World Team Chess Championship - Round 4

By Chess Coach William Stewart

Original article along with with interactive PGN's on Round 4 of the World Team Chess Championship available on William's site.

Azerbaijan Beats Russia Convincingly

Grischuk's opening preparation was clearly insufficient as he emerged from the opening down a pawn and in a clearly worse position on the black side of Ruy Lopez. Gashimov continued to actively press, won another pawn, and forced Grischuk's resignation on move 39. Guseinov ensured his team's success with a solid tactical win over Svidler on board 4. Svidler chose an interesting variation of the Sicilian Kan, similar to a Hedgehog formation - however he was unable to achieve any counterplay on the queenside and Guseinov was essentially left a free hand to force through in the center. Svidler's passivity and lack of coordination allowed Guseinov to spectacularly break the black position open with 26. f5!? and 28. Nf5! - leading to a decisive win of material for white.

Guseinov Vs Svidler - Position after 28. Nf5!

Hungary Topples Strong Ukrainian Team

Peter Leko made the difference with the black pieces against Vassily Ivanchuk on board 1 today, as every other game was drawn. Ivanchuk is viable to play any opening, making it extremely difficult for opponents to prepare against him. However, a downside is that sometimes he doesn't know his own opening thoroughly enough. This seemed to happen today, as Leko rapidly achieved a crushing position with the Marshall Attack against Ivanchuk's Ruy Lopez. The idea of sacrificing a piece with 18. ...f4! was not new to Leko as he played very quickly at this point - however Ivanchuk was not prepared and spent 62 minutes on moves 18, 19, and 20. Not only did this hurt the Ukranian #1 on the clock, it landed him in an extremely difficult position due to the complicated imbalances of material and coordination. Ivanchuk tried to put up a defense, however Leko had more than ample time to accurately find and execute the win.

Ivanchuk Vs Leko - Position after 18. ...f4!

Original article along with with interactive PGN's on Round 4 of the World Team Chess Championship available on William's site. Game PGNs and Results at the Official Site

Armenia back on top, Azerbaijan, China, Russian & Hungary tie for 2nd

Armenia is still the only country which is undefeated so far after 4 rounds. Azerbaijan and China are tied for 2nd on tiebreaks while Russia and Hungary are a little further behind in tiebreak points.

Standings after 4 rounds

Rk.	SNo	Team	Games	+	=	-	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	Armenia	4	2	2	0	6	11.0	0
2	7	Azerbaijan	4	2	1	1	5	9.5	1
3	4	China	4	2	1	1	5	9.5	1
4	10	Russia	4	2	1	1	5	9.0	0
5	6	Hungary	4	2	1	1	5	8.0	0
6	8	Ukraine	4	2	0	2	4	8.0	0
7	9	Israel	4	2	0	2	4	7.5	0
8	5	India	4	1	1	2	3	7.0	0
9	1	USA	4	1	1	2	3	7.0	0
10	3	Egypt	4	0	0	4	0	3.5	0

http://chess-results.com/tnr53136.aspx?art=46&lan=1

Azerbaijan’s national chess team in China

Azerbaijan’s national chess team arrives in China
Thu 14 July 2011 09:22 GMT | 4:22 Local Time

Azerbaijan’s national chess team reached the Ningbo city at about 11.00 Baku time.
The city will be hosting the team championship of the world from 17 July.

Our team spent over 16 hours on the way from Baku via Moscow and Shanghai to Ningbo. Meanwhile, from Shanghai the team captain Vladimir Tukmakov, chess players Shahriyar Mamedyarov, Vugar Gashimov, Teimur Radjabov, Rauf Mamedov and Gadir Guisenov, as well as your author were going by bus.

The way passed via the bridge through Hanchjoivan gulf. It extends to 36 km. The team is staying at the New Century Grand where the contests are to be held.

Elmir Aliyev
News.Az

Azerbaijan team heads to China for WTC

Individual contracts signed with members of Azerbaijani chess team
Tue 12 July 2011 07:02 GMT | 2:02 Local Time

Azerbaijan’s chess team will leave for world team championship in the Chinese city of Ningbo on 13 July.

The team held the second training in Gabala from 5 to 10 July, during which the captain of the team Vladimir Tukmakov was to determine the placement of players on the boards.

"Me and chess players already know on what boards they will play in Ningbo,” Tukmakov said. “Buat we will announce this just before the World Cup, which starts on 17 July. My decision caused no differences. All chess players agreed with it. "

President of National Chess Federation of Azerbaijan Elman Rustamov met with players of the national team in the Central Bank of Azerbaijan on Monday.

"For his part, Azerbaijan Chess Federation has done everything that depended on it. It organized by two beautiful training camps, individual contracts were signed with all chess players of the national team, including the first reservists. Rustamov wished the team a good luck. We will try to justify this confidence,” the captain of the team said.

“Summing up the training, I can say that we have fulfilled the task. The team is in good condition and is ready for start of the World Cup. However, no matter how I evaluated the past training, the main indicator of their usefulness will be the result, which we will achieve in China.

“Is it too late or us to go to Ningbo, given that the main favorites - the Russians - flew to China on 10 July to acclimatize? I do not consider myself a big expert on this issue, but I have a great experience.”

“I think that we have chosen suitable time. When athletes are together for too long, even in spite of an excellent relationship within the team, there may be some tension.

“We will be in China at morning on 14 July. I think that three days will be enough for acclimatization,” Tumakov said.

Members of the Azerbaijani team are Shahriyar Mammedyarov (2765), Vugar Gashimov (2760), Teimur Rajabov (2744), Rauf Mammedov (2679), Gadir Guseinov (2625).

Elmir Aliyev
News.Az