Batumi Olympiad

[David Sedgwick]

There's always something that goes wrong. In this case presumably no-one tipped off local airlines about the nature of the extra demand this weekend and that those travelling for the Olympiad were near 100% certain to show up.

Turkish Airlines are the official airline for the Olympiad, so they should have known and understood.

[Jonathan Rogers]

when do we know our minnows, er, opponents in the first round? Nick Pert fans will be especially eager to know

[Nick Burrows]

when do we know our minnows, er, opponents in the first round? Nick Pert fans will be especially eager to know

Dunno about the draw, but the opening Ceremony is at 6pm. It seems play begins at noon tomorrow.

[Alex Holowczak]

when do we know our minnows, er, opponents in the first round? Nick Pert fans will be especially eager to know

Dunno about the draw, but the opening Ceremony is at 6pm. It seems play begins at noon tomorrow.

TAP is meeting at 2200 to begin work on the Round 1 pairings. In Baku, they were completed by about 0230. That appears to have been thought undesirable - so the team pairings will be published in the morning at 0800 tomorrow, rather than the middle of the night. The publication for individual pairings for Round 1 is set at 1100.

All times are local time, the time difference is 3 hours.

[Brian Towers]

On my way to my hotel, there was a stark contrast of a man standing on his balcony hanging his washing up on a clothes peg, with a newly built 5* hotel in his eyeline about 30 yards away.

So, just like the Costa del Sol?

[Chris Rice]

The Batumi organisers really did a great job for the opening ceremony.

[Nick Burrows]

The Batumi organisers really did a great job for the opening ceremony.

Each to their own, but I think they should be outlawed. Does anybody really watch these things?

[MJMcCready]

I don't. I prefer to watch the closing ceremony and events after that because you are more likely to see a punch-up in those, especially if jealous English GMs are present.

[Chris Rice]

Nick & Mark, look away now as Nigel Short tweets:

"Best opening ceremony I can recall at an olympiad, and I have been to them all since 1982. @BatumiChess2018 well done! Loved the absolutely brilliant Georgian dancing, and the closing "My Way", with a nod to Sid Vicious, made me smile."

Malcolm Pein:

"Many players and officials said it was the greatest opening ceremony they have ever seen"

Opening ceremonies and/or massive fireworks displays at major events are really a chance for a city or country to up the tourist trade and seem to have become de rigeur these days. In this case, Azmai who is the main driving force, is a Georgian minister so it suits his political needs as well.

[MJMcCready]

I do believe we are playing Angola in the first round.

[Nick Burrows]

The Indian team had 3 training camps, the US hold them.

Do England?

[John Moore]

And Wales play Spain, Scotland-Togo and Ireland- South Sudan.


Top pairings are USA - Panama
Uganda - Russia
China - Morocco
India - El Salvador
Zambia - Ukraine
France - Yemen
Japan - Armenia

[Kevin Thurlow]

"And Wales play Spain, Scotland-Togo and Ireland- South Sudan."

and Guernsey play Algeria, Jersey play Venezuela.

[NickFaulks]

Top pairings are USA - Panama
Uganda - Russia
China - Morocco
India - El Salvador
Zambia - Ukraine
France - Yemen
Japan - Armenia

IPCA-Azerbaijan is also a top pairing, would be #4 if not on a fixed board.

[NickFaulks]

I've probably lived a rather modest life, but this is the first time I have ever had a hotel room with its own sauna.