World Senior Teams 23 April to 3 May, Crete

[LawrenceCooper]

Round 3 on 2017/04/26 at 15:00
No. SNo Team MP Res. : Res. MP Team SNo
1 4 Armenia 4 : 4 England I 1
2 2 Saint Petersburg 4 : 4 Israel 3
3 7 England II 3 : 4 Ashdod Chess Club 5
4 6 Austria 2 : 2 VSG 1880 Offenbach 11
5 8 Russia Women 2 : 2 Germany Women 13
6 16 Sweden I 2 : 2 Heart of Finland 9
7 10 Scotland 2 : 2 Athens/Crete 15
8 14 Latvia Women 1 : 2 Wales 17
9 18 Oslo 1 : 1 England III 19
10 12 Rochade Bielefeld Revival 0 : 0 Bermuda 21
11 20 Sweden II 0 : 0 SCCU 125 22

[Tim Harding]

That looks like two of the decisive matches coming up already. England know that a drawn match would keep them in contention, whereas it may be impossible to catch up if they lose. Presumably Terry will rest himself for the matches with Armenia, St Petersburg and Israel.

Jim Plaskett continues to do well in this event; last year he beat Vaganian.
And well done England III who drew with Latvia Women despite being outrated on every board.

In the 65+ only Wales of "our" teams won.
I'm glad to see that although England I lost to France, they made two draws. Especially pleased for Tony Stebbings against the three times senior champion Vaisser. Last November Vaisser ground him down after several hours of a drawn ending when Tony finally slipped up. Today Tony had White. He seemed to know the Sveshnikov theory better than Vaisser.

[Chris Rice]

Round 3 pairings for the 65+, the interesting ones:

1 Sweden I (4) - (4) Russia 1
2 France (4) - (4) Israel
3 Koninklijke DD (3) - (4) Germany
5 Wales (2) - (2) England I
9 England III (1) - (0) England II
11 Scotland (0) - (0) Norway II

[LawrenceCooper]

Round 3 on 2017/04/26 at 15:00
Bo. 4 Armenia Rtg - 1 England I Rtg 0 : 0
1.1 GM Vaganian, Rafael A 2560 - GM Short, Nigel D 2683
1.2 GM Minasian, Artashes 2480 - GM Nunn, John D M 2600
1.3 GM Movsziszian, Karen 2483 - GM Speelman, Jon S 2511
1.4 GM Galdunts, Sergey 2430 - GM Arkell, Keith C 2411

[Leonard Barden]

Doesn't look great at the moment.

Vaganian v Short drawn early.

Nunn was better, now even, Arkell a touch worse and Spaeelman under the cosh, opponent taking ages to decide whether to play a N sac which comp thinks is winning.

[Carl Hibbard]

Doesn't look great at the moment.

Vaganian v Short drawn early.

Nunn was better, now even, Arkell a touch worse and Spaeelman under the cosh, opponent taking ages to decide whether to play a N sac which comp thinks is winning.

I agree looks a struggle at the moment.

[Chris Rice]

Things looking much better now, Nunn practically winning, Speelman and Arkell equal.

[Paul Dargan]

Comin up to the time control and Speelman seems to have survived the worst of it - in fact I'd take his position and probably fancy him to win actually.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Nunn winning? Computer says he is losing (or at least worse). (Move 36).

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Comin up to the time control and Speelman seems to have survived the worst of it - in fact I'd take his position and probably fancy him to win actually.

They just agreed a draw!

And Keith looks to have blundered. (though the sacrifice looks difficult to see)

[Paul Dargan]

spoke too soon halved-out

Relying on keith's opponent also not spotting a knight sac now

[John Moore]

Comin up to the time control and Speelman seems to have survived the worst of it - in fact I'd take his position and probably fancy him to win actually.

They just agreed a draw!

And Keith looks to have blundered. (though the sacrifice looks difficult to see)

I am not sure that it was all that difficult to see. Black sacs a N for two pawns for a position where White's rooks and bishop are simply not playing in the game. One of the problems is that the White Queen is tied to the R on e1.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks, John. Difficult for me to see!

[Carl Hibbard]

Comin up to the time control and Speelman seems to have survived the worst of it - in fact I'd take his position and probably fancy him to win actually.

They just agreed a draw!

And Keith looks to have blundered. (though the sacrifice looks difficult to see)

I am not sure that it was all that difficult to see. Black sacs a N for two pawns for a position where White's rooks and bishop are simply not playing in the game. One of the problems is that the White Queen is tied to the R on e1.

Yes Qe2 was the duffer.

[Julie Denning]

SCCU 125 off the mark with a draw against Sweden 2. Another good win for David Sedgwick and draws for David Howes and myself. Kicking myself a bit as I think I missed an opportunity to go the exchange up.