46th Olympiad: Two Tight Races Entering Final Weekend

Team USA’s shot at gold took a significant hit in the Open after today’s 2½–1½ loss against hosts Uzbekistan in Round 9. The women’s team rebounded with a 3–1 victory over Canada. With 13/18 scores, both teams are tied for 11th entering the weekend’s final two rounds. By winning out, podium finishes remain possible for both teams, provided other matches break favorably.

Today’s report focuses on Rounds 7 and 8 with insightful, instructive annotations from WGM Zoey Tang. Check back Monday for annotations on the final three rounds by GM Luka Budisavljevic.

Open

In Round 7, Team USA seemed on track for a win over Armenia thanks to GM Awonder Liang’s triumphant return on Board 4. After resting the previous three rounds, Liang’s play was tenacious and fresh.

Liang JD — Awonder Liang (with captain John Donaldson on the right) won a key game during Wednesday's match, ultimately securing the half-point. (Photos courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

With GMs Fabiano Caruana and Hans Niemann drawing as Black, it all came down to whether GM Wesley So could hold a rook-and-pawn endgame on Board 2. Showing principled, active technique, So seemed to have things under control until the end. But perhaps, as Tang suggests in her careful annotations, solid and steady was the way to go.

Wesley So came so close to holding a difficult rook-and-pawn endgame that would have clinched a USA victory in Round 7. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

At this point, Uzbekistan remained perfect after defeating China 3–1, so every match point was critical to retain any chance of catching the leaders.

Understanding the urgency, USA defeated Serbia 3½–½ in Round 8. Led by sharp, uncompromising play by Caruana on the top board, this round showed just how dangerous the American team could be.

Entering Round 8, Uzbekistan boasted a 14/14 score and two-point lead over the field and already claimed victories over its two closest competitors in India and China. It was still too early to say the hosts had ran away with the tournament, but it sure looked like we were headed that way.

From left: Former FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov makes the first move for Germany's Vincent Keymer and Germany's coach Jan Gustafsson congratulates the Svanes (Frederik and Rasmus, respectively) after putting Germany back into the hunt for gold. (Photos courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

From left: Former FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov makes the first move for Germany's Vincent Keymer and Germany's coach Jan Gustafsson congratulates the Svanes (Frederik and Rasmus, respectively) after putting Germany back into the hunt for gold. (Photos courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

Instead, Germany upset Uzbekistan 2½–1½ to claim a share of the lead with a 14/16 score. GM Javokhir Sindarov defeated GM Matthias Bluebaum on Board 2, but the Brothers Svane delivered German wins on the bottom two boards.

In the match’s last game to finish, GM Vincent Keymer eschewed complications by giving up slight winning chances to clinch the match with a draw against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

After Thursday, eight teams (including USA) trailed the co-leaders by only one match point, and, suddenly, it was anybody’s tournament once again.

Women

After a tough couple of rounds before the rest day, the women’s team bounced back in Round 7 with a 3–1 win over Switzerland.

IM Tatev Abrahamyan put the Americans in the driver’s seat on Board 3 by demonstrating why it’s easier to play with, rather than against, the initiative.

By the end of IM Carissa Yip’s game against former women’s world champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, a draw would clinch the match. But Yip was able to convert her attacking chances without undertaking excessive risk:

Carissa Yip (L) scored a great win over former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk during Round 7. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

In Round 8, the match against Armenia came down to GM Irina Krush as Black on Board 3 against GM Elina Danielian after draws on the three other boards. Krush defended admirably and, if the time control came just one move sooner, she most likely would have held the game and the match:

Instead, the 2½–1½ moved Armenia into a share of second place with a 14/16 score and left USA further behind the leaders with 11/16.

Captain Melik Khachiyan oversees Irina Krush and Alice Lee during Round 8. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz)

The highly anticipated Round 7 match-up between Kazakhstan and China — both entering the round with 12/12 scores — ended fittingly with a 2–2 tie. With draws on the top two boards, IM Lu Miaoyi defeated IM Meuret Kamalidenova on Board 3 (see below). but an early mistake by WIM Tianqi Yan allowed WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet to equalize for Kazakhstan on Board 4.

The 16-year-old Lu Miaoyi delivered a clutch win for China during Round 7. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

In Round 8, China took the outright lead with a 2½–1½ victory over a resurgent Georgia team thanks to WGM Zhai Mo’s victory on Board 4.

Kazakhstan came close to staying on pace with China after IM Alua Nurman defeated India’s GM Vaishali Rameshbabu on Board 2. But IM Savitha Shri ground down WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet to keep India in the medal hunt with a 13/16 score good for a share of fifth place.