World Chess Olympiad - Canadian Results

[Bob Armstrong]

The Olympiad in Russia runs from Sept. 21 ( Rd. 1 ) to Oct. 3 ( Rd. 11 ).

Here is how Canada is doing:

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37


Bob

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

1...........53.......... Canada........1 – 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )..Mozambique.....127

It should be 2-0 (4-0) - all players won, no draw and a match win gives 2 points, a draw - 1.


The third round with Uruguay (URU). For girls - Albania.

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Egis:

Thanks. I think they changed the Roussel-Roozmon result - the game score was initially posted wrong. I forgot. And I'll remember about the football scoring in future - thanks for the reminder. It's soooooooooo hard not to err !!

I'll go back and edit my original post to make the corrections.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

World Chess Olympiad - Canadian Rd. 3 Pairings

The Olympiad in Russia runs from Sept. 21 ( Rd. 1 ) to Oct. 3 ( Rd. 11 ).

Here is Canada's record/pairings:

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.................. ................Canada.........53

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania.................. ................Canada..........56

Rd. 3 is today, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

They're playing a favourite line of mine - King's Indian Samisch. Gerzhoy plays a different line than I do - hmmmmmmmm wonder if that's why he's an IM and I'm...........

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Leonid's game is now into a Benoni Benko Gambit kind of position, because of his 11....b5 - down a P but very active.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina has gone up a P in the late middle game.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark just sacked his B for 2 P's, and has a passed P in the centre. His position seems good to me, despite being down material now ( but like what do I know ).

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling is up 2 P's, but her opponent has a passed P on the 6th rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling has now won her opponent's passed P on the 6th rank, remains up 2 P's, and has 2 passed P's of her own. It it looking quite good to me.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

It's now into the ending, and Dina is still up a P. But it is the last P and it is the aP. Maybe draw?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dalia won:

WCM Pasku Roela 1912 0 - 1 Kagramanov Dalia 1866

So far - Women's Score - 1 game - Canada 1 - 0 Albania.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling is now up the exchange + 1 P; it is a passed P on the 2nd rank. Now to figure out how to queen it, and not lose it.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Leonid has now got back to material equality.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Thomas is down R + 2 P's vs B + N, but is trying to get one of the P's back.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark had 2 connected, passed P's vs B, and then sacked the exchange for an attack on the relatively open opponent's K. Now the opponent has sacked back his Q to break up the attack and the passed P's. Mark is looking good.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark won:

GM Rodriguez Vila Andres 2537 0 - 1 GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583

[Bob Armstrong]

Leonid drew:

IM Roselli Mailhe Bernardo 2399 1/2 - 1/2 IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485

Score after 2 completed games: Canada 1.5 - .5 Uruguay

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Thomas won:

FM Larrea Manuel 2323 0 - 1 IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas 2484

Score after 3 completed games: Canada 2.5 - .5 Uruguay

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling won ( the score on the live board wrongly shows her losing I believe ):

Shabanaj Eglantina 2070 0 - 1 WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189

Score after 2 completed games: Canada 2 - 0 Albania

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina is now trying to mate with R + B vs R.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

From the position on the board, it appears Liza has won ( opponent blundered her Q ), but no score is yet shown on the live board.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina got the mate ( R + B vs R )! Bravo !

Shabanaj Alda 1926 0 - 1 WIM Kagramanov Dina 2086

If I'm right on Yuanling and Liza winning, then the women get a clean sweep against Albania.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Artiom drew:

FM Izquierdo Daniel 2275 1/2 - 1/2 IM Samsonkin Artiom 2409

Round Score for Open Section Team ( all games complete ):

Uruguay 0 - 2 ( 1 - 3 ) Canada.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

After 3 rounds:

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......0 - 2 ( 1 - 3 )........Canada.........53

Canada's Total - 4 match points; 8.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........56

Canada's Total - 4 match points; 9 game points.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results/ Round 4 Pairings ( Friday AM, Sept. 24 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 3.5 - .5 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......0 - 2 ( 1 - 3 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada................... ................Thailand........94

Canada's Total ( my best interpretation of conflicting results information from the official sites - there are two different ones - one for live games, with scores, and a results website, with scores )- 4 match points; 8 game points.

But Thailand has only 3 match points and 5.5 game points. So how come we are paired with them?

The answer is on the results site, where a discrepancy occurs - Thomas is recorded as drawing ( not winning ); and Leonid is shown as losing ( not drawing ). So for pairing purposes, they treated us as having drawn the match with Uruguay ( Mark won; Leonid lost; and there were 2 draws ).

Shaomin as head of delegation, or Yuri as captain, need to get this corrected ( maybe Hal Bond can help ).

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........56
4...........22............Latvia.................. .................Canada .........56

Canada's Total - 4 match points; 9 game points. Latvia has 4 match points, and 7.5 game points.

The Open Section team is paired down ( due to confusion noted above ) ; the women's team is paired up, as they should be.

Rd. 4 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Here is part of my post today on ChessTalk about the Canadian scoring discrepancies for Rd. 3 against Uruguay:

......with these results being recorded wrong often on the live boards score, it's not easy to tell what is going on. You are sort of forced to do your own adjudication to see if you think the score shown makes any sense. Today they had Yuanling losing on the live board score, before they eventually changed it.

