 "Chess (#1074)")
Russia won its first major title in several tries, taking the World Teams Championship, ahead of China and the Ukraine. Of course, the Russians with an array of super GMs were top-seeded but they've "failed" to win gold at three previous Olympiads and nothing but gold counts for Russia.
Russia scored 15 match points in the 10-team round robin (two points for a win, one for a draw). China and Ukraine tied with 14 match points each but China had the better board score. Ukraine led going into number 8, despite a loss to the Dutch. In number 8 the Russians won against Ukraine and then, Russia beat the laggards, Egypt in number 9. Ian Nepomniachtchi scored the key wins.
Armenia, which has won so many Olympiads, must have been disappointed. The Armenians aren't highly-rated, except for top board, Levon Aronian. But they bring terrific chemistry to team events. However, this time, despite a 2900-plus performance from Aronian, the Armenians ended fifth behind the US. American GM Hikaru Nakamura had an excellent performance and he overtakes Vladimir Kramnik to move into third place on the next rating list.
Back in India, SP Sethuraman won the Hyderabad Open with 8.5 points from the 11 round Swiss. Sethuraman tied with Ivan Popov of Russia. Vidit Gujarathi came third on tiebreak, ahead of Mikhail Mozharov with both scoring 8. The event had decent prize money with the winner's cheque at Rs 2 lakh. It was sponsored by ONGC, Mahindra Ecole Centrale, Andhra Bank, Petronet LNG and Airports Authority of India. As many as six IM norms were scored by Indian players, though only Mozharov logged a GM norm.
The diagram, BLACK TO PLAY ( White: Alexander Ipatov Vs Black: Kramnik,. Turkey Vs Russia, World Teams 2013) is a rare example of a position that humans understand better than computers. It's blocked. Note however, that, except for Be8, every black piece is better than its opposite number.
Kramnik played 29. --- e5!! 30.dxe5 Nxe5 31.fxe5 Qxe5 32.Nf1 Bg7 White has a dead knight on a5, and his rooks are out of central action. Not to mention the wallflower on b2. White could defend with 33. Kd2 but black will build pressure down e-file and with Bf6-Bg5, Bg6, etc.
White tried to bail with 33.a3 Qxc3+! 34.Qxc3 Bxc3 Black exchanges queens and heads into a piece down endgame. Kramnik has just two pawns - this is not enough normally but here he also has all the play. Against a defence like 35. Kc2 Bf6 36. Bd1 Ng6 37. Kd2 Re6 38. Bc2 Bb2, black will grind out a win.
The game concluded 35.Bd1 Re6 36.Bc2 Bg6 37.Nd2 Rxe3 38.Rd1 Bf6 39.Rhh1 d4 40.Rde1 Rhe7 41.Rxe3 Rxe3 (0-1).
Russia scored 15 match points in the 10-team round robin (two points for a win, one for a draw). China and Ukraine tied with 14 match points each but China had the better board score. Ukraine led going into number 8, despite a loss to the Dutch. In number 8 the Russians won against Ukraine and then, Russia beat the laggards, Egypt in number 9. Ian Nepomniachtchi scored the key wins.
Armenia, which has won so many Olympiads, must have been disappointed. The Armenians aren't highly-rated, except for top board, Levon Aronian. But they bring terrific chemistry to team events. However, this time, despite a 2900-plus performance from Aronian, the Armenians ended fifth behind the US. American GM Hikaru Nakamura had an excellent performance and he overtakes Vladimir Kramnik to move into third place on the next rating list.
Back in India, SP Sethuraman won the Hyderabad Open with 8.5 points from the 11 round Swiss. Sethuraman tied with Ivan Popov of Russia. Vidit Gujarathi came third on tiebreak, ahead of Mikhail Mozharov with both scoring 8. The event had decent prize money with the winner's cheque at Rs 2 lakh. It was sponsored by ONGC, Mahindra Ecole Centrale, Andhra Bank, Petronet LNG and Airports Authority of India. As many as six IM norms were scored by Indian players, though only Mozharov logged a GM norm.
The diagram, BLACK TO PLAY ( White: Alexander Ipatov Vs Black: Kramnik,. Turkey Vs Russia, World Teams 2013) is a rare example of a position that humans understand better than computers. It's blocked. Note however, that, except for Be8, every black piece is better than its opposite number.
Kramnik played 29. --- e5!! 30.dxe5 Nxe5 31.fxe5 Qxe5 32.Nf1 Bg7 White has a dead knight on a5, and his rooks are out of central action. Not to mention the wallflower on b2. White could defend with 33. Kd2 but black will build pressure down e-file and with Bf6-Bg5, Bg6, etc.
White tried to bail with 33.a3 Qxc3+! 34.Qxc3 Bxc3 Black exchanges queens and heads into a piece down endgame. Kramnik has just two pawns - this is not enough normally but here he also has all the play. Against a defence like 35. Kc2 Bf6 36. Bd1 Ng6 37. Kd2 Re6 38. Bc2 Bb2, black will grind out a win.
The game concluded 35.Bd1 Re6 36.Bc2 Bg6 37.Nd2 Rxe3 38.Rd1 Bf6 39.Rhh1 d4 40.Rde1 Rhe7 41.Rxe3 Rxe3 (0-1).
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player