It was long before I was born the last time that the United States won a gold medal victory at a Chess Olympiad. That kind of drought is long enough for many American chess enthusiasts to start each Olympiad off with little to no hope for a competitive finish. Countries like Russia and China have dominated the scene for years, but all of that changed in the final round of the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku when the United States defeated Canada to earn its first gold medal since 1976!
This got me to thinking…what was the world like the last time that the United States won a gold medal in a Chess Olympiad?
- Height of the Fischer Chess Boom after the 1972 match against Boris Spassky.
- First flight of the Concorde airplane.
- Apple Computer Company was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
- The Canada CN tower was completed.
- Howard Hughes dies at age 70.
- Viking I Lander arrives on Mars.
- Fidel Castro becomes President of Cuba.
My, how far we have come… The Fischer boom is long gone and most people under 25 probably do not remember the Concorde. But it is 2016 and chess in America is undergoing a renaissance. The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis has hosted some of the strongest tournaments in American history and the United States Chess Federation continues to transform itself into a powerhouse of chess promotion and advocacy. That strong advocacy led to the acquisition of Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana, who won the United States Chess Championship earlier this year. With a renewed vigor and youthful dynamic, the United States team steam rolled into the Baku Chess Olympiad to capture a series of early victories and never letting up on their competition.
Power Out of the Gates
It was readily apparent at the outset of the tournament that the United States team was a force to be reckoned with. They earned four victories early before falling behind a point to Scotland in Round 2.
[pgn]
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.02”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
[Black “Aloma Vidal, Robert”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “1”]
[WhiteID “2016192”]
[WhiteElo “2789”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “2016192”]
[WhiteEloChange “1”]
[BlackID “2260409”]
[BlackElo “2482”]
[BlackTitle “IM”]
[BlackCountry “AND”]
[BlackFideId “2260409”]
[BlackEloChange “-1”]
1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:54]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:43]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:19]} e6 {[%clk
1:29:54]} 3. g3 {[%clk 1:31:39]} b5 {[%clk 1:23:21]} 4. Bg5 {[%clk 1:30:10]} Bb7
{[%clk 1:15:29]} 5. Nbd2 {[%clk 1:30:35]} c5 {[%clk 1:10:18]} 6. e4 {[%clk
1:31:01]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:05:01]} 7. Bxb5 {[%clk 1:28:12]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:46:57]} 8.
a3 {[%clk 1:20:23]} Bxd2+ {[%clk 0:45:52]} 9. Nxd2 {[%clk 1:16:08]} h6 {[%clk
0:44:11]} 10. Bxf6 {[%clk 1:14:38]} Qxf6 {[%clk 0:43:57]} 11. O-O {[%clk
1:15:03]} O-O {[%clk 0:43:38]} 12. Qe2 {[%clk 1:14:32]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:40:32]} 13.
Nb3 {[%clk 1:11:53]} Rab8 {[%clk 0:35:20]} 14. Rad1 {[%clk 1:05:26]} d3 {[%clk
0:24:49]} 15. cxd3 {[%clk 0:57:15]} Nd4 {[%clk 0:06:49]} 16. Nxd4 {[%clk
0:56:54]} Qxd4 {[%clk 0:07:17]} 17. b4 {[%clk 0:49:13]} d5 {[%clk 0:06:36]} 18.
e5 {[%clk 0:46:35]} a6 {[%clk 0:04:56]} 19. Ba4 {[%clk 0:46:49]} a5 {[%clk
0:04:10]} 20. Rb1 {[%clk 0:47:14]} Ba6 {[%clk 0:03:24]} 21. b5 {[%clk 0:47:40]}
Qxa4 {[%clk 0:03:13]} 22. bxa6 {[%clk 0:48:05]} Qxa3 {[%clk 0:02:14]} 23. d4
{[%clk 0:47:53]} Qc3 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 24. a7 {[%clk 0:38:28]} Ra8 {[%clk
