Russia out for Gold

Russia out to win
Malcolm Pein previews the 2014 Chess Olympiad
By Malcolm Pein, Chess correspondent
6:40PM BST 07 Aug 2014

The 2014 Chess Olympiad is under way at Tromso, with a record attendance likely, as 150 open teams and 136 women’s teams have registered. Russia are the top seeds in the Open and have Vladimir Kramnik on top board. The 12-year gap since Russia’s last Olympiad victory at Bled in 2002 is like an open wound in Russian chess, and they are the only team with all five members of the squad rated over 2700.

Ukraine are second seeds and have four ‘super GMs’ plus Anton Korobov, who can defeat anyone on his day. Ukraine have their strongest possible team thanks to the return of former FIDE champion Ruslan Ponomariov. The defending champions, Armenia, led by Levon Aronian, have won three of the last five Olympiads and Ukraine two. Although Armenia are fifth seeds, their players always perform superbly in team competition.

The growing strength in French chess makes them third seeds and their top board, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, arrives fresh from his victory at Biel. Even without Luke McShane, England are seeded tenth, and they have Mathew Sadler on board five. Sadler showed at the last London Chess Classic that he is incredibly well prepared in the opening and his return to the team is a huge boost.

Scotland are seeded 66th in the absence of Jonathan Rowson and Wales are ranked 96th. A couple of nice finishes from the British Championships, which recently concluded.

Full article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk