It seems as if the 36th Chess Olympiad started only yesterday but already ten rounds have gone. At press time, in round 11 action Jamaica is locked in battle with Cyprus in a tense affair on all four boards and are aiming to add to their 16-point tally. The Cypriots are without GM Vasilios Kotronias who led them in the last couple of Olympiads. He is now playing board one for Greece.

 

The Jamaican men came to the Olympiad with a team missing several of its top players such as FM Warren Elliott, NM Jomo Pitterson and NM Robert Wheeler and are hoping to leave with their heads held high. As the famous Jamaican entertainer Buju Banton has sung "it is not an easy road" but the team has soldiered on. Although playing to a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Botswana in round 8, Jamaica were soundly beaten 3-1 by Hong Kong in round 9 with two losses and two draws, team captain Wilkinson fortunate to draw a Sicilian Sveshnikov with the black pieces after 70 moves against Hong Kong´s most experienced player Edwin (Edgardo) Borigas who was shifted from board 1 to 4.

 

In round ten, Shane Matthews played superbly to rescue the men from "the land of wood and water" winning with the black pieces on board one as Jamaica and Uganda battled to a 2-2 draw.

   

 

Barbados have faltered after a bright start but, in all fairness, the "Bajans" as a reward for doing well in the early rounds have faced very tough opposition. In round 11 they find themselves on 16.5 points and playing Surinam. Having drawn 2-2 against Guatemala in round 8, the Barbadians were drawn to play Spain "C" in round 9 and were thus elevated to the stage in the Ruy Lopez room in the Gran Casino Mallorca where the top teams are featured. It was stated several days ago that for "political reasons" all three Spanish teams play on the stage each round regardless of their position in the standings!!!!

 

Barbados, nicely attired in suits, seemed overawed by the occasion and went down 0.5-3.5, only Terry Farley on board three salvaging something from the encounter. Seemingly still affected by the result, they again lost in round 10, this time 3-1 to Thailand, Terry Farley again coming to the fore with the West Indians´sole win, defeating Theerapabpaisit Wisuwat on board 3.

 

 

Trinidad & Tobago have done well in their last couple of matches. After losing 0.5-3.5 to Puerto Rico in round 8, the "Trinis" recovered to beat San Marino 3.5-0.5 in round 9 and then behind victories by FM Mario Merritt and Frank Yee, respectively, beat Sri Lanka 2.5-1.5 in round 10. They are now sitting on 18 points and face the Faroe Islands in round 11.

 

 

The question on everyone´s lips is " will Chucky´s gladiators keep their lead ?" After 10 pulsating rounds Ukraine still lead on 29 points ahead of Russia (27), Armenia (26.5), USA (26) and Israel, Azerbaijan and Cuba all tied on 25. The tournament is heading for a humdinger of a finale!

 

After thumping Bulgaria 3.5-0.5 in round 8, Ukraine were held to 2-2 draws by Armenia and USA in rounds 9 and 10, respectively. In round ten it was interesting to see Ukraine´s board one player GM Vassily Ivanchuk facing the USA´s GM Alexander Onischuk who had previously represented the Ukraine at the Chess Olympiad!!!

 

Ivanchuk at press time (6:46 pm Mallorca time) has continued his great form by defeating the dangerous GM Lenier Dominguez on board 1 as Ukraine do battle with Cuba. The talented GM Sergei Karajakin has also prevailed over IM Quezada on board 4 to put Ukraine 2-0 up.

 

 

The Russians remain contenders primarily because of the presence of GM Peter Svidler. Since his arrival from Brissago, Switzerland, Svidler has brought renewed energy to the defending champions and his great endgame win on board one over France´s GM Joel Lautier in round ten will further inspire the Russians. At press time he is looking to chalk up another scalp as, again on board one, he matches wits against the said Onischuk as Russia confront the USA in what is now heated battle...no "Cold War"!!!

 

 

The USA had an upset 2-1 win over China in the tenth round. In another clash of former women´s world champions, GMs Xie Jun and Susan Polgar drew on board one as did WGMs Zhao Xue and Anna Zatonskih on board 3. The fate of the match was decided on board 2 where IM Irina Krush´s victory over WGM Xu Yuhua brought joy to the Americans. Inspite of the loss, China are on 24.5 points, a massive 4.5 points ahead of the surging Hungarians who are on 20. The USA are in third on tie-breaks with 19.5 points, a score also shared by India and Georgia. The Russians are tied in sixth on 18.5 with France, Slovakia and Armenia.

 

In the top games in round 11 Hungary will step up to the plate against China, India will face Georgia, slovakia clash with the USA and the Armenians will see the Russians sitting across the table.

 

 

 

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