U.S. National Team Wins Olympiad Quarterfinal, Advances to Tuesday Semi vs. India

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The US Chess national team advanced to the final four of FIDE’s Online Olympiad 2021, defeating Kazakhstan 4-2 in blitz tiebreakers in a decisive quarterfinal match on Monday.  

The exciting playoff saw just one draw across 18 games, with the six-board American lineup both needing and receiving several clutch moments from each of its players to advance. Team USA was pushed into comeback mode after dropping the first of two 15+5 rapid sets to begin the match, but equalized in the second set by the slimmest of margins: a 3.5-2.5 score to force the 3+2 blitz tiebreaker. 

The U.S. squad now moves on to a semifinal on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. eastern against India, co-winners of the 2020 digital global team event whose lineup includes former World Champion GM Viswanathan Anand. The winner will meet that of the other semifinal between Russia and China in the Olympiad finals on Wednesday. 

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Advancing past a strong Kazakh national team was anything but certain for Team USA, which didn’t find itself firing on all cylinders until the final set of games on Monday. The frantic, anything-can-happen rapid time control revealed its sharp edge on two of the American top boards in the first round: Approaching a balanced endgame, the 2700-classically rated super-GM Jeffery Xiong inexplicably overlooked a simple attack on his rook, while time trouble caused the considerable advantage of Olympic veteran GM Irina Krush to slowly bleed into defeat as Black in this Rauzer Sicilian against World No. 14 woman GM Zhansaya Abdumalik. 

