The Tata Steel Asian Team Chess Championship concluded today in a final round that was little more than a coronation for men’s champion India and women’s champion Vietnam, but saw a fierce fight between both the men and women of Iran and India B to decide the event’s second and third placings.
Men
The final round started with India A making short work of Sri Lanka, easily winning 4-0, but in the second match a grim struggle between Ian and India B finally ended with Iran winning 3-1, ensuring that Iran would tie Vietnam for second but only placed third after tie-breaks.
Already assured of second place, Vietnam had a routine 4-0 win against bottom placed Nepal while Bangladesh hit form to crush Singapore 3.5-0.5 and Indonesia beat Yemen by the same score.
Individual Board Medals:
1. Le Quang Liem (VIE), 2. Sasikiran Krishnan (IND), 3. Ganguly Surya Shekhar (IND), 4. Negi Parimarjan (IND), 5. Nguyen Anh Dung (VIE).
Women
Vietnam made sure of the title with a quick win 4-0 over bottom placed Nepal as second placed India A sat out proceedings with the 2-0 bye.
Here is the full article.
Why didn’t China play?
Some ‘bonehead’ in an earlier post said “India is better than China?” For Pete’s sake! Let’s just enjoy chess and not get nationalistic! Perhaps China has a somewhat stronger team but they did not participate. At any rate one can always say,in the same vein,that India has World Champ Vishy Anand & China is yet to produce one!! Of course that will take a looong time as Carlsen is soooo young!