Indian Women’s team face first loss; Men win against Czech Republic

GM Adhiban Baskaran. [Photo Credit: David Llada]

43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open & Women

Grandmaster Sasikiran Krishnan guided Indian team to a 2.5-1.5 win over team Czech Republic but the women’s team suffered a shocking 1-3 defeat against Hungary in the eighth round of the 43rd Chess Olympiad, Batumi.

Reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand was held to an easy draw by David Navara, Vidit Gujrathi split points with Viktor Laznicka. Similarly, Adhiban Baskaran drew with Hracek Zbynek. With 13 points, the Indian team assured themselves of a joint third place with three rounds still to go.

India’s experienced player,  Sasikiran Krishnan, playing with white pieces gave the much-needed win on the fourth board in 36 moves against Jiri Stocek.

Bo.	15	Czech Republic (CZE)	Rtg	–	5	India (IND)	Rtg	1½:2½
3.1	GM	Navara, David	2740	–	GM	Anand, Viswanathan	2771	½ – ½
3.2	GM	Laznicka, Viktor	2662	–	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	2711	½ – ½
3.3	GM	Hracek, Zbynek	2557	–	GM	Adhiban, B.	2668	½ – ½
3.4	GM	Stocek, Jiri	2574	–	GM	Sasikiran, Krishnan	2672	0 – 1

In the women’s section, India suffered a major setback as in-form Koneru Humpy and Tania Sachdev both lost to Hoang Thang Trang and Ticia Gara of Hungary, respectively.

The second board saw India’s Harika Dronavalli splitting points with Anita Gara. On the fourth board India’s Eesha Karvade drew with Julianna Terbe.

Bo.	13	Hungary (HUN)	Rtg	–	5	India (IND)	Rtg	3 : 1
4.1	GM	Hoang, Thanh Trang	2423	–	GM	Koneru, Humpy	2557	1 – 0
4.2	IM	Gara, Anita	2370	–	GM	Harika, Dronavalli	2500	½ – ½
4.3	WGM	Gara, Ticia	2321	–	IM	Tania, Sachdev	2400	1 – 0
4.4	WIM	Terbe, Julianna	2260	–	IM	Karavade, Eesha	2374	½ – ½

Team pairings – Open

Round 9 on 2018/10/03 at 16:30
No.	SNo		Team	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	Team		SNo
1	11		POL	Poland	22½	14		:		15	23	United States of America	USA		1
2	4		AZE	Azerbaijan	22½	13		:		13	21	China	CHN		3
3	5		IND	India	22½	13		:		13	21½	Armenia	ARM		8
4	16		GER	Germany	21	13		:		13	22½	France	FRA		7
5	9		ENG	England	19½	13		:		12	23	Norway	NOR		38
6	34		ITA	Italy	20½	12		:		12	21	Russia	RUS		2
7	35		AUT	Austria	20½	12		:		12	20½	Croatia	CRO		18
8	13		NED	Netherlands	22½	11		:		12	19½	Moldova	MDA		30
9	10		ISR	Israel	21½	11		:		11	19	Hungary	HUN		12
10	24		ESP	Spain	22	11		:		11	20	Bangladesh	BAN		64

Team pairings – Women

Round 9 on 2018/10/03 at 16:30
No.	SNo		Team	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	Team		SNo
1	8		KAZ	Kazakhstan	23	13		:		14	23½	China	CHN		3
2	11		AZE	Azerbaijan	22½	13		:		14	23	Ukraine	UKR		2
3	10		USA	United States of America	22	13		:		13	22½	Hungary	HUN		13
4	12		ARM	Armenia	21	13		:		12	22	Iran	IRI		28
5	1		RUS	Russia	23½	12		:		12	20	Romania	ROU		20
6	17		MGL	Mongolia	21½	12		:		12	20	Georgia 1 *)	GEO1		4
7	14		GEO2	Georgia 2	21½	11		:		11	20	Serbia	SRB		23
8	18		ITA	Italy	20	11		:		11	21½	India	IND		5
9	31		UZB	Uzbekistan	20	11		:		11	21	France	FRA		6
10	56		GEO3	Georgia 3	20½	11		:		11	23	Vietnam	VIE		19