[pgn][Event "FIDE Online Chess Olympiad Playoff 2021"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.09.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Abdumalik, Zhansaya"] [Black "Krush, Irina"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2444"] [BlackElo "2392"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.1 (5s)"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 19,116,37,96,19,130,-18,-18,-37,-26,-67,-67,-102,-100,-102,-94,-94,-92, -100,-98,-168,-121,-128,-126,-126,-124,-171,-79,-252,-133,-235,-100,-145,-97, -97,-60,-115,-43,-37,-29,-25,-20,-21,0,-49,0,-6,0,-58,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,57,50,58, -54,15,13,100,108,93,66,250,201,562,592,592,549,555,573,575,547,708,691,733, 394,612,644,518,423,1336,1325,1336,1056,724,364,2088,29985,2095,29986,29986, 29987,29992,29993,29999]} 1. e4 {RR} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. h4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 a6 {[%eval 96,17]} ( 10... e5 $14 {[%eval 37,17]} 11. Qd2 Be6) 11. f4 {[%eval 19,16] B63: Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer: 7...Be7 and unusual Black 7th moves.} (11. e5 $16 {[%eval 96, 17]} dxe5 12. Qxe5) 11... b5 {[%eval 130,16]} (11... h6 $11 {[%eval 19,16]}) 12. e5 $146 {[%eval -18,18]} (12. h5 $16 {[%eval 130,16]}) ({Predecessor:} 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Bb7 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. Kd2 Rc7 18. Rb1 Bc6 {1-0 (32) Gascon del Nogal,J (2451)-Le Pen,S (2022) Sautron 2016 EXT 2019 [RR]}) 12... dxe5 $11 13. Qxe5 {The position is equal.} Qb6 14. Bd3 { [%eval -67,15]} (14. Be2 $11 {[%eval -26,16] should be considered.}) 14... Bb7 $15 15. h5 h6 $1 ({Not} 15... Bxg2 $2 16. h6 $16) 16. Bh4 Ng4 17. Qe2 Bxh4 18. Qxg4 Bf6 $36 {[%mdl 2048] Black is in control.} 19. Rh3 {[%eval -168,17]} (19. f5 $17 {[%eval -98,16]}) 19... Rac8 {[%eval -121,17]} (19... Rad8 $19 {[%eval -168,17]} 20. Kb1 Qa5) 20. f5 $17 Bxc3 21. bxc3 e5 $1 22. Kb2 {[%eval -171,14]} (22. Be4 $17 {[%eval -124,17]} Bxe4 23. Qxe4) 22... Qf6 {[%eval -79,17]} (22... Rfd8 $19 {[%eval -171,14]} 23. Re1 f6) 23. Re3 $2 {[%eval -252,15]} (23. Qh4 $17 {[%eval -79,17] might work better.