England Olympiad teams announcement

[Mick Norris]

Adams on board one - yes; is there really a significant camp suggesting otherwise? Our problem is that we need another of his ilk on board two - ie someone who we feel quite sure is only going to lose rarely, and if/when it happens, then against world class players, and ideally even then only as Black.

As it is, picking board two is very hard. I think Luke, with his rust and time trouble (and lack of significant success for England so far) is too much of a gamble (one can't change one's mind half-way through the event!); one can also put a positive spin on it by saying that if he hits form, then you could really imagine him causing havoc on a low board (with both colours). I tend to feel that Gawain had his chance on two last time, and there has not been sufficient improvement in the meantime to give him another chance. Arguments might be made either way between Nigel and David, and much might legitimately depend on their own preferences.

I see we have gone for Mickey, David, Luke, Gawain, Nigel

[Chris Rice]

Nigel on Twitter: Today I am playing on bottom board of the bottom board for what I hope is the first & last time of my Olympiad career #bakuchess

[Roger de Coverly]

Nigel on Twitter: Today I am playing on bottom board of the bottom board

It's normal practice for IBCA (International Blind Chess Association) to play at a fixed playing location. Nigel slightly exaggerates, it's only match 85. There's a match 86 Costa Rica v Lesotho.

I suppose the members of the England team may have encountered blind players in English domestic tournaments. It's still an unusual experience, although presumably being the Olympiad there will be stewards at each board, so the question of how the moves are communicated doesn't really arise.

England have rested Adams, as is usual English practice in the first round, although Karjakin is playing for Russia.

Carslen is sitting out this round as well, so Richard Jones of Wales only gets to play Hammer.

[Mick Norris]

England have rested Adams, as is usual English practice in the first round, although Karjakin is playing for Russia.

Carslen is sitting out this round as well, so Richard Jones of Wales only gets to play Hammer.

Yes, no Kramnik, Caruana, Wang Yue, Eljanov or MVL, but Mamedyarov, Wojtaszek, Giri & Topalov play

Wonder if Russia will try and give Kramnik more whites than blacks

[Jonathan Rogers]

Adams on board one - yes; is there really a significant camp suggesting otherwise? Our problem is that we need another of his ilk on board two - ie someone who we feel quite sure is only going to lose rarely, and if/when it happens, then against world class players, and ideally even then only as Black.

As it is, picking board two is very hard. I think Luke, with his rust and time trouble (and lack of significant success for England so far) is too much of a gamble (one can't change one's mind half-way through the event!); one can also put a positive spin on it by saying that if he hits form, then you could really imagine him causing havoc on a low board (with both colours). I tend to feel that Gawain had his chance on two last time, and there has not been sufficient improvement in the meantime to give him another chance. Arguments might be made either way between Nigel and David, and much might legitimately depend on their own preferences.

I see we have gone for Mickey, David, Luke, Gawain, Nigel

Yes. As you can see, I am happy with David on 2, but have doubts about Nigel on board 5. I have slight concerns that we might be playing the "pile the points on board four" strategy, which I think has rarely proved effective in Olympiads, especially now when so many teams have greater strength in depth than ever before. Of course, it could well happen, but it is not the sort of thing one should plan on happening.

[Carl Hibbard]

Nigel on Twitter: Today I am playing on bottom board of the bottom board for what I hope is the first & last time of my Olympiad career #bakuchess

So out with a bang win every game then feet up strategy is it?