Even now: Here is the live board score:

Match 27. Uruguay Canada
1. Rodriguez Vila, Andres 0-1 Bluvshtein, Mark
2. Larrea, Manuel 0-1 Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas
3. Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo ½-½ Gerzhoy, Leonid
4. Izquierdo, Daniel ½-½ Samsonkin, Artiom

Roussel-Roozmon is shown as winning ( not drawing );
Gerzhoy is shown as drawing ( not losing )

Here is the Board Pairings Score:

Bo. 74 Uruguay (URU) Rtg - 53 Canada (CAN) Rtg 2 : 2
27.1 GM Rodriguez Vila Andres 2537 - GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583 0 - 1
27.2 FM Larrea Manuel 2323 - IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas 2484 ½ - ½
27.3 IM Roselli Mailhe Bernardo 2399 - IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485 1 - 0
27.4 FM Izquierdo Daniel 2275 - IM Samsonkin Artiom 2409 ½ - ½

Roussel-Roozmon is shown as drawing ( not winning, which I think he did, based on the position )
Gerzhoy is shown as losing ( not drawing, as I think he did - the position is materially equal, and the pawns symmetrical ).

As a final kicker, here is the pairings page for Rd. 4:

53 CAN Canada 7½ 3 : 3 5½ Thailand THA 94

Can you explain to me how we could have 7.5 game points on either of the scenarios the official website pages are using? I say we have 8 game points ( Rd. 1 - 3.5; Rd. 2 - 1.5; Rd. 3 - 3 = 8 game points [ - added editing - I had made a mistake above, now corrected that against Mozambique, Canada got 3.5 pts. , when they actually got 4 pts. - thus the 7.5 game points] ). If Thomas drew, and Leonid lost, then we only get 2 game points against Uruguay - but then we'd have only 7 game points ! How in the world do we get 7.5 game points???

So you tell me what is right - and maybe Yuanling got it right [ in a post today on ChessTalk, she had said the Open section score against Uruguay was 2-2 ], but it doesn't square with my A Class analysis of the closing positions.

Shaomin, as head of delegation, or Yuri as captain, needs to straighten this out ( maybe Hal could help - I've now e-mailed this post, and my one above, to Hal for his review - I don't have Yuri's e-mail and so couldn't send it to him ).


Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

I have now been advised by the Olympiad Coordinator, Ilia Bluvshtein, that the correct result of tlhe Open Section team game in Rd. 3 against Uruguay was 2-2 ( Mark won; Leonid lost; Thomas and Artiom drew ).

So I have had to revise my results chart for the Open Section accordingly:

Results/ Round 4 Pairings ( Friday AM, Sept. 24 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4- 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada................... ................Thailand........94

So Canada has 3 match points, and 7.5 game points.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Artiom has sacked the exchange and is now down the exchange + P, but has an attack on the opponent's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Liza has been working to develop a K-side attack. But there are some difficulties:

1. Her opponent has a monster N planted in the centre;
2. because of the N, she can't develop her c1 B, and so is without it trying to attack;
3. because the c1B is stuck, so is her a1R, which she'd like to get out to join a possible attack.

I'm not sure what the position evaluation is at the moment.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Iulia's opponent now has a passed P on the 5th rank. Can she win it?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 27 - the opponent's passed bP on the 5th rank is looking more dangerous long-term.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Thomas is up 2 P's.

bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Artiom followed through on a nice attack against the opponent's K, after his exchange sac, and has won.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Nikolay is up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 25, Liza's c1B & a1R are still cooped up on their opening squares. The underdevelopment may come back to haunt her. Her opponent's pieces are quite active.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 40 - the opponent's passed bP is now on the 6th rank. Got to stop it.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina is about to be mated.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling drew. She was up Q + 2 connected passed P's vs R, but her K got trapped and checked on the back ranks.

After 2 completed games in the Women's Section, Latvia leads 1.5 -.5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Material is now equal, but Thomas has a passed P on the 2nd rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark has 2 P's to 1 P in a R & P's ending.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Iuilia is blockading the opponent's passed bP on the 6th rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Liza lost.

After 3 completed games in the Women's section, Latvia leads 2.5 - .5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark drew.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Nikolay won:

After 3 completed games against Thailand in the Open Section, Canada leads 2.5 - .5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Iulia lost.

So in the Women's Section , Latvia defeats Canada 3.5 - .5 ( Yuanling getting the draw ).

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Thomas won.

So the final score against Thailand in the Open Section is:

Canada 3.5 - .5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results - Round 4 ( Friday AM, Sept. 24 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 ).......Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 ).............Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 ).........Thailand........94

So Canada has 5 match points, and 11 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........56
4...........22............Latvia..........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Canada .........56

Canada's Total - 4 match points; 9.5 game points.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

I won't be commenting on round 5 on Sat., because I'll be away.

Sunday, Sept. 26 is a free day.

I expect I'll be watching and commenting on Rd.6 on Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone !

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results/Rd. 6 Pairings ( Mon., Sept. 27 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.................. .................Canada.........53

Canada’s Total : 7 match points; 13.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........56
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........56
5...........56............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus................. .................Canada..........56

Canada’s Total: 6 match points; 13.5 game points.

