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The Chess Olympiad will follow closely upon the heels of the World Cup. This will be the Northernmost Olympiad ever, since the host-city, Tromsø, is 350 kms north of the Arctic Circle.
Chess is about as widely popular as football and massive participation is guaranteed. This is also Fide election year. The next instalment in the long-running saga of Garry Kasparov versus the Fide establishment is due. The former world champion is running for President against the incumbent Kirsan Illyumzhinov. Kasparov's chances of winning look slim. But he's campaigned vigorously. The powerful Russian Federation will support Kirsan and probably, so will the bulk of non-First World federations.
Sadly, the game may not find more stable funding, regardless of election results. Fide's team has an opaque operating style. This scares off standard MNCs, leaving it dependent on obscure sources of funding. Even the advent of a dynamic new world champion hasn't really helped. If Kasparov pulls off an odds-against election victory, his track record from the PCA days suggests he would also struggle to retain sponsors.
The open event could go to any of several teams. Russia are rating favourites. The reserve player, Dmitry Jakovenko has 2736 Elo. Peter Svidler (2753) plays on board 4 behind Alexander Grischuk (2792), Vladimir Kramnik (2783) and Sergey Karjakin (2771). But Russia has had problems gelling as a team.
The Ukraine is seeded second. Its chances will depend on that enigmatic genius, Vassily Ivanchuk. Defending champions, Armenia could outperform again, but they are seeded no:8. The Azeris look strong on paper. So do the Chinese. France could surprise - they have four players rated above 2700. India is missing its two top players, and will be led by Krishnan Sasikiran with Parimarjan Negi, Adhiban, SP Sethuraman and Lalith Babu.
In the women's section, silver-medallists China must be the favourites along with defending champions, Russia. The Indian women came fourth in 2012 and will be hoping to do a little better. Russia and China both have realistic chances of pulling off double golds. The Chinese have five players rated about 2700, and that strength on the lower boards could be crucial.
The DIAGRAM, BLACK TO PLAY, (Xiu Deshun Vs Ding Liren Hainan 2014) is like an endgame study. 44...Bc5! This forces a winning pawn endgame 45.Kd3 Bxd4 46.Kxd4 Kb5 47.Kc3 Kc5 48.Kd3 Kb4 49.Kc2 Kc4 50.Kb1. Or 50.Kd2 Kd4 is winning. Black can break up the kingside with g5 if needed and calculation suggests he comes first with Kd4.
But Black chose a safer line with 50...Kd3 51.Ka2 Ke3 52.Ka3 Kf2 53.Kxa4 Kxg2 54.b4 Kxh3 55.b5 Kg4 56.b6 h3 57.b7 h2 58.b8Q h1Q 59.Qf8 Qe4+ (0-1). It's a mop up with Qxf4, etc.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
