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China took gold (19 points from 22) and India took bronze (17) in an excellent Olympiad for the two Asian giants. India tied for 2nd-5th and narrowly missed silver on a tie-break, being pipped by Hungary (17 points). It was shocking that Russia (17), Azerbaijan (17), Armenia (16) and the Ukraine (16) all missed out. In the women's section, Russia retained gold (20), ahead of China and the Ukraine (both 18). The Indian women tied for 10th. Padmini Rout won gold on the reserve board.
The squad of Parimarjan Negi, Krishnan Sasikiran, SP Sethuraman, Baskaran Adhiban and MR Lalith Babu started as 19th seeds; China was seventh. China dropped draws to Russia, Holland and the Ukraine. Ding Liren (7.5 out of 10 games) and Yu Yangyi (9.5/11) were stand-outs.
India lost to Cuba, and drew with Italy, defending champions Armenia and Argentina. Negi (6.5/10), Sethuraman (7.5/10), Sasikiran (7.5/10) and Adhiban (7/11) did most of the work, with Lalith (2/3) usually on standby and doing a second's duties.
Judit Polgar, reserve for Hungary (4.5/6), announced her retirement after snaffling her second silver medal for the Hungarian Open team (she has two golds playing for the women). The 39-year-old has been the women's no.1 for 25 years.
On the political side, Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov won an umpteenth re-election, beating Garry Kasparov 110-61. The Buddhist from the Russian Autonomous Republic of Kalmykia has led Fide since 1995. The Fide constitution allows re-elections without limit, and the disbursal of largesse to federations at presidential discretion. This last has helped Ilyumzhinov sew up Third World votes and Kasparov lacked the financial muscle to wean them away.
The Diagram , WHITE TO PLAY (Negi Vs Rustam Kasimdzhanov Olympiad 2014) is from the last round. Negi had to beat the Uzbek GM to guarantee an Indian win. It looks near-equal. The pawn grab 31. Re1 e4!? 32. Qxa6 is risky, putting WQ out of play.
White judged well to play 31.Qd6! Qxd6 32.Rxd6 Ne2+ 33.Kf1 Nd4 34.Nc4 Ra8 35.Nxe5 Nxc2 36.Nd3 Rc8 37.Rxa6 Rc3 38.Ne5 Rxb3 39.Ra8+ Kh7 Material equality but a winning endgame.
Play went 40.g4 ?! Rb1+ Maybe 40.a6 Rb1+ 41.Ke2 Re1+ 42.Kd2 Rxe5 43.Kxc2 Ra5 is stronger. But Negi won after 41.Kg2 Ne1+ 42.Kg3 Rb3+ 43.Kf4 Nd3+ 44.Kxf5 Nxe5 45.Kxe5 Rd3 46.a6 Rd1 47.a7 Ra1
White has no king shelter near a-pawn. This makes it a little tricky. 48.Kd4 g5 49.hxg5 hxg5 50.Kc4 b3 51.Kxb3 Kg7 52.Kc4 Ra2 53.Kd5 Rd2+ 54.Ke4 Re2+ 55.Kd3 Ra2 56.f3 Ra3+ 57.Kd4 Ra1 58.Ke5 Ra5+ 59.Kd6 Ra6+ 60.Kc7 Ra3 61.Kc6 Rc3+ 62.Kd5 Ra3 63.Kc5 Ra6 64.Kc4 Ra3 65.Kb5 Ra1 66.Kb6 Rb1+ 67.Kc6 Rc1+ 68.Kd6 Rd1+ 69.Ke6 (1-0). Finally 69. -Ra1 70. Rd8 Rxa7 71. Rd7+ is a won pawn ending.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