0:00:49]} 25. Rb7 {[%clk 0:38:51]} Qxd4 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 26. Qe3 {[%clk 0:39:18]}
Qc4 {[%clk 0:00:42]} 27. Qb6 {[%clk 0:38:25]} d4 {[%clk 0:00:33]} 28. Rd7 {[%clk
0:34:07]} Qb4 {[%clk 0:00:37]} 29. Qxb4 {[%clk 0:33:50]} axb4 {[%clk 0:01:05]}
30. Rb1 {[%clk 0:34:12]} d3 {[%clk 0:00:36]} 31. Rxb4 {[%clk 0:34:33]} Kh7 {[%clk
0:00:35]} 32. Rbb7 {[%clk 0:30:08]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:44]} 33. Rxd3 {[%clk
0:30:31]} Rfc8 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 34. Rdd7 {[%clk 0:30:55]} Rf8 {[%clk 0:00:52]}
35. Rbc7 {[%clk 0:31:06]} h5 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 36. h4 {[%clk 0:31:23]} Rae8 {[%clk
0:00:57]} 37. Rb7 {[%clk 0:31:36]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:00:58]} 38. Kf1 {[%clk 0:31:14]}
Rac8 {[%clk 0:01:05]} 39. Ke2 {[%clk 0:31:32]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:00:54]} 40. Kd3
{[%clk 0:59:47]} Rac8 {[%clk 0:31:18]} 41. Rbc7 {[%clk 0:59:37]} Ra8 {[%clk
0:30:53]} 42. Kc4 {[%clk 1:00:00]} Rae8 {[%clk 0:31:11]} 43. Kb5 {[%clk 1:00:22]}
Ra8 {[%clk 0:31:36]} 44. Ka6 {[%clk 1:00:37]} Rae8 {[%clk 0:31:35]} 45. Kb7
{[%clk 1:00:52]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:31:59]} 46. f3 {[%clk 1:00:48]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.02”]
[Round “1”]
[White “De La Riva Aguado, Oscar”]
[Black “So, Wesley”]
[Result “0-1”]
[Board “2”]
[WhiteID “6900224”]
[WhiteElo “2503”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “AND”]
[WhiteFideId “6900224”]
[WhiteEloChange “-2”]
[BlackID “5202213”]
[BlackElo “2782”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “5202213”]
[BlackEloChange “2”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:52]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:47]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:31:16]} 3. d4 {[%clk 1:30:06]} exd4 {[%clk 1:31:40]} 4. Nxd4 {[%clk 1:30:31]}
Nf6 {[%clk 1:31:47]} 5. Nxc6 {[%clk 1:29:29]} bxc6 {[%clk 1:32:11]} 6. Qe2 {[%clk
1:28:27]} Rb8 {[%clk 1:32:00]} 7. e5 {[%clk 1:25:35]} Nd5 {[%clk 1:32:20]} 8. c4
{[%clk 1:25:15]} Bb4+ {[%clk 1:31:18]} 9. Nd2 {[%clk 1:23:59]} Nf4 {[%clk
1:10:11]} 10. Qe3 {[%clk 1:19:22]} Ng6 {[%clk 1:05:21]} 11. a3 {[%clk 1:04:41]}
Be7 {[%clk 1:01:51]} 12. Nf3 {[%clk 0:51:00]} c5 {[%clk 0:51:34]} 13. h4 {[%clk
0:47:05]} Rb6 {[%clk 0:45:24]} 14. h5 {[%clk 0:38:13]} Nf8 {[%clk 0:44:37]} 15.
Qc3 {[%clk 0:38:37]} f6 {[%clk 0:36:44]} 16. h6 {[%clk 0:28:10]} g6 {[%clk
0:36:49]} 17. Be3 {[%clk 0:22:11]} Ne6 {[%clk 0:36:30]} 18. Bd3 {[%clk 0:11:27]}
fxe5 {[%clk 0:36:45]} 19. Qxe5 {[%clk 0:11:51]} O-O {[%clk 0:34:36]} 20. Rd1
{[%clk 0:08:49]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:30:16]} 21. Rh3 {[%clk 0:07:26]} Bd6 {[%clk
0:24:25]} 22. Qc3 {[%clk 0:07:51]} Qf6 {[%clk 0:24:52]} 23. Qxf6 {[%clk 0:06:55]}
Rxf6 {[%clk 0:25:19]} 24. b4 {[%clk 0:07:19]} cxb4 {[%clk 0:25:16]} 25. Bxb6
{[%clk 0:06:38]} axb6 {[%clk 0:25:08]} 26. axb4 {[%clk 0:06:48]} Bxb4+ {[%clk
0:19:44]} 27. Kf1 {[%clk 0:07:08]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:20:09]} 28. Rh4 {[%clk 0:03:41]}
Nf4 {[%clk 0:19:07]} 29. Be2 {[%clk 0:03:45]} Rf5 {[%clk 0:11:57]} 30. Rd4 {[%clk
0:03:16]} Kf7 {[%clk 0:08:47]} 31. Bd3 {[%clk 0:02:38]} Nxd3 {[%clk 0:05:41]} 32.
Rxd3 {[%clk 0:03:02]} g5 {[%clk 0:05:14]} 33. Rg4 {[%clk 0:02:01]} Kf6 {[%clk
0:04:58]} 34. Rgd4 {[%clk 0:01:58]} Bc6 {[%clk 0:05:01]} 35. Rxd6+ {[%clk
0:00:41]} cxd6 {[%clk 0:05:28]} 36. Rxd6+ {[%clk 0:01:06]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:05:53]}
37. Rd3 {[%clk 0:01:18]} Bxf3 {[%clk 0:02:22]} 38. gxf3 {[%clk 0:01:44]} Kd8
{[%clk 0:02:26]} 39. Kg2 {[%clk 0:01:16]} Rf4 {[%clk 0:01:49]} 40. Rb3 {[%clk
0:30:36]} Kc7 {[%clk 0:31:40]} 41. Re3 {[%clk 0:17:22]} Rh4 {[%clk 0:13:06]} 42.