Rd. 6 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

I will make a few random comments from time to time on some of the games tomorrow. But it will not be extensive, and I won't do any serious analysis given my level of play. Just a few comments while I happen to be watching, for what interest they may have to someone who perhaps is not watching.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Saric Ivan 2567 - IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas 2484

Thomas is playing the King's Indian Defence, rehabilitated in the last number of years, after having been abandoned by Kasparov, and having somewhat fallen out of favour at top level play. Ivan is playing the Samisch Variation, one of my favourite lines.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WGM Sharevich Anna 2283 - WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189

Yuanling is playing a standard King's Indian Defence, which has regained popularity at top levels in recent years.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WFM Homiakova Elena 2156 - Lacau-Rodean Iulia 2024

Iulia played a Sicilian Defence.

Move 13 - Elena has come up with a quick K-side attack, with f5 & g5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Kagramanov Dina 2086 - WIM Ziaziulkina Nastassia 2284

Dina played against a Sicilian Defence, playing the f3 line.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Stevic Hrvoje 2607 - GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583

Mark played a Pirc Defence: Hrvoje has castled queen-side.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Palac Mladen 2561 - IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485

Move 13 - Both have now castled Queen-side.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 13 - Mark's K is still in the middle, with a half opened e-file, and the dP pinned against Mark's Q on a half-opened d-file. He earlier played ...h6 & ...g5. W has castled long. So getting his K out of the centre by 0-0 carries some risk of a quick K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 13 - W has delayed castling in favour of Q-side development. Will Yuanling be able to exploit this at some point? It would seem not. The e-file is still closed and she has brought her K-side R to c8 already.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 15 - Dina has started a quick K-side attack with g5 & h4, but she has not yet O-O-O.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 16 - W has cramped Iulia on the K-side, and I fear a possible B-sac by W on h6 may be in the offing, and may be deadly.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 14 - Mark is now intending to 0-0-0 to get his K out of the centre. 0-0 was too dangerous.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 16 - W is trying to stop Mark castling on either side.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 18 - here is the Bxh6 sac I was worried about by W. Looks very strong.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 16 - W has now castled, getting the K out of the centre.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 18 - W is building a space advantage on the Q-side - a/b/c P's on the 4th rank, with dP on the 5th rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 20 - Iulia resigned. The B-sac attack was too strong.

Women's Section: Belarus 1 - 0 - Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 20 - Black now has 2 sets of isolated pawns - favours Thomas for any ending.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 19 - Yuanling sacs, temporarily, her aP to break up W's Q-side P's, and to get a c5 outpost for her N.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 24 - Bl has sacked his Q for 2 R's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 21 - Mark never did get to castle. His K is now on e7 on the half opened e-file. 17 Rd5 was a nice move, offering a R-sac, to get Mark's Q. As a result, Mark is down a P ( lost his eP ).

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 26 - Thomas has Q vs 2 R's. Each has a passed P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 23 - Dina continues her K-side attack ( still no 0-0-0 ). She offers up a P to open lines with 23.g6.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 27 - Yuanling goes up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 34 - Mark is blockading W's extra P ( which is not passed ).

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 37 - 37...Bc3 seems great and winning for Leonid ( based on my patzer analytical skills ).

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 39 - Leonid is up Q vs R + B + P. White's exta P is passed and on the 6th rank, blockaded.

My analysis skills are not good enough - Is Leonid now winning?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 42 - Yuanling is down a passed P on the 6th rank, but she has it blockaded.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina lost.

Women's Section Score after 2 games : Belarus 2 - 0 Canada.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

FM Stetsko Lanita 2148 1/2 - 1/2 Orlova Yelizaveta 1917

Women's Section Score after 3 games : Belarus 2.5 - .5 Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 53 - Yuanling won the passed P, but is now down the exchange; equal symmetrical pawns.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 46 - W is threatening to go up 2 P's, and they will be passed and connected on the 5th and 6th ranks.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 50 - Thomas is up Q vs R + P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 50 - Leonid is still up Q vs R + B + P ( passed ). I don't see how he is going to make any progress, with all the W pieces protecting each other, and him having to blockade the passed P, and protect his 2 backward P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Jankovic Alojzije 2560 0 - 1 IM Noritsyn Nikolay 2414

Open Section score after 1 game: Canada 1 - 0 Croatia

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 58 - Thomas is up Q vs R + N; equal P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 65 - W has gotten its extra P ( last P on the board ) down to the 6th rank - Yuanling is also down the exchange. Not looking good.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 53 - Mark has gained back material equality, but it looks to me like W is going to soon be queening.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 55 - W did queen. W has Q vs R + 2 P's. Going to be hard for Mark to hold, I think.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark lost, though he did manage to get a P down to the 2nd rank in the process.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Thomas was going to win Bl's R and Black resigned.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Leonid lost - R + B + P were too strong for Leonid's Q, and W's P was going to queen.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling lost.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results -Rd. 6 ( Mon., Sept. 27 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53

A good result against a strong team, substantially higher rated - there were GM's on every board. In Rd. 2, Croatia had upset the strong Bulgarian team 2.5 - 1.5 ! This is Canada's best result so far, though defeating Denmark was good too.

Canada’s Total : 8 match points; 15.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........56...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........56
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........56
5...........56............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........56

Belarus was a strong team for the Canadian women to play - their average rating is 2217, vs our 2054. Canada is experiencing the Yo-Yo effect of the Swiss Pairing system, being near the middle of the section 3 wins against weaker opposition and 3 losses to stronger opposition.

Canada’s Total: 6 match points; 14 game points.

Rd. 7 is tomorrow, Tues., Sept. 28.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results / Rd. 7 Pairings ( Tues., Sept. 28 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
7,..........53...........Canada................... ................Bulgaria..........8

Veselin Topalov, second-highest rated player in the world, plays first board for Bulgaria. If he plays, Mark has a challenge !