}) 23... Rfd8 {[%eval -133,18]} (23... b4 $1 $19 {[%eval -252,15][%cal Rb4c3]} 24. Qxb4 Rb8) 24. Rde1 {[%eval -235,16]} ( 24. a3 $17 {[%eval -133,18]}) 24... Rc5 {[%eval -100,17]} (24... e4 $1 $19 { [%eval -235,16] is more deadly.} 25. Bxe4 Rxc3 $3 {[%mdl 512]} 26. Rxc3 b4 $1 { [%mdl 64] Pin}) 25. a3 {[%eval -145,17]} (25. Be4 $142 {[%eval -100,17]} Bxe4 26. Rxe4) 25... a5 {[%eval -97,15]} (25... Rdc8 $142 {[%eval -145,17]} 26. Kb1 R8c7) 26. Be4 Rc4 27. Qf3 {[%eval -115,17]} (27. Qg3 $15 {[%eval -60,17]} Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Bxe4 29. Rxe4) 27... Rxe4 {[%eval -43,16]} (27... Ba6 $17 {[%eval -115,17]} 28. Kb1 b4 29. cxb4 axb4) 28. Rxe4 $15 Rc8 29. Qd3 Bxe4 30. Qxe4 $11 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KQR-KQR} Rc5 31. g4 {[%eval -49,18]} (31. Qa8+ $11 { [%eval 0,20]} Kh7 32. Qe4) 31... Kh7 {[%eval 0,21]} (31... Qd8 $15 {[%eval -49, 18]}) 32. Re3 a4 33. Rd3 {[%eval -58,20]} (33. Re1 $11 {[%eval 0,22]}) 33... Rc8 {[%eval 0,21]} ({Black should play} 33... Rc4 $15 {[%eval -58,20]} 34. Qe3 Rxg4) 34. Rd5 Rc4 $1 {[%cal Rc4e4]} 35. Qxe5 Qxe5 36. Rxe5 Rxg4 37. Rxb5 {KR-KR } Rg5 {[%eval 57,22]} (37... Rh4 $11 {[%eval 0,21]}) 38. c4 $14 {[%cal Bc3c4, Bc4c5,Bc5c6,Bc6c7][%mdl 32] Rd5 is the strong threat.} Rxh5 39. f6 {[%eval -54, 21]} (39. Re5 $14 {[%eval 58,20]} g5 40. fxg6+ {[%mdl 64] Discovered Attack} fxg6 41. Rxh5 gxh5 42. c5) 39... Rh4 {[%eval 15,21]} (39... g5 $1 $15 {[%eval -54,21]}) 40. Kc3 $11 {With the idea c5.} g5 {[%eval 100,20]} (40... Rh3+ $11 { [%eval 13,19] remains equal.} 41. Kb4 Rh2) 41. c5 $16 {And now c6 would win.} Re4 42. c6 {Threatens to win with c7.} Re8 $2 {[%eval 250,21]} (42... Re6 $1 $14 {[%eval 66,23]}) 43. Kd4 {Black must now prevent Kc5.} Kg6 $2 {[%eval 562, 15] [#]} (43... g4 {[%eval 201,22]} 44. Kd5 Rd8+ 45. Kc5 Rc8) 44. Kd5 $1 $18 Kxf6 {[#]} 45. c7 {Strongly threatening Rb8.} Rc8 46. Kd6 h5 47. Kd7 Rxc7+ 48. Kxc7 {KR-KP} h4 {If only Black now had time for ...h3....} 49. Rb8 Ke5 { [%eval 612,17]} (49... g4 $142 {[%eval 394,19]} 50. Kd6 g3) 50. Rg8 f6 51. c4 h3 {[%eval 1336,18]} (51... Kd4 $142 {[%eval 423,20]} 52. Rg6 Kxc4 53. Rxf6 Kb3 54. Rf3+ Kb2) 52. Kb6 Kf4 53. c5 {Threatening mate with c6.} g4 54. c6 { c7 would kill now.} g3 $2 {[%eval 2088,13]} (54... h2 {[%eval 364,15]} 55. c7 h1=Q) 55. c7 h2 56. c8=Q h1=Q {White mates.} 57. Qg4+ Ke5 58. Re8+ Kd6 59. Qe6# {Quite a comeback for White.] 1-0 [/pgn]

