Batumi Olympiad

[Mick Norris]

Are there any likely permutation of results where we win twice and play a team in the last round who are happy with 2-2? I think that or winning three times is what is needed.

Unlikely, if we win today we reach 15 points; if USA win they reach 17 points, and no-one else will be on more than 15 (there's a maximum of 3 other teams that could get to 15); so, if USA play and beat one of those other teams, and we win tomorrow too, we can get USA in the final round with them 2 points clear of us and still having a better tiebreak than us (I guess), in which case 2-2 is fine for us and them?

[Mick Norris]

Come on then, all aboard the Mcshane train..

David will be very upset to have not won that.

True. Makes it difficult for him to medal now. The team are unlikely to medal, I think (do you see what I am doing there?! ).

David is 3rd, now behind Kramnik; Russia play Italy tomorrow

Jorge Cori in first has had 5 successive whites, so maybe that's the plan for Peru

Kramnik black against Brunello (2552); Cori white (again!) against Nanjo (2324) of Japan

[Nick Burrows]

I expect MCSHANE to bring home the bacon once again

[Richard Bates]

Jovamka rested then

Somewhat strange decision? (assuming no external circumstances)

She's played 7 rounds straight, so given the opposition, this may have seemed the last chance to give her a break

7 rounds including a rest day. She won't even have played the most games after today. When her absence weakens the team so significantly, even more so given the form she appears to be in(and today's game could be pivotal in securing a decent or overall disappointing result) I just find it somewhat unambitious. It's not as if one of the other players has been left on the sidelines all tournament.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I assume that if England don't win today he'll play tomorrow and that if they win today but lose tomorrow he'll play Friday.

Perhaps. But we really should win today; this is even better than playing Switzerland in the QF! I don't think the team will feel pressure of expectations, but rather smelling opportunity right now.

Or Sweden, whatever, you get the idea.

The parallels are very similar. The England team have not really performed above their potential so far. If England had beaten Croatia (in the football) and got to the final, it would have been very much a case of exceeding expectations.

Back in the chess, if you look at the rating performances of the England Open chess team, they are performing only a bit below or above their ratings. There is, though, with the exception of the 3.5-0.5 loss to Azerbaijan, a remarkable solidity to the results. The only three losses came in that match against Azerbaijan. I do expect the team to win today, but fear what might happen if they are drawn with another top team (i.e. one of the USA or China - or even Poland, India, Armenia, Germany).

The route to a medal will involve first beating Norway, and then getting a result against two of those six teams - which ones would England ideally prefer to play in rounds 10 and 11?

[LawrenceCooper]

Somewhat strange decision? (assuming no external circumstances)

She's played 7 rounds straight, so given the opposition, this may have seemed the last chance to give her a break

7 rounds including a rest day. She won't even have played the most games after today. When her absence weakens the team so significantly, even more so given the form she appears to be in(and today's game could be pivotal in securing a decent or overall disappointing result) I just find it somewhat unambitious. It's not as if one of the other players has been left on the sidelines all tournament.

It's difficult to judge without knowing the reasons behind the decision. Hopefully she'll return tomorrow to continue her excellent performance.

[Nick Burrows]

1.Germany
2.Armenia
3.Poland
4.India
5.China
6.USA

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Interesting choice from Nick. Poland to be feared more than Armenia!

Any predictions for the top three teams at this stage, or is it too early?

[Mick Norris]

Poland are playing very well, so could be in line for a medal; USA and Azerbaijan would be my guesses

Anyway, games underway now

[Roger de Coverly]

First ten moves of Adams v Tari
1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Bc4 Bd6 7. Qe2+ Qe7 8. d4 Na6 9. O-O Qxe2 10. Bxe2 Bf5 *

They've veered off into unexplored territory, as usually 8. Qxe7 is played. Adams may have a winning attempt in mind then.

The chessbomb stockfish says equal, but would you really want to suffer against the queen side pawn majority? It's perhaps a question of how much of a disadvantage a lost King and pawn ending offers with most of the pieces still on the board.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Looking at the board ones in the top matches: Anand-Aronian already drawn, Duda-Caruana and Mamedyarov-Ding heading that way as well.

[Simon Brown]

Anand-Aronian already drawn, Duda-Caruana and Mamedyarov-Ding heading that way as well.

What makes you say that?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Anand-Aronian already drawn, Duda-Caruana and Mamedyarov-Ding heading that way as well.

What makes you say that?

Oh, this was before Ding made a dodgy move (31...Ra5 instead of 31...Rc2). I should have looked at the pawn structure. Despite being a rook endgame, much easier for Shak to play. Ding's unbeaten record under threat.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Shankland looking good, again. He is really playing his part in the USA team, and quite recovered from his loss to Sutovsky.

(Imagine! a board four who wins! Gawain is a touch better today though, so you never know)

[Simon Brown]

Duda - Caruana is very complex. Might be a draw, but certainly not heading that way just yet.