Canada’s Total : 8 match points; 15.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........58...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........58...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........58
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........58
5...........58............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........58
7...........58............Canada.................. ................Singapore.......64

Canada’s Total: 6 match points; 14 game points.

Rd. 7 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

I will make a few random comments from time to time on some of the games tomorrow. But it will not be extensive, and I won't be doing any serious analysis given my level of play. Just a few comments from a low A-class perspective, while I happen to be watching, for what interest they may have to someone who perhaps is not watching, and just wants a quick snapshot of what's happening on each of the boards.


Bob

[Kerry Liles]

I will make a few random comments from time to time on some of the games tomorrow. But it will not be extensive, and I won't be doing any serious analysis given my level of play. Just a few comments from a low A-class perspective, while I happen to be watching, for what interest they may have to someone who perhaps is not watching, and just wants a quick snapshot of what's happening on each of the boards.
Bob

Well, it seems Kevin Spraggett is counting on your comments so that he has some fodder for his usual ranting about the CFC etc. For someone SO far removed from Canada, he seems remarkably piqued about whatever the CFC is (or isn't) doing ... I can't wait for his all-encompassing report on the CFC; hold on - I DO have to wait!

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Kerry:

Wouldn't it be great if Kevin would volunteer to take my place ( I'd be out in a second ) - then we'd get some serious, good, Canadian analysis - think CFC could interest him? Of course, he'd have to volunteer like me !

But Kevin's complaint that CFC is not covering the Olympiad has some merit. I have volunteered in a sense to do some commenting, so our CFC Discussion Board was not bereft of any comments at all on the teams and their games. It is due to a default on the part of CFC ( though Hal does manage a blog/post from time to time on Olympiad background info ) - CFC did not request that I do this on its behalf, though I am doing it to help CFC out on this one. It would be good, some time in the future, should we manage to generate a surplus, to have a paid Canadian GM or IM comment on games on a game viewer, similar perhaps to the way it has been done at the Canadian Open in Ottawa, where IM Deen Hergott used a Fritz program to show alternate lines that might have been considered. If we could get a chat window attached to it, then he could type in comments, as well as inserting analysis lines into the actual game. Is it a possibility for next Olympiad?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Rd. 7 - At the top of the heap:

Open Section:

No. SNo Team Team Pts. MP Res. : Res. MP Pts. Team Team SNo

1 2 UKR Ukraine 18½ 11 : 11 19½ Georgia GEO 20
2 6 ARM Armenia 17 11 : 10 18 Azerbaijan AZE 7
3 4 RUS2 Russia 2 18½ 10 : 10 16½ Russia 1 RUS1 1
4 9 USA United States of America 17 10 : 10 18 Poland POL 15
5 24 BRA Brazil 17½ 9 : 10 14½ Hungary HUN 5
6 14 RUS3 Russia 3 14½ 9 : 9 16 Iran IRI 38
7 3 CHN China 16 9 : 9 15½ Turkmenistan TKM 69
8 35 BLR Belarus 17 9 : 9 15½ England ENG 12
9 13 NED Netherlands 14 9 : 9 16 Cuba CUB 18
10 10 FRA France 15 9 : 9 16 Spain ESP 16

Women's Section:

1 1 RUS1 Russia 1 17½ 12 : 11 18 Hungary HUN 9
2 2 CHN China 17½ 10 : 10 18½ Georgia GEO 4
3 3 UKR Ukraine 17½ 10 : 10 18 India IND 8
4 5 RUS2 Russia 2 15 9 : 9 17 Romania ROU 14
5 6 USA United States of America 16½ 9 : 9 17 Armenia ARM 7
6 17 SRB Serbia 17 9 : 9 14½ Switzerland SUI 46
7 16 GER Germany 17 9 : 9 14½ Croatia CRO 27
8 12 BUL Bulgaria 14 9 : 9 17 Uzbekistan UZB 33
9 18 CUB Cuba 17 8 : 9 14 Slovenia SLO 13

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Rd. 7 starts tomorrow at 5:00 AM EDT. It is now 8:00 PM EDT, 9 hours before the start of the round. But no " Board Pairings " are yet posted for Rd. 7, only the " Team Pairings ".

Does anyone know the deadline by which captains have to file their team composition and board order for Rd. 7?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

It's now 6 hours to game time ( Rd. 7 ), and no Board Pairings are yet shown on the official " results " site. How late can the captains file the team composition and board order?

Bob

P.S. What I'm really interested in is whether Bulgaria will play Topalov on first board against Mark.

[Vladimir Birarov]

P.S. What I'm really interested in is whether Bulgaria will play Topalov on first board against Mark.
Yes, he will http://www.chess-results.com/tnr36795.aspx?art=3&rd=7&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583 - GM Topalov Veselin 2803

Mark plays the # 2 ranked player in the world, 2005 FIDE World Champion, and twice unsuccessful challenger for the world champion title, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria. I don't know whether a Canadian has ever before faced this strong an opponent ( a question raised by Vlad Rekhson on the CMA Discussion Board ).

I'm glad to see Topalov has picked a favourite defence of mine, the King's Indian Defence. Should be fun, and definitely a challenge for Mark.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485 - GM Georgiev Kiril 2685

Leonid faces a Sicilian Defence.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Berbatov Kiprian 2461 - IM Noritsyn Nikolay 2414

Nikolay has chosen the Sicilian Defence.

