The Chess Olympics in Chennai (India) without Russia (combat) or China (Covid) were those of young prodigies. The first three qualified Uzbekistan councils are no more than 20 years old; and India B’s top three, bronze, out of 18. Silver went to the well-rehearsed team from Armenia. USA mistake, bottle behind India A. Ukraine, Georgia and India win the women’s medals. And the gachupin Jaime Santos the bronze in singles on the fourth board. The next two editions will take place in Budapest (2024) and Uzbekistan (2026).
“We are very tired and we can’t believe we won the Olympics,” said Nodirbek Yakubboev (bronze with 8 points on board 2) and Jajongir Vajidov (gold, 6.5/8) almost simultaneously. very excited. 4.) Minutes after the 3-1 win over the Netherlands on the final walk into the press room. Nodirbek Abdusattórov (silver in 1st with 8.5/11), Javojir Sindárov (6.5/10 in 3rd) and Shamsiddin Vojídov (3.5/4 as a substitute) are the other three champions Uzbekistan, the only undefeated team from 188, he won silver 30 years ago (Manila, 1992) in the first Olympics he participated in after the fall of the Soviet Union.
In all likelihood, India B powerhouses must be frustrated, even though their bronze medal is a historic milestone that will be very difficult to overcome as four of their five players are under 18. The increase in the precocity of chess through training with computers that calculate millions of moves per second and databases of over a million perfectly ranked games, and the tremendous rise of chess in India through Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion, makes this possible, something unthinkable two decades ago: two of the three podiums are filled with young talents.
But on his first board (gold in singles with 11/13, ahead of Abdusattórov and world champion Magnus Carlsen), Dommaraju Gukesh will never be able to forget what happened on Monday when he lost a winning position, also denied in a draw with Abdusattorov. . . . Otherwise, Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Baskaran Adhiban and Raunak Sadhwani would all have lifted the champions today to complete an incredible performance.
Jaime Santos, in early July, during the magnificent town of ValerosoMain town of Valeroso
Chess is very popular in the three medal-winning countries and especially in Armenia (compulsory subject in schools). This gives their players (Sargissián, Melkumyán, Ter-Sahakyán, Manuel Petrosian and Hovhannisyán) a resilient team spirit found in very few professional teams. Today they beat Spain, losing in the presence of Shirov and drawing in the presence of Vallejo, Antón and Jaime Santos. He reached the individual podium in his first Olympic Games and, with 2,681 points, is the third best gachupin behind Shirov. Spain finishes 12th (was 4th in brand new index); and girls in 21st place (12).
Beyond the stadium of the winners and the important absences, these Olympic Games will go down in history for the impressive and magnificent structure which was erected in four months to replace Moscow, the planned site. Apart from the ever-present passion for chess, India will be remembered by the 3,000 chess players from over 190 countries (not including the FIDE International Treaty Congress which brought together 199) for its magnificent hospitality.
Full results are here.
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