Re5 {[%clk 0:10:32]} Rxh6 {[%clk 0:13:31]} 43. Rxg5 {[%clk 0:10:57]} Rg6 {[%clk
0:13:59]} 44. f4 {[%clk 0:11:20]} Kc6 {[%clk 0:08:08]} 45. Kf3 {[%clk 0:05:22]}
Rxg5 {[%clk 0:05:36]} 46. fxg5 {[%clk 0:05:44]} d5 {[%clk 0:06:03]} 47. cxd5+
{[%clk 0:00:34]} Kxd5 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 48. Kg4 {[%clk 0:00:35]} b5 {[%clk
0:06:52]} 49. f4 {[%clk 0:00:58]} b4 {[%clk 0:07:18]} 50. f5 {[%clk 0:01:18]} b3
{[%clk 0:07:45]} 0-1
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.02”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Shankland, Samuel L”]
[Black “Fernandez Lopez, Joan”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “3”]
[WhiteID “2004887”]
[WhiteElo “2679”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “2004887”]
[WhiteEloChange “1”]
[BlackID “6900348”]
[BlackElo “2142”]
[BlackCountry “AND”]
[BlackFideId “6900348”]
[BlackEloChange “-2”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:51]} c5 {[%clk 1:30:42]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:14]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:30:51]} 3. d4 {[%clk 1:31:39]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:30:46]} 4. Nxd4 {[%clk 1:32:04]}
g6 {[%clk 1:30:28]} 5. c4 {[%clk 1:32:26]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:29:59]} 6. Be3 {[%clk
1:32:48]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:29:47]} 7. Nc3 {[%clk 1:33:12]} d6 {[%clk 1:29:02]} 8. Be2
{[%clk 1:33:36]} Nxd4 {[%clk 1:27:50]} 9. Bxd4 {[%clk 1:34:00]} O-O {[%clk
1:27:52]} 10. O-O {[%clk 1:34:23]} a5 {[%clk 1:25:26]} 11. b3 {[%clk 1:25:34]}
Bd7 {[%clk 1:22:41]} 12. Qd3 {[%clk 1:25:55]} Bc6 {[%clk 1:16:27]} 13. a3 {[%clk
1:25:40]} Nd7 {[%clk 1:10:07]} 14. Bxg7 {[%clk 1:26:00]} Kxg7 {[%clk 1:10:27]}
15. b4 {[%clk 1:26:23]} Qb6 {[%clk 1:03:00]} 16. c5 {[%clk 1:21:18]} Qc7 {[%clk
0:42:46]} 17. cxd6 {[%clk 1:21:11]} exd6 {[%clk 0:30:25]} 18. Qd4+ {[%clk
1:15:45]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:27:41]} 19. b5 {[%clk 1:16:02]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.02”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Garcia Paolicchi, Raul”]
[Black “Robson, Ray”]
[Result “0-1”]
[Board “4”]
[WhiteID “6900020”]
[WhiteElo “2153”]
[WhiteTitle “FM”]
[WhiteCountry “AND”]
[WhiteFideId “6900020”]
[WhiteEloChange “-2”]
[BlackID “2023970”]
[BlackElo “2674”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “2023970”]
[BlackEloChange “1”]
1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} g6 {[%clk
1:30:30]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:30:30]} d5 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 4. cxd5 {[%clk 1:30:30]}
Nxd5 {[%clk 1:30:38]} 5. e4 {[%clk 1:28:50]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:30:55]} 6. bxc3 {[%clk
1:29:13]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:31:04]} 7. Bg5 {[%clk 1:29:08]} c5 {[%clk 1:24:09]} 8. Rc1
{[%clk 1:29:05]} O-O {[%clk 1:22:57]} 9. Nf3 {[%clk 1:27:56]} Bg4 {[%clk
1:15:42]} 10. d5 {[%clk 1:26:52]} Qd6 {[%clk 1:09:39]} 11. Be2 {[%clk 1:23:58]}
Nd7 {[%clk 0:56:26]} 12. Nd2 {[%clk 1:10:58]} Bxe2 {[%clk 0:52:43]} 13. Qxe2
{[%clk 1:11:08]} e6 {[%clk 0:51:51]} 14. dxe6 {[%clk 0:57:18]} Qxe6 {[%clk
0:51:45]} 15. Rc2 {[%clk 0:56:29]} c4 {[%clk 0:34:00]} 16. O-O {[%clk 0:53:04]}
Nc5 {[%clk 0:26:20]} 17. Rb1 {[%clk 0:42:35]} h6 {[%clk 0:20:01]} 18. Bf4 {[%clk
0:34:21]} g5 {[%clk 0:16:50]} 19. Be3 {[%clk 0:29:27]} Nxe4 {[%clk 0:16:06]} 20.
Qxc4 {[%clk 0:28:17]} Qxc4 {[%clk 0:16:07]} 21. Nxc4 {[%clk 0:28:37]} b6 {[%clk
0:10:01]} 22. Bd4 {[%clk 0:22:49]} Rac8 {[%clk 0:08:47]} 23. Re1 {[%clk 0:15:31]}
Rxc4 {[%clk 0:07:02]} 24. Rxe4 {[%clk 0:15:37]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:06:27]} 25. Ree2
{[%clk 0:12:42]} Bxd4 {[%clk 0:06:16]} 26. cxd4 {[%clk 0:13:04]} Rdxd4 {[%clk
0:06:29]} 27. f3 {[%clk 0:13:15]} Rxc2 {[%clk 0:06:21]} 28. Rxc2 {[%clk 0:13:38]}
h5 {[%clk 0:06:18]} 29. Kf2 {[%clk 0:13:04]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 30. Ke3 {[%clk
0:09:57]} Ra4 {[%clk 0:03:27]} 31. Kd3 {[%clk 0:10:00]} h4 {[%clk 0:02:04]} 32.