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GM Irina Krush rebounded after a tough opening loss to win her next two games over World No. 14 woman GM Zhansaya Abdumalik in the 2021 FIDE Online Olympiad.

But both Xiong and Krush were heavy lifting for the remaining match, rebounding to score a combined 4/4 in their second rapid and blitz tiebreaker games. Xiong smashed through the stigma of the Berlin set up by Kazakh GM Rinat Jumabayev, who had infamously bounced his American compatriot GM Fabiano Caruana in the third round of the FIDE World Cup last July, with this convincing mating attack in the second set of rapid games on Monday. 

[pgn][Event "FIDE Online Chess Olympiad Playoff 2021"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.09.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Xiong, Jeffery"] [Black "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2729"] [BlackElo "2562"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.1 (5s)"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 16,61,29,8,63,44,47,47,49,47,43,46,43,34,43,46,48,48,37,22,22,8,60,55, 60,51,55,50,58,54,72,67,75,80,177,130,379,381,614,457,417,404,849,842,29995, 29996,29996,29997]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Ne8 {[%eval 63,16] C67: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence: 4 0-0 Nxe4.} (9... Bf6 $11 {[%eval 8,17]}) 10. c4 Bf6 11. Re1 d5 {White is slightly better.} 12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 Be6 14. Nc3 {[%cal Bb1c3, Bc3e4,Be4c5,Bc5d3,Bd3b4,Bb4d5][%mdl 32]} Qd7 15. Ne4 Bd5 16. Nc5 Qd8 17. Bd3 g6 $1 18. Be4 b6 {[%eval 60,18] [#]} (18... Bxe4 $1 $11 {[%eval 8,18]} 19. Nxe4 Nd6 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6) 19. Qf3 $1 $14 c6 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Nd3 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White has some pressure.} Nd6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 21... Ng7 22. Nb4 Nf5 23. Nxd5 Bg7 24. g3 Qd6 25. a3 Rfd8 26. Nc3 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Nb5 Qf8 29. Re2 Rd7 30. Rae1 Rad8 31. Nxd4 Rxd4 32. h4 h5 {1/2-1/2 (32) Pirs,M (2558)-Solis Gomez,J (2476) Remote email 2012}) 22. Bh6 Re8 23. Rxe8+ (23. Qxd5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Nf5 $15) 23... Nxe8 {[#]} 24. Nb4 $1 {[%cal Rb4d5]} Bxd4 {[%eval 177,17]} (24... Bg7 $16 {[%eval 80,18]} 25. Bxg7 Kxg7) 25. Nxd5 $18 Rc8 $2 {[%eval 379, 14] A mistake that costs the game.} (25... Bxb2 $16 {[%eval 130,16]} 26. Re1 Kh8) 26. Re1 {Black must now prevent Ne7+.} Rc2 $2 {[%eval 614,17]} (26... Kh8 {[%eval 381,18]} 27. Ne7 (27. Qxf7 Nd6 $16) 27... Rc7) 27. Ne7+ Kh8 28. Nc6 { [%mdl 64] Double Attack} Bxf2+ {[%eval 849,18]} ({Worse is} 28... Rxf2 29. Nxd8 Rxf3+ 30. Kh1 $18) (28... Rxc6 $142 {[%eval 404,19]} 29. Qxc6 Ng7) 29. Qxf2 Rxc6 30. Qxf7 {[%cal Rf7f8][%mdl 64] Double Attack} Qd4+ 31. Kh1 {[%cal Re1e8] 1-0 [/pgn]

