China withdraws, India replaces
Just one week before event starts, 23 December evening, Chinese Chess Association withdrew from event. That is very pitty, considering talented young Chinese Team, and no reason beyond that scandelous withdrawal. Fortunately, the owner of the 2nd place of Asian Team Championship, India, jumped on the seat and accepted to participate.
Then the new list of federations participate is as follows: Continental Champions: Rusisa , Brazil , Egypt , India (replacing China), top three from Olympiad: Armenia , Israel , USA , host and wildcards: Turkey , Azerbaijan , Greece.
Team USA:
GM Hikaru Nakamura
Born in 1987
ELO 2715
Peak ELO 2735
GM Alexander Onischuk
Born in 1975
ELO 2672
Peak ELO 2699
GM Yuri Shulman
Born in 1975
ELO 2623
Peak ELO 2648
GM Varuzhan Akobian
Born in 1983
ELO 2624
Peak ELO 2637
GM Robert L. Hess
Born in 1991
ELO 2572
Peak ELO 2572
GM Ray Robson
Born in 1994
ELO 2567
Peak ELO 2567
IM John W Donaldson
Born in 1958
Official website: http://wtcc2009.tsf.org.tr/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/lang,turkish/
Oh probably because the Chinese got irritated with the old cant beatem cheatem routine.