The drawing of lots was done today in Ningbo for the World Team Championship. Here is the order which was sent to me by my sister Judit:
USA 1
Armenia 2
Egypt 3
China 4
India 5
Hungary 6
Azerbaijan 7
Ukraine 8
Israel 9
Russia 10
Round 1 matchups
USA – Russia
Armenia – Israel
Egypt -Ukraine
China – Azerbadjan
India- Hungary
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Why is Egypt there?
News from the “other” tournament in China: In the 3rd round of the 1st Hangzhou Women’s Tournament, Marie Sebag, playing the White pieces, defeated Nana Dzagnidze from Georgia in an interesting endgame arising out of a Sicilian Alapin variation.
Anna Zatonskih, U.S.Women’s Champion, playing the Black pieces, lost her way in the early middlegame in a Catalan against Wenjun Ju from China. Wenjun Ju, after defeating Zatonskih, now is the tournament leader with 2 and 1/2 points.
Check it out here:
http://2seeitlive.com/twic/
Lucymarie
Egypt is there because of the great spirit the people demonstrated in Tahir Square a few months back. 🙂
Actually, I believe Egypt qualified because they were the highest scoring team (41st place) from the African continent in the 2010 Olympiad held in Russia. Some of the other teams that will compete in the WTCC qualified on the same basis, i.e., the United States, because they were the highest scoring country from North America at the Olympiad.
Lucymarie
I have done a bit of further research on why Egypt is playing in the WTCC. I found this regulation on the FIDE site:
02. Continental Team Championships
Overall Regulations for the Continental Chess Championships
1. General
1.1
Frequency: once every four years.
1.2
Commencement: 1983.
1.3
Provisionally for men`s teams only, with the exception of the European (Women`s) Team Championship.
1.4
Responsibility for drawing up rules and implementing them rests with the FIDE Continental Presidents of the Continents), in cooperation with the Zonal Presidents and Federations.
1.5
The playing regulations and conditions shall be separately determined according to the circumstances for each continent.
1.6
Each match between teams must be played over a minimu of four boards.
1.7
The winning team in a Continental Championship shall represent its continent at the next World Team Championship cf. D.II.08 Art. 1.62.
In special circumstances, upon application from the Continental President, the FIDE President may, for a stipulated period, permit a continent to be represented by a combined continental team (instead of a national team).
2.
Specific regulations
are contained in
Annex D.II.03 for Africa;
Annex D.II.04 for the Americas;
Annex D.II.05 for Asia; and
Annex D.II.06 for Europe.
So, Egypt is playing because it won the last FIDE-sponsored Continental Championship in Africa. And USA is playing, likewise, for having won the last Continental Championship for the Americas.
Lucymarie
Egypt can beat rest of the Africa. Hence a combined African team is not sent.
Whoever comes will take the wooden spoon.
Who will be the second last, Israel,India or USA