With wins from Xiong and Krush adding to the quarterfinal’s only draw by GM Ray Robson on the second board, IM Nazi Paikidze delivered the goods when Team USA needed it the most. Here the two-time U.S. Women’s champion Paikidze, swapped into the second-set lineup by American captain IM John Donaldson for IM Anna Zatonskih, turned around an uncomfortable opening as Black in a Kings Indian Attack after finding a killer outpost at 24. … Nc3. 

[pgn][Event "FIDE Online Chess Olympiad Playoff 2021"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.09.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Saduakassova, Dinara"] [Black "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2429"] [BlackElo "2402"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.1 (5s)"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 21,118,-63,-55,-70,-20,-53,-35,-51,-18,-31,47,0,50,50,88,47,88,104,97, 35,35,-20,79,80,144,144,140,-9,-9,-127,-113,-373,-161,-611,-622,-613,-631,-590, -568,-602,-358,-370,-349,-355,-365,-393,-394,-513,-351,-357,-305,-357,-282, -283,-279,-282,-279,-312,-309,-312,-309,-318,-318,-318,-312,-317,-310,-348, -347,-348,-347,-348,-343,-347,-348,-371,-371,-371,-345,-346,-178,-348,-348, -348,-318,-331,-173,-348,-346,-346,-334,-340,-326,-334,-326,-367,-370,-1542, -1603]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. e5 Nd7 10. Qe2 b5 11. Nf1 Bb7 12. Bf4 {C00: French: Unusual White 2nd moves.} d4 {[%eval -20,17]} (12... h6 $15 {[%eval -70,15]}) 13. a3 Rab8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... Nb6 14. h4 c4 15. N1h2 Nd5 16. Bg5 Ba6 17. Ng4 h5 18. Ngh2 Rae8 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 {1-0 (36) Sevian,S (2647)-Grabinsky,J (2078) Chess.com INT 2019}) 14. h4 {Black is slightly better.} Rfc8 15. h5 c4 { [%eval 47,16]} (15... h6 $15 {[%eval -31,14]}) 16. N1d2 {[%eval 0,15]} (16. h6 $14 {[%eval 47,16]}) 16... cxd3 {[%eval 50,17]} ({Better is} 16... h6 $1 $11 { [%eval 0,15]}) 17. cxd3 $14 Nc5 18. Rac1 {[%eval 47,16]} (18. h6 $1 $16 { [%eval 88,17]}) 18... Qd8 {[%eval 88,18]} (18... b4 $14 {[%eval 47,16] deserves consideration.}) 19. h6 $16 g6 20. Rc2 {[%eval 35,16]} (20. b4 $16 { [%eval 97,16]} Na4 21. Ne4) 20... b4 $14 {[#]} 21. Rec1 {[%eval -20,17]} (21. Bg5 $1 $14 {[%eval 35,15]}) 21... Na4 {[%eval 79,17] [#]} (21... bxa3 $11 { [%eval -20,17]} 22. bxa3 Na5) 22. Ne4 $1 $16 bxa3 {[%eval 144,18]} (22... b3 $142 {[%eval 80,19]} 23. Rc4 Nb6) 23. bxa3 Na5 {[%cal Bc6a5,Ba5b3,Bb3c5,Bc5d3] [%mdl 32]} 24. Nfg5 {[%eval -9,18]} (24. Rxc8 $16 {[%eval 140,17]} Rxc8 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Nxd4) 24... Nc3 $1 $11 {[%cal Rc3e2]} 25. Qe1 {[%eval -127,20]} ( 25. Nxc3 $11 {[%eval -9,18] keeps the balance.} Rxc3 26. Bxb7 Bxg5 27. Bg2) 25... Nb3 $36 {[%mdl 2048] aiming for ...Bxe4. Keeping White busy.} 26. Bh3 $2 {[%eval -373,16][%mdl 8192] This move loses the game for White.} (26. Rxc3 $17 {[%eval -113,17] keeps fighting.} dxc3 27. Rxc3 Rxc3 28. Qxc3) 26... Bd5 { [%eval -161,17]} (26... Nxc1 $142 {[%eval -373,16]} 27. Rxc1 Nxe4 28. Nxe4 Bxe4 29. dxe4 Bg5 30. Bxg5 Qxg5 {[%mdl 64] Double Attack}) 27. Nd6 $2 {[%eval -611, 17]} (27. Rxc3 {[%eval -161,17]} Rxc3 28. Rxc3 dxc3 29. Qxc3) 27... Bxg5 $19 28. Bxg5 Qxg5 {[%mdl 64] Double Attack} 29. Nxc8 {If only White now had time for f4....} Rxc8 30. Rb1 Nc5 31. Rxc3 dxc3 32. Qxc3 Qd8 33. Rc1 Bb7 34. Bg2 { With the idea Bxb7.} Nxd3 35. Bxb7 Rxc3 ({Not} 35... Nxc1 36. Qxc8 Qxc8 37. Bxc8 $11) 36. Rxc3 Nxe5 {White must now prevent ...Qd1+.} 37. Rc8 Qxc8 ({ But not} 37... Nf3+ 38. Kg2 $19) 38. Bxc8 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KB-KN} Ng4 39. f4 Nxh6 40. Kf2 Nf5 41. g4 Nd6 42. Ba6 Kf8 43. Ke3 Ke7 44. g5 Nf5+ 45. Ke4 Kd6 46. Bb5 h6 47. gxh6 Nxh6 48. Kd4 Nf5+ 49. Ke4 Kc5 50. Ba4 Kd6 {[%eval -178,22]} (50... f6 $142 {[%eval -346,22] And now ...Nd6+ would win.} 51. Bb3 Kd6) 51. Be8 $2 {[%eval -348,25]} (51. Bb5 {[%eval -178,22]}) 51... Ke7 52. Bc6 Ng3+ 53. Kf3 Nf5 {[%eval -173,21]} (53... Nh5 $142 {[%eval -331,21]} 54. Kg4 Kd6) 54. Ke4 Nd6+ 55. Kd4 f6 56. a4 Nf5+ 57. Kc5 g5 58. fxg5 fxg5 59. Kb5 $2 {[%eval -1542,19]} (59. Bf3 {[%eval -370,22]}) 59... Nd4+ 0-1 [/pgn]