h3 {[%clk 0:09:14]} b5 {[%clk 0:01:20]} 33. Re2 {[%clk 0:09:12]} Kg6 {[%clk
0:01:24]} 34. Kc3 {[%clk 0:08:23]} a5 {[%clk 0:01:26]} 35. Kb3 {[%clk 0:08:02]}
Rb4+ {[%clk 0:01:29]} 36. Kc3 {[%clk 0:07:24]} Kf5 {[%clk 0:01:19]} 37. Kd3
{[%clk 0:04:14]} Kf4 {[%clk 0:01:24]} 38. Rc2 {[%clk 0:04:17]} Rc4 {[%clk
0:00:41]} 39. Rb2 {[%clk 0:03:43]} Rc5 {[%clk 0:30:43]} 40. Kd4 {[%clk 0:32:04]}
Re5 {[%clk 0:00:49]} 41. Kd3 {[%clk 0:31:41]} Rd5+ {[%clk 0:25:33]} 42. Ke2
{[%clk 0:30:30]} Kg3 {[%clk 0:23:38]} 43. Ke3 {[%clk 0:29:17]} b4 {[%clk
0:23:08]} 44. Rc2 {[%clk 0:21:34]} f5 {[%clk 0:23:00]} 0-1
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.03”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Greet, Andrew N”]
[Black “Caruana, Fabiano”]
[Result “0-1”]
[Board “1”]
[WhiteID “405817”]
[WhiteElo “2455”]
[WhiteTitle “IM”]
[WhiteCountry “SCO”]
[WhiteFideId “405817”]
[WhiteEloChange “-1”]
[BlackID “2020009”]
[BlackElo “2808”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “2020009”]
[BlackEloChange “1”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:54]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:06]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:31:18]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:30:57]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:51]} 4. Be2 {[%clk 1:30:57]} d5
{[%clk 1:25:20]} 5. exd5 {[%clk 1:31:12]} Nxd5 {[%clk 1:25:45]} 6. O-O {[%clk
1:31:16]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:25:01]} 7. bxc3 {[%clk 1:31:37]} e4 {[%clk 1:19:57]} 8.
Ne1 {[%clk 1:30:52]} Bd6 {[%clk 1:14:03]} 9. f3 {[%clk 1:12:12]} f5 {[%clk
0:44:33]} 10. fxe4 {[%clk 1:09:09]} fxe4 {[%clk 0:44:56]} 11. d4 {[%clk 0:52:40]}
Be6 {[%clk 0:43:37]} 12. Rb1 {[%clk 0:49:11]} Na5 {[%clk 0:35:04]} 13. g3 {[%clk
0:38:18]} Qd7 {[%clk 0:29:47]} 14. Rb5 {[%clk 0:29:53]} Nc4 {[%clk 0:18:40]} 15.
Rxb7 {[%clk 0:11:40]} Nb6 {[%clk 0:18:57]} 16. c4 {[%clk 0:12:00]} Qc6 {[%clk
0:15:57]} 17. c5 {[%clk 0:10:13]} Qxb7 {[%clk 0:13:32]} 18. cxd6 {[%clk 0:10:24]}
cxd6 {[%clk 0:13:41]} 19. Bb5+ {[%clk 0:09:46]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:13:16]} 20. Ng2
{[%clk 0:07:59]} O-O-O {[%clk 0:08:21]} 21. Rf7 {[%clk 0:06:47]} Qd5 {[%clk
0:08:13]} 22. Ba6+ {[%clk 0:06:44]} Kb8 {[%clk 0:08:38]} 23. Rxg7 {[%clk
0:06:55]} Qxa2 {[%clk 0:08:26]} 24. Be2 {[%clk 0:05:09]} Ba4 {[%clk 0:07:06]} 25.
Ne3 {[%clk 0:04:37]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:04:46]} 26. Qe1 {[%clk 0:02:43]} Bxc2 {[%clk
0:04:24]} 27. Bg4 {[%clk 0:02:11]} Rc6 {[%clk 0:03:41]} 28. Nf5 {[%clk 0:01:07]}
e3 {[%clk 0:02:23]} 29. Ne7 {[%clk 0:00:39]} Be4 {[%clk 0:01:14]} 30. Nxc6+
{[%clk 0:01:01]} Bxc6 {[%clk 0:01:40]} 31. Qe2 {[%clk 0:00:38]} Qd5 {[%clk
0:01:56]} 32. Bxe3 {[%clk 0:00:36]} Rf8 {[%clk 0:01:49]} 33. Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:52]}
Rxf4 {[%clk 0:01:19]} 34. gxf4 {[%clk 0:00:58]} Qxd4+ {[%clk 0:01:44]} 35. Kf1
{[%clk 0:00:41]} Qxg7 {[%clk 0:02:03]} 36. f5 {[%clk 0:00:44]} Nd5 {[%clk
0:01:32]} 37. Bf3 {[%clk 0:00:43]} Qa1+ {[%clk 0:01:42]} 0-1
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.03”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
[Black “Shaw, John”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “2”]
[WhiteID “2016192”]
[WhiteElo “2789”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “2016192”]
[WhiteEloChange “1”]
[BlackID “2400553”]
[BlackElo “2454”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “SCO”]
[BlackFideId “2400553”]
[BlackEloChange “-1”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:53]} d5 {[%clk 1:29:24]} 2. exd5 {[%clk 1:31:17]} Qxd5 {[%clk
1:29:50]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:31:42]} Qd8 {[%clk 1:30:13]} 4. d4 {[%clk 1:32:07]} Nf6
{[%clk 1:30:23]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk 1:32:31]} a6 {[%clk 1:29:33]} 6. Bg5 {[%clk
1:32:54]} h6 {[%clk 1:20:29]} 7. Bxf6 {[%clk 1:32:55]} exf6 {[%clk 1:20:37]} 8.
