2016 Olympiad - Baku

[Mick Norris]

Glad to see that Sarah won, and Akshaya won again

[Barry Sandercock]

Gawain Jones now winning (move 41.)

[John Moore]

Gawain Jones now won.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

England Open team could play either Russia or Norway in the last round, I think. Not sure how many teams have reached 15 points (Russia are on 16 points, having drawn, and Ukraine and USA both won to extend their joint lead on 18 points). Whoever plays Russia will have the fate of the bronze medal in their own hands. Oh, just realised, two teams on 15 points will have to play Ukraine and USA...

So, Russia, Ukraine or USA for the last round - which would be a dream pairing?

EDIT: Sorry, Ukraine match not yet over. I am assuming the one game left will be drawn, but it might not be.

[John Moore]

Chris, you can add Slovenia to your list of teams on 15 points.

[John Moore]

Oh and Peru!

[Matt Mackenzie]

Russia "only" drew because Harikrishna walloped Karjakin on top board. Kramnik continued his impressive form here, though.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Are Ukraine now ahead on tie-break? I saw a comment that "nakamura loss may cost US gold on tiebreak" (Nakamura lost in the game today against Georgia).

[John Moore]

Canada and Italy added to the group on 15 points. Looking at it, Russia and India have both played USA and Ukraine so, as Chris says, two of the 15 pointers have to get upfloated.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

So it will be USA and Ukraine in the lead on 18 points, then Russia on 16 points, then 7 teams on 15 points (India, England, Canada, Norway, Italy, Slovenia and Peru).

[Simon Brown]

As I see it;

18 - USA, Ukraine
16 - Russia
15 (in tie break order) - Canada, India, England, Slovenia, Norway, Peru, Italy.

Jack/Alex? And does the result of David's game change things, as he is the last one playing? If a loss gave us Italy instead of USA......?

[John Moore]

Mamedov has made a right mess of the ending against David and not at all clear whether he is still winning.

[Roger de Coverly]

Mamedov has made a right mess of the ending against David and not at all clear whether he is still winning.

The chessbomb stockfish has pointed out a couple of moves where there was a surprise winner. They are usually based on the tactic that the Knight can be put en prise if taking it allows the b pawn to queen.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Howell seems not to have seen these half-chances, and is clearly lost now.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Excellent stuff still. 15/20!

But it's hard to see Russia losing, so we should think in terms of making the top 6, rather than medals. And, fairly or unfairly it seem a bit too easy if we get there by, say, beating Peru in the last round - not, I am sure, that even that would be easy with black on odds. I would like us to play one of the top three teams before the event is over; and to win! Let's at least play kingmakers!

Who would we want to win the event - USA or Ukraine? well, it's a choice between the one which has paid two world class players to defect to them and the other which has lost its top player to a hostile neighbour and has lost another world class player to a draughts tournament! You have to wish for the latter, don't you?