Move 11 - W starts the traditional K-side attack with g4.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189 - WFM Tay Li Jin Jeslin 2119

Yuanling faced the Sicilian Defence. She chose the 8 f3 line.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WFM Liu Yang 2083 - Lacau-Rodean Iulia 2024

Iulia has chosen my favourite line of the King's Indian Defence ( 6...Nc6 ). This defence has been rehabilitated in recent years, after having been abandoned by Kasparov, whereafter it was seen seldom in top level play for years.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Lo Yin Ling Melissa 1814 - Kagramanov Dalia 1866

Dalia has chosen the King's Indian Defence with 6...c5.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 6 - d5 - after this Ilia brought her N to e5. I believe the first choice of the Fritz program in this position is ...Nb8, though Iulia's choice is quite playable..

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 12 -....Nf4 - Topalov offers Mark the sac of a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Cheparinov Ivan 2661 - IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas 2484

Cheparinov has been a second to Veselin Topalov in his world championship challenges.

After some early pawn exchanges on the c-file, at move 17, there is material equality.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 14 - g4 - Yuanling starts the traditional K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Black has counterattacked on the Q-side ( Yuanling castled long ) and has gotten in 19 ...c3.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 17 - Yelizaveta has managed to go up a P in the centre, and support it with e4.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark declined the pawn sac offer by Veselin.

[Bob Armstrong]

At Move 16 - Topalov now has 3 pawn islands to defend, to Mark's two.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

18.Nxd6 - Leonid goes up a P,

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At Move 15 - Cheparinov has developed a K-side assault with pawns on g4 & h4, and on f5, and has sacked an N in the process.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 17, Dalia's K-side looks a bit shaky, with pawn on h6 and the gP missing, but this is not uncommon in the King's Indian Defence. But Bl. does have to be careful, because W can sometimes come up with a fast attack on the K-side.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 24, besides being up a P, Liza is fighting for control of the open c-file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

16...f5 - the move you have to get in playing the King's Indian Defence. Iulia's position looks good, for playing black.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 22 - Yuanling has abandoned any K-side attack in favour of play in the centre. She has her R's doubled on the half-opened d-file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 20, Thomas is trying to get a R onto the 2nd rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

21. ....Rxb5 - Black wins back his P - material equality.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 31 - Liza is trying to turn her extra P into a passed one - she's played d6 earlier.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 21 - Dalia's position looks quite fine as black. She has a Q-side majority that she can push in future to create a passed P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

32.Bh3 ! - nice sac offer by Liza; can't be taken because Liza will queen.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 22 - W has managed to get a P onto e6, common in the King's Indian Defence. It is a bit of a thorn in Bl's side, and is not always easy to win.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 24 - Black has , for the moment, seized the initiative with her Q-side attack. Yuanling will try to counter this with activity in the centre.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

23.Rfd1 - Mark is piling up on Veselin's backward dP on the half-opened file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

17...Rxe3 - Nikolay sacks back the exchange to try to break W's attack. He now is up ( ? ) N + B vs R + P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 36 - looks drawish. Still material eqality, with N vs B and 4 P's on the K-side.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 28 - material equality - each has B + 5 P's. Cheparinov will likely be continuing to fight hard in the ending to try to beat his lower-rated opponent, Thomas.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

24.Nxd6! - Mark wins the backward dP, but this involves a temporary sac of his Q in a long exchange of pieces.

At move 32, Mark is up a P against Veselin. But each has an N, and there are still a number of pawns around, so anthing can happen. But much better to be up a P, than down one ! Go Mark !

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 30, there is material equality, but a couple of Bl's P's are vulnerable, and Yuanling should go up material in the near future.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 26 - material equality, but both are battling to win a P. Hard to predict the outcome.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 40 - Liza is still up a P - she did manage to convert it to a passed P for a while, but then had to exchange it off.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

35.Nxc5 - Mark goes up 2 P's against Topalov !!

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 22 - W has a fierce-looking attack against Nikolay's K-side. Nikolay has 2 B's vs R + P. If he can pick up a P out of this attack, and hold, he will have the advantage.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 42 - Liza has won !

After 1 game complete in the women's section: Singapore 0 - 1 Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 37 - Iulia is down a P, and W has the B pair.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 36 - Dalia is down a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

42.Rxa6 - Yuanling goes up a P

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 42 - Mark has defeated Veselin Topalov, # 2 ranked player in the world. A terrific win !!

Can we now defeat Bulgaria, ranked # 8?

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 42 - K & P's ending; material equality.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 56 - draw though not officially shown yet.

Score in the Open section after 2 completed games :

Canada 1.5 - .5 Bulgaria.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 58 - Leonid drew.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Nikolay lost.

Final Score: Canada 2 - 2 Bulgaria.

A great tie against the team ranked # 8!

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 46 - Yuanling is up a P, and has 2 connected, passed P's on the a & b-files.

Should be a win.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 57 - Iulia is down a B. Each has a P left.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 49 - Dalia is still down a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Yuanling won.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Iulia lost.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 68 - Dalia got back to material equality - but I don't see how Dalia can stop W queening, nor how she herself can queen. I see a possibility for W queening, and Dalia queening, but the R then capturing it, and Dalia winning the R. But even that looks lost to me.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 68 - Dalia resigned.

Women's Section final score - Canada 2 - 2 Singapore.