Nf3 {[%clk 1:33:21]} Bb4 {[%clk 1:09:20]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:31:15]} Bxc3 {[%clk
1:09:30]} 10. bxc3 {[%clk 1:31:41]} O-O {[%clk 1:09:46]} 11. Re1 {[%clk 1:30:17]}
Nc6 {[%clk 1:04:31]} 12. Nh4 {[%clk 1:26:27]} Na5 {[%clk 0:51:18]} 13. Bd3 {[%clk
1:21:44]} Be6 {[%clk 0:42:32]} 14. Ng6 {[%clk 0:53:48]} Re8 {[%clk 0:37:58]} 15.
Qh5 {[%clk 0:54:12]} c5 {[%clk 0:20:48]} 16. Nf4 {[%clk 0:52:14]} c4 {[%clk
0:18:33]} 17. Be4 {[%clk 0:51:59]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:14:56]} 18. g3 {[%clk 0:51:08]}
Rad8 {[%clk 0:12:23]} 19. Re3 {[%clk 0:48:11]} b6 {[%clk 0:06:38]} 20. Rae1
{[%clk 0:48:23]} Qd6 {[%clk 0:05:04]} 21. Bd5 {[%clk 0:47:58]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.03”]
[Round “2”]
[White “McNab, Colin A”]
[Black “Shankland, Samuel L”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[Board “3”]
[WhiteID “2400030”]
[WhiteElo “2434”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “SCO”]
[WhiteFideId “2400030”]
[WhiteEloChange “3”]
[BlackID “2004887”]
[BlackElo “2679”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “2004887”]
[BlackEloChange “-3”]
1. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:53]} c5 {[%clk 1:30:43]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} Nf6 {[%clk
1:30:53]} 3. g3 {[%clk 1:30:31]} Nc6 {[%clk 1:31:10]} 4. Bg2 {[%clk 1:30:31]} d5
{[%clk 1:31:24]} 5. cxd5 {[%clk 1:29:40]} Nxd5 {[%clk 1:31:48]} 6. Nc3 {[%clk
1:28:59]} Nc7 {[%clk 1:31:59]} 7. b3 {[%clk 1:26:55]} e5 {[%clk 1:31:10]} 8. Bb2
{[%clk 1:26:55]} f6 {[%clk 1:31:18]} 9. Rc1 {[%clk 1:23:34]} Bg4 {[%clk 1:30:19]}
10. d3 {[%clk 0:52:42]} Qd7 {[%clk 1:26:19]} 11. Na4 {[%clk 0:52:11]} b6 {[%clk
1:23:54]} 12. a3 {[%clk 0:51:39]} O-O-O {[%clk 1:00:04]} 13. Qc2 {[%clk 0:45:17]}
Nd5 {[%clk 0:53:40]} 14. b4 {[%clk 0:31:56]} cxb4 {[%clk 0:37:56]} 15. Qxc6+
{[%clk 0:29:14]} Qxc6 {[%clk 0:38:24]} 16. Rxc6+ {[%clk 0:29:34]} Kb7 {[%clk
0:38:52]} 17. Rc4 {[%clk 0:26:34]} Bxf3 {[%clk 0:36:12]} 18. Bxf3 {[%clk
0:26:50]} b5 {[%clk 0:36:40]} 19. axb4 {[%clk 0:21:17]} bxa4 {[%clk 0:35:41]} 20.
Kd2 {[%clk 0:08:06]} Ka6 {[%clk 0:31:59]} 21. Bxd5 {[%clk 0:07:46]} Rxd5 {[%clk
0:32:13]} 22. Bc3 {[%clk 0:08:03]} Kb5 {[%clk 0:29:09]} 23. Rc7 {[%clk 0:05:45]}
Rd6 {[%clk 0:29:35]} 24. Rc5+ {[%clk 0:05:04]} Kb6 {[%clk 0:27:51]} 25. Ra1
{[%clk 0:04:54]} Kb7 {[%clk 0:27:22]} 26. Rxa4 {[%clk 0:03:59]} Rb6 {[%clk
0:27:46]} 27. Rd5 {[%clk 0:03:21]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:27:26]} 28. b5 {[%clk 0:03:30]}
Rd8 {[%clk 0:27:49]} 29. Rc4 {[%clk 0:02:16]} Be7 {[%clk 0:27:00]} 30. Rxd8
{[%clk 0:02:18]} Bxd8 {[%clk 0:27:29]} 31. Ba5 {[%clk 0:02:06]} Rd6 {[%clk
0:27:58]} 32. Bxd8 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Rxd8 {[%clk 0:28:28]} 33. Kc3 {[%clk
0:02:22]} Kb6 {[%clk 0:27:17]} 34. Kb4 {[%clk 0:02:31]} Rd6 {[%clk 0:27:43]} 35.
