Chess - The Scotsman 04/09/2012

How does White win?

THE Soviet Union dominated for much of the 88-year history of the Chess Olympiad, and after that country dissolved in the early 1990s, Russia – its biggest republic – became the team to beat. They are always the perennial top seeds for the biennial event, but alas have not won gold since Bled 2002.

Led by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, they are No 1 seeds again this year, but the big question remains: Can they finally win in the post-Kasparov era?

Two of Russia’s biggest threats were also once part of the Soviet Union: Ukraine, the defending champions, and Armenia, which won in 2006 and 2008. Both teams clashed at the halfway stage in round 5, with Armenia – thanks in large to their talisman top-board scorer, Levon Aronian, who superbly beat Vassily Ivanchuk – winning the match.

And with Russia also beating Hungary, this leaves both Armenia and Russia as the only two teams left in the tournament with perfect

10-point scores, and therefore must play each other in round 6 in what could well be a medal showdown.

In round 4, Scotland lost to Belgium, 1.5-2.5, but struck back immediately in round 5, beating the Dominican Republic, 2.5-1.5.

In the open section, Scotland are now more or less in their seeding group on 5 points. Meanwhile, in the women’s section, Scotland are also within their seeding group on 4 points.

L Aronian - V Ivanchuk

40th Istanbul Olympiad, (5.1)

Queen’s Indian Defence

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 7 Nc3 Bb7 8 Bg2 0–0 9 0–0 Na6 10 d5 exd5 11 Nd4 Bc5 12 Nc2 c6 13 cxd5 cxd5 14 Bg5 Nc7 15 Ne3 d4 16 Bxb7 Rb8 17 Ng4 dxc3 18 Bxf6 gxf6 19 Be4 d5 20 Bc2 f5 21 Nh6+ Kh8 22 Nxf5 Qf6 23 a3 a5 24 Qd3 Rg8 25 b4! axb4 26 axb4 Bxb4 27 Ra7 Ne6 28 Ne7 Qg7 29 Nxg8 Kxg8 30 Qxd5 Bc5 31 e3 b5 32 Ra8 Rxa8 33 Qxa8+ Qf8 34 Qe4 Qh6 35 Ra1 b4 36 Ra5 Bf8 37 Qg4+ Qg7 38 Qh4 h6 39 Ra8 Nc7 40 Rxf8+ Qxf8 41 Qg4+ Kh8 42 Qf5 1–0