Has to be a bit of a disappointment - Canada was expected to win against this somewhat weaker opponent.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results after Rd. 7 ( Tues., Sept. 28 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
7,..........53...........Canada.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Bulgaria..........8

Veselin Topalov, second-highest rated player in the world, was defeated by top Canadian, Mark Bluvshtein !!

Canada’s Total : 9 match points; 17.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........58...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........58...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........58
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........58
5...........58............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........58
7...........58............Canada........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 ).......Singapore.......64

Canada’s Total: 7 match points; 16 game points.

Rd. 8 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results/ Rd. 8 Pairings ( Wed., Sept. 29 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
7,..........53...........Canada.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Bulgaria..........8
8...........66...........Mongolia................. .................Canada.........53

Canada’s Total : 9 match points; 17.5 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........58...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........58...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........58
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........58
5...........58............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........58
7...........58............Canada........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 ).......Singapore.......64
8...........45............Norway.................. ................Canada..........58

Canada’s Total: 7 match points; 16 game points.

Rd. 8 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

I will make a few random comments from time to time on some of the games tomorrow. But it will not be extensive, and I won't be doing any serious analysis given my level of play. Just a few comments from a low A-class perspective, while I happen to be watching, for what interest they may have to someone who perhaps is not watching, and just wants a quick snapshot of what's happening on each of the boards. I'm not doing this at CFC request, but in future Olympiads, it might be good if CFC could somehow arrange for Canadian games commentary by a Canadian GM or IM, maybe somehow with a game score capacity where analysis could be inserted, and comments made - just a suggestion since it seems there are a number of viewers each morning who have taken the time to come and take a peak at my ramblings from time to time. And this might be a one-time service CFC should think of providing to members.


Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Gundavaa Bayarsaikhan 2460 - GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583

The live board shows a " grandmaster draw " agreed to on move 9.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Samsonkin Artiom 2409 - GM Khatanbaatar Bazar 2392

Artiom is playing against a Sicilian Defence.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Tjolsen Katrine 2259 - WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189

Yuanling is playing against the English Opening.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Sahl Sheila Barth 2175 - Orlova Yelizaveta 1917

Move 11 - Liza chose a Sicilian Defence, and it was wild right from the opening moves. Liza is now up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Kagramanov Dalia 1866 - Khachatourian Yerazik 2025

Dalia faced a Petroff Defence.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At Move 14 - Bl's K is stuck in the centre, which I think is usual for this line. Artiom has not yet castled, so his K is at the moment still in the centre as well.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Kagramanov Dina 2086 - WIM Bjerke Silje 2205

At Move 14 - Neither Dina nor her opponent have yet castled.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 15.0-0 - Artiom has now gotten his K out of the centre. Bl's K is likely stuck in the centre now.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas 2484 - FM Battulga Namkhai 2421

Move 15 - another " GM draw " .

Atter 2 completed games in the Open Section:

Mongolia 1 - 1 Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Batchuluun Tsegmed 2422 - IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485

Move 17 - still material equality

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 26 - Material equality. Yuanling has a passed dP, but also doulbed P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 25 - Dina has a bit of a space advantage in the centre, and is fighting for control of the opened e-file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 23 - Liza is still up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 17 - Bl has an isolated dP to work against.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 27 - Leonid has a set of doulbed, isolated bP's - a dtriment in an ending.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 21 - Bl's K is still in the centre, now on e7 hiding behind a wall of P's. But Artiom is pressuring the centre, trying to open lines to the K. Artiom is up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 35 - Leonid has drawn.

Open Section score after 3 completed games:

Mongolia 1.5 - 1.5 Canada.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 25 - Artiom now has the e-file half-opened in front of the Bl K. He is still up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

28...Bxc4 ! - Yuanling temporarily sacs her B to win a P ( nice ). The combo includes taking the Q's off the board. Yuanling will be up 2 P's at the end.

Bob

[Fred McKim]

I'd say it's over ! Quick work for the Men today.

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 31 - Dina got control of the opened e-file. Bl. has doubled on the half-opened g-file, to put pressure on g2 in front of Dina's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 32 - Liza is still up a P, but W has her pieces very actively place down in Liza' territory.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 27 - material equality. Bl is trying to get a great outpost for her N on e3 - will be somewhat of a monster there if she makes it.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 34 - Artiom has won. He broke through with a nice attack against Bl's K in the centre, and in the process managed a royal fork, winning Bl's Q !

Open Section final score:

Mongolia 1.5 - 2.5 Canada.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 36 - Yuanling won

Women's Section score after 1 completed game:

Norway - 0 - 1 Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Move 37 - Dina drew.

Women's Section score after 2 completed games:

Norway - .5 - 1.5 Canada

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 43 - Liza is down B vs P; both are trying to queen passed P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 45 - Dalia is up a passed P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 45 - material equality, but W has the passed P on the 5th rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 46 - material equality, but Dalia has the more advanced of the competing passed P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Liza lost.

After 3 games in the Women's Section : all tied with Norway.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

deleted - posted in error

[Bob Armstrong]

Dalia won.

[Bob Armstrong]

Results after Rd. 8 ( Wed., Sept. 29 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
7,..........53...........Canada.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Bulgaria..........8
8...........66...........Mongolia.......0 - 2 ( 1.5 - 2.5 )....Canada.........53

Canada’s Total : 11 match points; 20 game points.