h4 {[%clk 0:02:11]} h5 {[%clk 0:28:01]} 36. g4 {[%clk 0:01:52]} hxg4 {[%clk
0:24:56]} 37. Rxg4 {[%clk 0:02:16]} Rd5 {[%clk 0:25:19]} 38. Rxg7 {[%clk
0:02:16]} Rd4+ {[%clk 0:25:46]} 39. Kc3 {[%clk 0:01:49]} Rxh4 {[%clk 0:26:11]}
40. Rf7 {[%clk 0:30:53]} Rf4 {[%clk 0:56:16]} 41. f3 {[%clk 0:30:49]} Kxb5 {[%clk
0:56:29]} 42. Rxa7 {[%clk 0:30:53]} Kc6 {[%clk 0:56:56]} 43. Rg7 {[%clk 0:28:57]}
Kd6 {[%clk 0:56:46]} 44. Rg4 {[%clk 0:28:39]} Rf5 {[%clk 0:57:12]} 45. Ra4 {[%clk
0:25:16]} Rh5 {[%clk 0:57:22]} 46. f4 {[%clk 0:20:32]} Rh2 {[%clk 0:55:49]} 47.
Ra6+ {[%clk 0:13:08]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:56:10]} 48. fxe5 {[%clk 0:12:56]} fxe5 {[%clk
0:56:36]} 49. e4 {[%clk 0:12:47]} Rh8 {[%clk 0:56:49]} 50. Kc4 {[%clk 0:12:43]}
Rd8 {[%clk 0:57:07]} 51. Rh6 {[%clk 0:11:55]} 1/2-1/2
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.03”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Robson, Ray”]
[Black “Gourlay, Iain”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “4”]
[WhiteID “2023970”]
[WhiteElo “2674”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “2023970”]
[WhiteEloChange “2”]
[BlackID “2401533”]
[BlackElo “2393”]
[BlackTitle “FM”]
[BlackCountry “SCO”]
[BlackFideId “2401533”]
[BlackEloChange “-3”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:47]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:05]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:31:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 1:30:18]} a6 {[%clk 1:31:11]} 4. Ba4 {[%clk 1:30:24]} Nf6
{[%clk 1:31:17]} 5. d3 {[%clk 1:27:45]} d6 {[%clk 1:30:39]} 6. c3 {[%clk
1:25:44]} g6 {[%clk 1:28:22]} 7. O-O {[%clk 1:22:28]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:22:41]} 8.
Nbd2 {[%clk 1:21:24]} O-O {[%clk 1:21:33]} 9. Re1 {[%clk 1:18:01]} Re8 {[%clk
1:14:34]} 10. h3 {[%clk 1:02:54]} h6 {[%clk 0:58:35]} 11. d4 {[%clk 1:01:33]} b5
{[%clk 0:53:31]} 12. Bc2 {[%clk 0:57:02]} exd4 {[%clk 0:39:44]} 13. cxd4 {[%clk
0:56:51]} Nb4 {[%clk 0:38:56]} 14. Bb1 {[%clk 0:52:49]} c5 {[%clk 0:37:48]} 15.
a3 {[%clk 0:40:26]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:37:04]} 16. d5 {[%clk 0:40:36]} Na5 {[%clk
0:30:39]} 17. Nf1 {[%clk 0:35:24]} Ra7 {[%clk 0:24:24]} 18. Ng3 {[%clk 0:32:42]}
Rae7 {[%clk 0:22:04]} 19. Bc2 {[%clk 0:29:03]} c4 {[%clk 0:13:59]} 20. Bf4 {[%clk
0:24:20]} Nb3 {[%clk 0:07:07]} 21. Bxb3 {[%clk 0:22:18]} cxb3 {[%clk 0:07:32]}
22. Qd3 {[%clk 0:20:57]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:02:47]} 23. Re2 {[%clk 0:17:37]} Qb6 {[%clk
0:02:16]} 24. Rae1 {[%clk 0:16:36]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 25. Qxb3 {[%clk
0:16:26]} Nc5 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 26. Qd1 {[%clk 0:11:13]} b4 {[%clk 0:01:18]} 27.
axb4 {[%clk 0:11:21]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:32]} 28. Qd2 {[%clk 0:11:00]} Kh7 {[%clk
0:00:37]} 29. Be3 {[%clk 0:10:49]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:00:34]} 30. Bd4 {[%clk 0:09:59]}
Bxd4 {[%clk 0:00:33]} 31. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:10:22]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:00:34]} 32. Ngf5
{[%clk 0:10:09]} 1-0
[/pgn]
From that point on, the United States team held a solid momentum to compete for placement in the tournament’s top three positions. The drama lasted, however, until the very end.
