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Sunday, August 26, 2012

2012 Chess Olympiad

The Turkish Chess Federation is once again hosting a major FIDE event.  Next month, after the Olympiad finishes, Turkey will be host to another FIDE Women's Grand Prix! 

Do you remember who won the 2010 Chess Olympiad?  I didn't!  To refresh your memory, here are the top ten finishers from the "Open" (a/k/a Men's) and Women's Teams:

Open:

Rk.SNoTeamTeamGames+ = - TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4
12UKRUkraineUKR1183019380.531143
21RUS1Russia 1RUS11182118379.528157
311ISRIsraelISR1173117367.529148
45HUNHungaryHUN1181217355.526.5157
53CHNChinaCHN117221636229147
64RUS2Russia 2RUS2118031635529.5144
76ARMArmeniaARM117221634527147
816ESPSpainESP117221633228.5137
99USAUnited States of AmericaUSA1172216315.527141
1010FRAFranceFRA1164116311.525149

Women's:

Rk.SNoTeamTeamGames+ = - TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4
11RUS1Russia 1RUS111110022439.534147
22CHNChinaCHN1190218386.531.5146
34GEOGeorgiaGEO117221638429155
418CUBCubaCUB1180316348.530136
56USAUnited States of AmericaUSA1172216336.528.5140
610POLPolandPOL117221633629.5132
726AZEAzerbaijanAZE118031632028136
812BULBulgariaBUL1172216296.524.5147
93UKRUkraineUKR1171315366.528.5156
105RUS2Russia 2RUS21163215335.526.5152

 I do have vague recollections that the USA Men's Team had been expected to do pretty darn well, perhaps even medal.  Wrong!  The USA Women's Team was good, but they were outgunned by Russia, China and Georgia.  However, to see Cuba finish ahead of them - oy!  Still, they played tough and the didn't lay down.

2010's Women's Team was composed of IM Irina Krush, IM Anna Zatonskih, WFM Tatev Abrahamyan, WGM Camille Baginskaite, and WGM Sabina Foisor.  The 2012 Women's Team is composed of IM Anna Zatonskih, IM Irina Krush, WGM Sabina Foisor, IM Rusudan Goletiani, and WGM Tatev Abrahamyan.  A little rearranging, Baginskaite swapped out for Goletiani.  USA Women are ready to rock. 

GM Judit Polgar is on the Hungarian Open Team, I assume she will be playing Board 3.  As far as I can tell, she is the only female playing on an Open team for this Olympiad.

I was shocked to see that GM Koneru Humpy is NOT playing on either Indian team.  Neither is GM Vishy Anand.

Opening Ceremonies are tomorrow, play will start on August 28th.  Who will win medals in 2012?  I've no idea, LOL!

Official Olympiad website.

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