2012 Chess Olympiad

Hola darlings!

The next big international chess event on the horizon is the Chess Olympiad.  Official website.

I really love the by-line "Let's meet where the continents meet..."  Actual OTB action begins on August 28th, 10 days away!

List of registered countries. 

Of course, I'm biased toward my home country of the USA, and Mr. Don's country, Canada.  But I have individual player favorites, too, and they're from all over the place!

I'm not sure I counted exactly right, but it appears that 131 countries this year are sending women's team to the Olympiad, and 162 men's teams.  In this day and age, so sad and shame on you, countries, for shorting female chess players their chance to play on an international stage!  It isn't necessarily poor countries, either, that are not fielding a team of female chess players.  You can see for yourself from the list of registered countries which ones are not fielding a female team.  I think it speaks for itself.

USA Women:

Photo	Board	Name	FIDE ID	Rating	Title
	1	Zatonskih, Anna	14101572	2510	IM
	2	Krush, Irina	2012782	2464	IM
	3	Foisor, Sabina	1212915	2364	WGM
	4	Goletani, Rusudan	13601105	2341	IM
	5	Ambrahamyan, Tatev	13301918	2329	WGM

On the USA Men's Team, I will be rooting for GM Ray Robson (2601), who is the Board 5 players.  While the youngest team member by far, he is already a seasoned veteran!  Go Ray!

Canadian Women:

Photo	Board	Name	FIDE ID	Rating	Title
	1	Khoudgarian, Natalia	2602121	2158	WIM
	2	Peng, Jackie	2609819	1944	WCM
	3	Orlova, Yelizaveta	2601826	1947	WCM
	4	Botez, Alexandra	2603365	2021	WCM
	5	Lacau-Rodean, Iulia	1211285	1999

Three of these women did not play in the 2012 Canadian Women's National Championship.   One - Jackie Peng - quit after playing some rounds and not scoring very well. Stay tuned for further action.