Women’s Section

1...........58...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........58...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........58
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........58
5...........58............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........58
7...........58............Canada........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 ).......Singapore.......64
8...........45............Norway........0 - 2 ( 1.5 - 2.5 )..Canada..........58

Canada’s Total: 9 match points; 18.5 game points.

Rd. 9 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Results / Rd. 9 Pairings ( Thurs., Sept. 30 )

Open Section

............Initial............................... .....................................Initial
Rd.......Ranking ........Country..........Score .........Country..........Ranking

1...........53.......... Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 - 0 ).....Mozambique.....127
2...........33......... Uzbekistan.. ..2 - 0 ( 2.5 - 1.5 )...Canada... .....53
3...........74...........Uruguay.......1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
4...........56...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Thailand........94
5...........56 ..........Canada........2 – 0 ( 2.5 – 1.5 )...Denmark.......44
6...........28...........Croatia.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Canada.........53
7,..........53...........Canada.........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 )........Bulgaria..........8
8...........66...........Mongolia.......0 - 2 ( 1.5 - 2.5 )....Canada.........53
9...........17.......Czech Republic..............................Canada...... ...53

Canada’s Total : 11 match points; 20 game points.

Canada plays on Bd. 8 ! We are tied with the likes of India, England, Poland, Spain, etc.

Women’s Section

1...........58...........Canada........2 - 0 ( 3.5 - .5 )...Uganda.........113
2...........58...........Canada.........0 - 2 (1.5 - 2.5 )..Kazakhstan,,,,.37
3...........67...........Albania..........0 - 2 ( 0 - 4 ) .....Canada..........58
4...........22............Latvia......... 2 - 0 ( 3.5 -.5 )....Canada .........58
5...........58............Canada........2 – 0 ( 4 – 0 ).......Syria.............87
6...........34............Belarus........0 - 2 ( 3.5 - .5 )....Canada..........58
7...........58............Canada........1 - 1 ( 2 - 2 ).......Singapore.......64
8...........45............Norway........0 - 2 ( 1.5 - 2.5 )..Canada..........58
9...........58............Canada.................. ................Montenegro....47

Canada’s Total: 9 match points; 18.5 game points.

Rd. 9 is tomorrow, and broadcasting starts @ 5:00 AM EDT. The official website for live games is : http://ugra-chess.com/results.php

I will make a few random comments from time to time on some of the games tomorrow. But it will not be extensive, and I won't be doing any serious analysis given my level of play. Just a few comments from a low A-class perspective, while I happen to be watching, for what interest they may have to someone who perhaps is not watching, and just wants a quick snapshot of what's happening on each of the boards. I'm not doing this at CFC request, but in future Olympiads, it might be good if CFC could somehow arrange for Canadian games commentary by a Canadian GM or IM, maybe somehow with a game score capacity where analysis could be inserted, and comments made - just a suggestion since it seems there are a number of viewers each morning who have taken the time to come and take a peak at my ramblings from time to time. This might be a one-time service CFC should think of providing to members.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Open Olympiad:

1. Azerbaijan (13/22.5) - Ukraine (14/23)
2. Armenia (13/21) - Russia 1 (13/21)
3. Georgia (13/23.5) - France (13/20)
4. Israel (12/21.5) - Hungary (13/19.5)
5. Cuba (12/21) - China (12/22)
6. Bulgaria (11/21.5) - United States of America (12/21)
7. India (11/20) - Poland (11/21.5)
8. Czech Republic (11/21.5) - Canada (11/20)
9. Croatia (11/19.5) - Spain (11/21)
10. Belarus (11/21.5) - Slovakia (11/19.5)
11. Russia 3 (11/18.5) - England (11/20)
12. Norway (11/19.5) - Serbia (11/21)
13. Brazil (11/21) - Italy (11/19.5)
14. Colombia (11/20.5) - Estonia (11/19.5)

Women's Olympiad:

1. Russia 1 (16/25) - Serbia (13/23)
2. Georgia (12/22.5) - Russia 2 (13/20.5)
3. Hungary (12/20) - China (12/22.5)
4. Ukraine (12/22) - Croatia (12/19)
5. Cuba (12/23.5) - India (12/21)
6. Bulgaria (12/18.5) - Romania (11/21.5)
7. Slovakia (11/21.5) - Armenia (11/21)
8. Poland (11/20.5) - Uzbekistan (11/22)
9. United States of America (11/20) - Greece (11/20.5)
10. Latvia (11/19.5) - Kazakhstan (10/21)

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Bo. 17 Czech Republic (CZE) Rtg - 53 Canada (CAN) Rtg 0 : 0
8.1 GM Navara David 2722 - GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583
8.2 GM Laznicka Viktor 2690 - IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485
8.3 GM Hracek Zbynek 2633 - IM Samsonkin Artiom 2409
8.4 GM Babula Vlastimil 2515 - IM Noritsyn Nikolay 2414

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Bo. 58 Canada (CAN) Rtg - 47 Montenegro (MNE) Rtg 0 : 0
23.1 WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189 - WGM Vojinovic Jovana 2319
23.2 WIM Kagramanov Dina 2086 - WFM Milovic Aleksandra 2182
23.3 Lacau-Rodean Iulia 2024 - WFM Stojanovic Marija R 2112
23.4 Kagramanov Dalia 1866 - Misovic Sanja 1861

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Hracek Zbynek 2633 - IM Samsonkin Artiom 2409

