Russia leads in the World Team Championships

by ChessBase
11/3/2005 – Peter Svidler and Alexander Morozevich, both fresh from the world championship in Argentina, won their first two games at the World Team Championship, which has started in the Beer Sheva City, Israel. Nine teams are present, and they include eight players rated over 2700. Illustrated report.

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The championship takes place in the Yad Lebanim House, Reger Ave, Menahem Begin Square, Beer Sheva City, Israel. The world's strongest teams are participating, headed by Ukraine, Russia, Armenia and the USA. Israel, the host, is ranked fifth worldwide. Last year Israel won second place in the European championship games. There is also a women’s team from China competing, a first in such an event. A total of eight players are rated over 2700: Vassily Ivanchuk, Ruslan Ponomariov (both Ukraine), Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk, Alexander Morozevich (all Russia), Levon Aronian, Boris Akopian (Armenia) and Boris Gelfand (Israel). The youngest player is Sergey Karjakin, who is 16. The competition lasts ten days, during which eight rounds will be played.

The Teams

Armenia
Levon Aronian 2724
Vladimir Akopian 2707
Asrian Karen 2645
Rafael Vaganian 2614
Smbat Lputian 2614
Ashot Anastasian 2596
Captain: – Tigran Nalbandyan
 
China Men
Xiangzhi Bu 2637
Pengxiang Zhang 2613
Hua Ni 2603
Zhang Zhong 2608
Jianchao Zhou 2516
Chong Liang 2515
Captain: Ye Jiang Chuan
 
China Women
Xue Zhao 2478
Huang Qian 2398
Wang Yu 2396
Qianyun Gong 2374
Shen Yang 2326
Yifan Hou 2220
Captain: Zhang Wei Da
Cuba
Lazaro Bruzon 2677
Lenier Dominguez 2635
Neuris Delgado 2551
Jesus Nogueiras 2547
Walter Arencibia 2510
Yuniesky Quezada 2505
Captain: Jose Luis Altuna
 
Georgia  
Zurab Azmaiparashvili 2658
Baadur Jobava 2601
Giorgi Giorgadze 2601
Levan Pantsulaia 2578
Mchedlishvili Mikheil 2564
Merab Gagunashvili 2542
 
 
Israel
Boris Gelfand 2717
Ilia Smirin 2673
Emil Sutovsky 2654
Boris Avrukh 2653
Michael Roiz 2600
Sergey Erenburg 2582
Captain Alex Kaspi
Russia
Peter Svidler 2740
Alexey Dreev 2694
Alexander Grischuk 2720
Alexander Morozevich 2707
Evgeny Bareev 2675
Sergei Rublevsky 2652
Captain: Sergey Dolmatov
 
Ukraine
Vassily Ivanchuk 2748
Ruslan Ponomariov 2704
Andrei Volotkin 2666
Pavel Eljanov 2663
Moiseenko Alexander 2663
Sergey Karjakin 2658
Captain: Leonid Tymoshenko
 
USA
Alexander Onischuk 2628
Boris Gulko 2589
Gregory Kaidanov 2614
Alexander Goldin 2615
Ildar Ibragimov 2605
Igor Novikov 2589
Captain: Postovsky Boris

In the first round Russia beat Cuba 3-1, with Svidler and Morozevich winning their games on boards one and four against Bruzon and Quezada. Dreev and Grischuk drew. The US defeated Georgia 2.5-1.5, the winner coming from Ibragimov against Pantsulaia. Armenia and Israel drew 2-2, while the Chinese Men ungallantly trounced the Chinese Women 4-0.

In the round two Cuba defeated the Chinese Women 3-1, Georgia lost to Armenia 1-3, and Ukraine defeated the US 2.5-1.5, with Ivanchuk and Volokitin scoring against Onischuk and Goldin, and Eljanov losing to Ibrgaimov. In the top encounter Russia defeated hosts Israel 2.5-1.5, with Svidler and Morozevich once again winning their games against Gelfand and Sutovsky, and Smirin defeating Alexander Grischuk.

Standings after two rounds

  Team wins losses draws points
1 Russia
2
0
0
5.5
2 Armenia
1
0
1
5
3 USA
1
1
0
4
4 Cuba
1
1
0
4
5 China Men
1
0
0
4
6 Israel
0
1
1
3.5
7 Ukraine
1
0
0
2.5
8 Georgia
0
2
0
2.5
9 China Women
0
2
0
1

All games so far in zipped PGN

The official web site is nicely designed, obviously by an ambitious design team. The navigation is unusual with drop-downs for almost everything. There is live transmission of the games and plenty of (uncaptioned) pictures. In the Reports section you will find comments and annotated game fragments by Alon Greenfeld.

Picture gallery


The venue is the the beautiful Yad Lebanim House in Beer Sheva, Israel


Visitors and spectators at the openings ceremony


The press conference before the start of the event


The playing hall, with USA vs Georgia (left) and Armenia vs Israel in progress


Russia's Alexander Grischuk in his first-round game against Jesus Nogueiras


Yuniesky Quezada (Cuba) vs. Alexander Morozevich (Russia)


Playing for the US: Boris Gulko


One of the Chinese Women's squad


Even the very young know and enjoy chess in Israel


Two analysts trying to solve a complicated endgame position


Commentary in the theatre of the Yad Lebanim House


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

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