. USA
Hungary vs. China
Regional Predictions:
Top North American Teams – (1) U.S.A. (2) Canada (3) Mexico
Top African Teams – (1) Egypt (2) Tunisia (3) Nigeria, Angola (tie)
Top Asian Teams – (1) India (2) China (3) Vietnam
Top Caribbean Teams – (1) Cuba (2) Dominican Republic (3) Barbados
Top European Teams – (1) Armenia (2) Russia (3) Ukraine
Top Latin American Teams – (1) Brazil (2) Argentina (3) Peru
Top Middle Eastern Teams – (1) Israel (2) Turkey (3) Iran
Statistics:
14 top open (men) teams, board 1: 13/14 1st board (super)GMs are losing elo!
Conclusion: since they mostly play against each other, in a closed circle, we get a false picture of who are really the best players in the world.
Why are the best players the ones who have the best elo, when the elo formula people say is wrong, outdated, decadent, etc?
European Champion ’06 Zdenko has a performance elo of only 2484! Former prodigy and former World Champion Anand – 2480!
Russia (women) kicked out board 1 (Kosteniuk) in round 4 and beat perfect score leaders Lithuania 3-0!! What strategy was this?
I wonder if Kaidanov gets a lot of ribbing from his teammates for being the first player on the team to lose..
here are some standings.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3132
does the US Mens team have a chance for a medal?
No way, neither US team will have a chance for medals.
Of course the US team will have a chance for a medal. The last two rounds will decide. Kamsky is a great advantage, motivated, young and without complexes.
About the ladies, well, if they are online, getting advice from Susan, they will have a chance, too.
Can USA organize a Chess Olympiad? WHY NOT? We have other Olympiads, come and cross the ocean, lets play chess on home ground!
I noticed many WGMs are IMs. But, I don’t recall women advertising themselves as IMs, rather like (W)GMs!? Why is this? Are the names of the chess titles wrong?
Some do not care either way. In Anna Zatonskih’s case, she is an IM and wants to be addressed as an IM. The problem is FIDE makes the mistake by not putting the title properly.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
Greece also kicked out board 1 in round four!! The first board (2nd man) made an easy draw with black against the master Sokolov, but the next two boards were not so lucky.
“Anonymous said…
Russia (women) kicked out board 1 (Kosteniuk) in round 4 and beat perfect score leaders Lithuania 3-0!! What strategy was this?”
Kosteniuk is allergic to Cmilyte. She lost badly to her in the world championship a few months ago. That’s why Kosteniuk sat out.
is it my imagination or did the Ukraine play their strongest player (Lahno) on board 2? Excuse my ignorance, but is this common-place? is it permitted?