Batumi Olympiad

[Tim Harding]

Ah, I forgot France would join that score group. There will probably be five teams on 15 points (Armenia, England, Germany, India, Kazakhstan), three on 16 points (Poland, France, Russia), and two on 17 points (USA and China).

I expect 17 MP: Usa v China. Americans due W on odds,

16 MP: Poland (downfloat), Russia v France (not sure who gets "home" there but Poland have played them both).

15MP: India (who will play Poland), Armenia, England, Germany (only unbeaten team in the Olympiad!) and probably Kazakhstan and Ukraine depending on last results.
This gives India an outside chance of medalling after all so I guess Vishy will play Duda.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Glimmer of hope in Luke's game!

Lots of perpetuals. Hope there is a mate there somewhere that Nepo can stumble into...

[Tim Harding]

The online engine didn't like Nepo's 52...f4 but I guess he is trying to reduce the game to a clear draw. Go Luke!!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Sadly there are obvious perpetuals for Nepo. He will take one of them, probably.

[JustinHorton]

Sensational, tragicomic finish in the Caucasus derby

[Tim Harding]

Sadly there are obvious perpetuals for Nepo. He will take one of them, probably.

Threefold repetition on the board. Draw notched up.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Momentum with China now, I would say.

Shame that David was the one to lose today. But there it is, what kind of country can have Kramnik on board three?

England might then be playing someone close to their own strength perhaps only for the second or third time tomorrow (the match against France was our one against obviously equal opponents, arguably the match against the ageing Israelis was another).

[JustinHorton]

Wikipedia tells me we're going by Sonneborn-Berger, is that right?

[JustinHorton]

By the way, I notice that the top seven matches in the Women's were all drawn.

[JustinHorton]

Open:

(17) USA v China (17)
(16) France v Russia (16)
(15) India v Poland (16)

(15) England v Kazakhstan (15)

[JustinHorton]

Women:

(15) Russia v China (17)
(16) USA v Ukraine (16)
(14) Vietnam v Azerbaijan (15)
(16) Armenia v Georgia (15)

(12) England v Italy (12)

Why is Armenia v Georgia on a lower board than I'd expect? (EDIT: I see Georgia are on a fixed board, but why?)

[Nick Burrows]

So if USA draw, only a Poland victory can deny them gold?

[LawrenceCooper]

Women:

(15) Russia v China (17)
(16) USA v Ukraine (16)
(14) Vietnam v Azerbaijan (15)
(16) Armenia v Georgia (15)

(12) England v Italy (12)

Why is Armenia v Georgia on a lower board than I'd expect? (EDIT: I see Georgia are on a fixed board, but why?)

It may be the layout of the playing venue so they are always nearest to the spectators.

[Paul Dargan]

@Mark - tomorrow is only the penultimate roudn isnt it?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Don't think so, it finishes on Oct 5th which is tomorrow?

(these events haven't been 14 rounds, as in the old days, for a decade or so now)