[pgn]
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Caruana, Fabiano”]
[Black “Bareev, Evgeny”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “1”]
[WhiteID “2020009”]
[WhiteElo “2808”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “2020009”]
[WhiteEloChange “3”]
[BlackID “4100140”]
[BlackElo “2675”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “CAN”]
[BlackFideId “4100140”]
[BlackEloChange “-3”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:57]} c6 {[%clk 1:28:49]} 2. d4 {[%clk 1:31:21]} d5 {[%clk
1:29:11]} 3. e5 {[%clk 1:31:45]} Bf5 {[%clk 1:29:38]} 4. Nf3 {[%clk 1:32:09]} e6
{[%clk 1:30:07]} 5. Be2 {[%clk 1:32:33]} Nd7 {[%clk 1:30:29]} 6. O-O {[%clk
1:32:47]} Bg6 {[%clk 1:30:50]} 7. a4 {[%clk 1:32:00]} Ne7 {[%clk 1:28:10]} 8. a5
{[%clk 1:29:07]} a6 {[%clk 1:21:22]} 9. b4 {[%clk 1:21:30]} Nf5 {[%clk 1:13:07]}
10. c3 {[%clk 1:21:54]} f6 {[%clk 1:13:31]} 11. Bf4 {[%clk 1:15:13]} fxe5 {[%clk
1:11:52]} 12. dxe5 {[%clk 1:14:07]} Be7 {[%clk 1:08:40]} 13. g4 {[%clk 0:50:16]}
Nh4 {[%clk 0:59:57]} 14. Nd4 {[%clk 0:50:41]} Bf7 {[%clk 1:00:23]} 15. Bg3 {[%clk
0:51:08]} h5 {[%clk 0:59:52]} 16. gxh5 {[%clk 0:47:41]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:53:15]} 17.
Bg4 {[%clk 0:46:23]} Rh6 {[%clk 0:47:21]} 18. f4 {[%clk 0:45:12]} c5 {[%clk
0:46:37]} 19. bxc5 {[%clk 0:44:53]} Qxc5 {[%clk 0:41:07]} 20. Kh1 {[%clk
0:38:10]} O-O-O {[%clk 0:40:47]} 21. Nd2 {[%clk 0:30:13]} Rdh8 {[%clk 0:39:26]}
22. Qe1 {[%clk 0:29:18]} Bxh5 {[%clk 0:32:14]} 23. Bxe6 {[%clk 0:25:33]} Be8
{[%clk 0:25:08]} 24. f5 {[%clk 0:24:33]} Bd8 {[%clk 0:25:10]} 25. Rf4 {[%clk
0:17:53]} g5 {[%clk 0:23:45]} 26. Rf2 {[%clk 0:17:44]} Bc7 {[%clk 0:23:59]} 27.
Qe3 {[%clk 0:13:46]} Kb8 {[%clk 0:22:25]} 28. f6 {[%clk 0:12:37]} Nf8 {[%clk
0:21:33]} 29. Bg4 {[%clk 0:12:41]} Nhg6 {[%clk 0:20:46]} 30. N2b3 {[%clk
0:12:23]} Qa7 {[%clk 0:21:06]} 31. f7 {[%clk 0:12:23]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Kovalyov, Anton”]
[Black “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[Board “2”]
[WhiteID “114987”]
[WhiteElo “2617”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “CAN”]
[WhiteFideId “114987”]
[WhiteEloChange “2”]
[BlackID “2016192”]
[BlackElo “2789”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “2016192”]
[BlackEloChange “-2”]
1. c4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} c5 {[%clk 1:30:49]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:58]} Nf6 {[%clk
1:31:14]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:29:57]} Nc6 {[%clk 1:31:20]} 4. g3 {[%clk 1:29:41]} d5
{[%clk 1:29:21]} 5. d4 {[%clk 1:29:10]} e6 {[%clk 1:29:32]} 6. cxd5 {[%clk
1:29:20]} Nxd5 {[%clk 1:29:55]} 7. Bg2 {[%clk 1:29:34]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:29:56]} 8.
Nxd4 {[%clk 1:29:53]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:30:20]} 9. bxc3 {[%clk 1:30:17]} Nxd4 {[%clk
1:30:46]} 10. Qxd4 {[%clk 1:30:39]} Qxd4 {[%clk 1:31:12]} 11. cxd4 {[%clk
1:31:01]} Bd6 {[%clk 1:31:40]} 12. O-O {[%clk 1:22:45]} Rb8 {[%clk 1:31:32]} 13.
Bb2 {[%clk 1:19:22]} b6 {[%clk 1:24:58]} 14. Rfc1 {[%clk 1:18:02]} Kd7 {[%clk
1:10:31]} 15. Bc6+ {[%clk 1:16:16]} Kd8 {[%clk 1:09:33]} 16. e4 {[%clk 1:03:55]}
f6 {[%clk 1:03:09]} 17. Kg2 {[%clk 0:46:05]} Bb7 {[%clk 1:01:28]} 18. Bxb7 {[%clk
0:41:59]} Rxb7 {[%clk 0:59:58]} 19. f4 {[%clk 0:41:55]} Kd7 {[%clk 0:57:06]} 20.