Artiom chose the Sicilian Defence, facing 9.f3 and a quick K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WIM Yuan Yuanling 2189 - WGM Vojinovic Jovana 2319

Yuanling faced the French Defence.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

WFM Milovic Aleksandra 2182 - WIM Kagramanov Dina 2086

At move 11 - Dina has chosen the Sicilian Defence, and not to castle.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Misovic Sanja 1861 - Kagramanov Dalia 1866

At Move 9 - Dalia has chosen the King's Indian Defence, my favourite, and faces the f3 Samisch line.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

GM Navara David 2722 - GM Bluvshtein Mark 2583

At move 11 - Mark has doubled f-P's, but Navara has doubled, isolated cP's. Mark has not yet castled.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Gerzhoy Leonid 2485 - GM Laznicka Viktor 2690

Move 13....fxe6 - Black now has an isolated eP.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

17....a5 - Artiom develops his own Q-side attack against W's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Lacau-Rodean Iulia 2024 - WFM Stojanovic Marija R 2112

At move 12 - Iulia has one major piece developed, the Q, and has castled. Bl has 2 minor pieces developed.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

11.Bh6 - W, as is common, seeks to trade off Dalia's defending g7B.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

18.f4 a4
19.h5 b3
20.g6

- both sides continue their assault on the other's K. An attack on both wings makes for an interesting game to follow.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 17 - Yuanling is trying to win Bl's isolated aP.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 14 - Dina's K is caught in the centre, and she is underdeveloped - W has developed the Q and 2 minors and has castled. Dina has out just the Q and B, but her f8B and h8R are able to be developed quickly.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

12.h4 - W launches the traditional Samisch K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 14 - Mark's K is hiding behind a wall of P's on e7; Navara will try to pry open the centre.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 15 - Bl still has the isolated eP, but Leonid now has doubled fP's on the half-opened file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

14...Qa5 - Mark goes to work on Navara's doubled, isolated cP's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

13.Bxg7 - W gets rid of Dalia's defensive g7B.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

21.Bh3 - W continues to increase pressure in his K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

IM Noritsyn Nikolay 2414 - GM Babula Vlastimil 2515

At move 15 - material equality - the c, d & e P's have all been eliminated.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

15...Rag8 - Mark starts to set up the potential for a K-side attack against Navara's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

19.....Qxg7 - Black goes up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

14...g5 - Dalia seeks to keep her K-side from being opened up by the Samisch K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

18.Nb4 - Mark is trying to relocate his B to c6 and N to c5, but Navara is bringing his N to d5 where it will be a monster. Mark will have to exchange it off with his B.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

22.gxh7 - W manages to half open the g-file to try to get at Artiom's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

18...Bxh3 - Nikolay is down a P and has doubled, isolated fP's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

24.Qg2 - W starts to make use of the half-opened g-file to build an attack against Artiom's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

20...Nc5 - Mark is controlling Navara's activity in the centre, to protect his K on e7. Once he does this, he may be able to launce a K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

20.f5 - Leonid offers up his doubled fP to try to open lines for a K-side attack. It is double-edged, since his K sits on g1 on the half-opened g-file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

22.Rxa5 - Yuanling wins the isolated aP, to go up a P. She now has a passed bP.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 27 - Iulia, for the moment, is up 2 P's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

16...f6 - Dalia is just defending against the K-side attack for the moment.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

24.Rd5 - Navara, trying to build pressure in the centre, where Mark's K is, decides that the R is better on d5 than the N. He offers an exchange sac to win a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

26.f5 - W continues to try to pry open Artiom's K-side, with his K on h7.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

23.Nxb7 - material equality for Nikolay. But he has the doubled, isolated fP's.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 26 - Mark is up the exchange, and has developed a bit of a K-side attack with his R's doubled on the half-opened g-file.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

27.Rdg1 - W has his Q & R doubled on the half-opened g-file, looking at Artiom's K. But Artiom seems to have sufficient defence.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

24....Rxb2 - Bl is up a P again.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

28.Qxf6 - Mark is up the exchange, but Navara has a P compensation, though it is doubled.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 30 - Artiom has managed to develop a Q-side attack on W's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

26...Qxf6 - Bl wins Leonid's doubled fP, to go up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Dina lost.

[Bob Armstrong]

Iulia won.

Score after 2 completed games in the Women's Section:

Canada 1 - 1 Montenegro

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

26.Qh6 - W continues to build a strong K-side attack against Dalia's K.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 35 - Yuanling is up the exchange.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

28.Rxd6 - W goes up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

32.f6 - W revives his K-side attack.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 36 - Navara is up a P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Artiom lost.

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark lost.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 44 - Leonid is up the exchange.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 54 - Nikolay is down R + 2 P's vs R + P. Bl has the passed P on the 3rd rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 47 - Yuanling is up N vs P.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 48 - Dalia is down an N. It is lost - just a matter of time.

This will necessitate Yuanling winning her game on Bd. 1 to tie the match with Montenegro.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

At move 57 - Bl is up a passed aP ( on the 3rd rank ), with a R each - should be drawn I think.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

53.a5 - Material equality - Leonid has a passed aP, and Bl a passed cP, on the 3rd rank.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

55.Rxc3 ! - Leonid offers his R in order to queen. Leonid wins.

Open Section Score after 3 completed games:

Czech Republic 2 - 1 Canada.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Nikolay lost - couldn't stop the pawn promotion.

Final Score - Open Section :

Czech Republic 3 - 1 Canada.

Bob