England teams for 2011 European Team Championship

[Jonathan Rogers]

Since Israel aren't playing their top board I think England are slight favourites.

I tend to agree. I had assumed the above was a reference to Gelfand but he is not there at all - so they are resting their next best player too (Rodshtein)! Well, funnily enough I remember them doing exactly the same in 1994 (where they rested their top two players, both of whom were actually there) which rather surprised England who were regular medal contenders in thise days. Short vowed that they would be punished, and indeed England won 3.5 - 0.5. I like that precedent, and will predict a better performance from David Howell today and a good result for the team.

[Justin Hadi]

Are England not on the live boards today? Quelle horreur!

[Jonathan Rogers]

Are England not on the live boards today? Quelle horreur!

That settles it, they will definitely have a good day then!

[Ben Purton]

I am not fussed about the result either way as I can claim victory

[John Moore]

Shame that England aren't live today. Feel a bit like the frustrated football fan - got the lagers and snacks in, wife and daughter watching telly. Ah well - great win yesterday against Herts.

[John Moore]

One thing I did mean to say is it's great to see Howard Williams playing again for Wales - and also, since they are playing Switzerland today, Tim Kett gets to play Korchnoi.

[Mark Howitt]

All games should be live really- and England v Israel would be a good match. Still, have other things to do!

[Jonathan Rogers]

Shame that England aren't live today. Feel a bit like the frustrated football fan - got the lagers and snacks in, wife and daughter watching telly. Ah well - great win yesterday against Herts.

Tell me more!

[John Moore]

11.5-4.5 Jon

[Jonathan Rogers]

I knew that already, but SCCU were not giving any breakdown ...

[Michael Bennett]

Sadly, Chess Results is reporting:

10.1 GM Sutovsky Emil 2696 - GM Adams Michael 2734 ½ - ½
10.2 GM Roiz Michael 2651 - GM Short Nigel D 2698 ½ - ½
10.3 GM Smirin Ilia 2670 - GM Howell David W L 2633 ½ - ½
10.4 GM Postny Evgeny 2640 - GM Jones Gawain C B 2635 1 - 0

[Jonathan Rogers]

oh. So much for my prophecy.

Perhaps, like many, I tend to underplay how much Israel have improved - Boris Avrukh was also not playing, so they had more top players missing than we did (McShane, Sadler)

[benedgell]

Bulgaria set to beat Russia. 2-1 up and Topalov 3 pawns up in a rook ending in the remaining game.
Germany set to beat Ukraine, with Naiditsch winning and Germany 2.5-0.5.

[benedgell]

Spain drew with Azerbaijan.

[Matt Mackenzie]

oh. So much for my prophecy.

Perhaps, like many, I tend to underplay how much Israel have improved - Boris Avrukh was also not playing, so they had more top players missing than we did (McShane, Sadler)

Indeed - having Smirin as board 3 in a "weakened" team ain't bad