The American squad finally looked whole again in the speedy 3+2 blitz tiebreakers, finally receiving contributions from its juniors. Both FM Thalia Cervantes and GM Awonder Liang had been the undeniable force behind Team USA’s arrival in the Online Olympiad playoff bracket, the squad’s top scorers through the divisional first stage with a 6.5/9 and 7.5/9 on the U20 boards -- though the two youngsters nearly ghosted against Kazakhstan on Monday, combining for 0/4 through both rapid sets.  

They both found their form at the right time, however, delivering convincing wins in the clutch during the blitz overtime. Cervantes broke through several-hundred rating points and the Kings Indian Defense of World No. 9 Junior Girl IM Bibisara Assaubayeva, while Liang finally figured out IM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov to finish this Chigorin with checkmate on the board. 

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GM Awonder Liang shook off two ugly rapid losses during the 2021 Online Olympiad quarterfinal against Kazakhstan to deliver a clutch win for Team USA in the blitz tiebreaker.

[pgn][Event "FIDE Online Chess Olympiad Playoff 2021"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.09.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan"] [Black "Liang, Awonder"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2531"] [BlackElo "2379"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.1 (5s)"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 9,65,23,29,29,56,-23,-23,-21,-20,-21,-11,-13,-11,-29,-5,-33,-22,-20,-10, -18,16,17,20,17,42,-70,-70,-88,-87,-87,-44,-132,-34,-170,-170,-170,-160,-208, -208,-325,-322,-327,-161,-326,-333,-453,-301,-474,-348,-351,-351,-29995,-29996, -29996,-29997,-29997,-29998,-29999]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Bg4 6. Be2 {B13: Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation and Panov-Botvinnik Attack.} Bxe2 7. Ncxe2 {[%eval -23,19]} (7. Qxe2 $14 {[%eval 56,14]} a6 8. Nf3) 7... e6 $11 8. c3 $146 {Black has an edge.} ({Predecessor:} 8. Nf3 Qb6 9. O-O Nc6 10. c3 Be7 11. Qb3 Qa6 12. Rfe1 O-O 13. Ng3 Na5 14. Qc2 {1-0 (31) Pershin, D (2400)-Tregubov,P (2592) St Petersburg 2018}) 8... Nc6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a4 a6 12. Ne1 Rc8 13. Nd3 Ne4 14. Ng3 Nd6 15. Qg4 g6 16. h4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 { [%eval -70,16]} (17. Qe2 $14 {[%eval 42,15]}) 17... dxe4 $15 18. Nc5 e5 $1 { [%cal Re5f4]} 19. Bh6 {[#]} ({Not} 19. Nxb7 $2 Qc7 $17) 19... f5 {[%eval -44, 18]} (19... Re8 $1 $17 {[%eval -87,17]} 20. Nxb7 Qd5) 20. Qd1 {[%eval -132,18] [#]} (20. Qg3 $15 {[%eval -44,18]}) 20... Bxc5 {[%eval -34,16]} ({Black should play} 20... Rf7 $1 $17 {[%eval -132,18] Hoping for ...Bxc5.} 21. Nxb7 Qb6) 21. Qb3+ {[%eval -170,22] White does not recover from this.} (21. dxc5 $15 { [%eval -34,16]} Rf7 22. Bg5) 21... Rf7 $19 22. dxc5 Qxh4 23. Qe6 {[%eval -208, 19]} (23. Bc1 $17 {[%eval -160,18]}) 23... Rd8 24. Be3 {[%eval -325,17]} (24. Bc1 $142 {[%eval -208,18]}) 24... f4 {And now ...Kg7 would win.} 25. Bc1 a5 { [%eval -161,16]} (25... Kg7 $142 {[%eval -327,15] aiming for ...Rf5.} 26. Qh3 Qxh3 27. gxh3 Rd3) 26. b4 $2 {[%eval -326,18]} (26. Qc4 {[%eval -161,16] was forced.}) 26... axb4 27. Bb2 {If only White now had time for cxb4....} Qe7 28. Qc4 {[%eval -474,17]} (28. Qxe7 {[%eval -301,18] only move.} Rxe7 29. cxb4) 28... bxc3 29. Bxc3 Nd4 {( -> ...Nf3+!)} 30. Rae1 $2 {[%eval -32757,13] [#]} ( 30. Rfd1 $19 {[%eval -351,16]} f3 31. Bxd4 fxg2 32. Bxe5 Rxd1+ 33. Rxd1) 30... Nf3+ $1 {[%mdl 512] Black mates.} 31. gxf3 Qg5+ 32. Kh2 exf3 {[%csl Gf3][%cal Rg5g2]} 33. Qe6 Qg2# 0-1 [/pgn]

Team USA advances to the 2021 Online Olympiad semifinals to play India on Tuesday, with first moves pushed at 11:30 a.m. eastern. The Russia-China semifinal will play first, beginning at 5:00 a.m. eastern. All games may be viewed with live commentary on the Events page of Chess.com, which has partnered with FIDE for the Online Olympiad for the second year.