Kf3 {[%clk 0:42:04]} b5 {[%clk 0:56:06]} 21. e5 {[%clk 0:37:16]} Be7 {[%clk
0:55:56]} 22. Rc2 {[%clk 0:29:48]} b4 {[%clk 0:53:36]} 23. Rac1 {[%clk 0:28:01]}
b3 {[%clk 0:45:36]} 24. axb3 {[%clk 0:28:13]} Rxb3+ {[%clk 0:45:57]} 25. Ke2
{[%clk 0:28:37]} Rhb8 {[%clk 0:46:09]} 26. Ba1 {[%clk 0:25:23]} Ra3 {[%clk
0:42:49]} 27. d5 {[%clk 0:21:01]} exd5 {[%clk 0:20:45]} 28. f5 {[%clk 0:21:17]}
Bd8 {[%clk 0:20:03]} 29. e6+ {[%clk 0:18:07]} Ke8 {[%clk 0:20:25]} 30. Bd4 {[%clk
0:17:51]} Ra4 {[%clk 0:20:48]} 31. Bf2 {[%clk 0:12:18]} g6 {[%clk 0:20:03]} 32.
Rd1 {[%clk 0:11:17]} Rb5 {[%clk 0:16:16]} 33. Rd4 {[%clk 0:08:18]} Rc4 {[%clk
0:11:34]} 34. Rdxc4 {[%clk 0:07:55]} dxc4 {[%clk 0:11:55]} 35. fxg6 {[%clk
0:08:08]} hxg6 {[%clk 0:12:21]} 36. Bxa7 {[%clk 0:08:19]} Bb6 {[%clk 0:12:20]}
37. Bxb6 {[%clk 0:08:32]} Rxb6 {[%clk 0:12:46]} 38. Rxc4 {[%clk 0:08:44]} Rxe6+
{[%clk 0:12:39]} 1/2-1/2
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “So, Wesley”]
[Black “Lesiege, Alexandre”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “3”]
[WhiteID “5202213”]
[WhiteElo “2782”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “USA”]
[WhiteFideId “5202213”]
[WhiteEloChange “2”]
[BlackID “2600170”]
[BlackElo “2497”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “CAN”]
[BlackFideId “2600170”]
[BlackEloChange “-2”]
1. c4 {[%clk 1:30:57]} c5 {[%clk 1:29:34]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:20]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:28:12]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:31:13]} g6 {[%clk 1:25:42]} 4. e3 {[%clk 1:31:33]} Nf6
{[%clk 1:26:05]} 5. d4 {[%clk 1:31:59]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:26:31]} 6. exd4 {[%clk
1:32:26]} d5 {[%clk 1:26:41]} 7. Bg5 {[%clk 1:32:43]} Be6 {[%clk 1:26:35]} 8.
Bxf6 {[%clk 1:32:24]} exf6 {[%clk 1:27:00]} 9. h3 {[%clk 1:32:50]} Bb4 {[%clk
1:21:50]} 10. c5 {[%clk 1:33:14]} O-O {[%clk 1:19:16]} 11. Rc1 {[%clk 1:28:39]}
b6 {[%clk 0:53:43]} 12. Bb5 {[%clk 1:20:17]} Na5 {[%clk 0:40:00]} 13. a3 {[%clk
1:17:42]} Bxc3+ {[%clk 0:40:13]} 14. Rxc3 {[%clk 1:18:10]} Nc4 {[%clk 0:33:01]}
15. b4 {[%clk 1:18:34]} a5 {[%clk 0:27:02]} 16. O-O {[%clk 1:18:56]} axb4 {[%clk
0:26:57]} 17. axb4 {[%clk 1:19:10]} Qb8 {[%clk 0:21:32]} 18. Bxc4 {[%clk
1:01:10]} dxc4 {[%clk 0:21:52]} 19. Nd2 {[%clk 1:01:38]} bxc5 {[%clk 0:19:35]}
20. bxc5 {[%clk 1:02:06]} Qb4 {[%clk 0:13:52]} 21. Qf3 {[%clk 0:59:31]} Bd5
{[%clk 0:06:00]} 22. Qxd5 {[%clk 0:59:50]} Qxc3 {[%clk 0:06:26]} 23. Ne4 {[%clk
1:00:19]} Qd3 {[%clk 0:06:34]} 24. Nxf6+ {[%clk 1:00:43]} Kh8 {[%clk 0:06:26]}
25. Nd7 {[%clk 1:01:06]} Rfe8 {[%clk 0:05:36]} 26. Ne5 {[%clk 1:00:35]} Qf5
{[%clk 0:05:07]} 27. Qxc4 {[%clk 1:01:02]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:05:06]} 28. Qc3 {[%clk
0:57:37]} Ra2 {[%clk 0:03:31]} 29. Nd3 {[%clk 0:58:00]} Qf6 {[%clk 0:03:10]} 30.
Nb4 {[%clk 0:57:44]} Rae2 {[%clk 0:02:45]} 31. Nd5 {[%clk 0:57:52]} Qg5 {[%clk
0:02:54]} 32. Nc7 {[%clk 0:57:49]} R8e3 {[%clk 0:02:53]} 33. Qc1 {[%clk 0:57:30]}
h6 {[%clk 0:01:53]} 34. d5 {[%clk 0:57:03]} Qe5 {[%clk 0:00:58]} 35. fxe3 {[%clk
0:56:41]} Qg3 {[%clk 0:00:33]} 36. Qa1+ {[%clk 0:57:01]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Hansen, Eric”]
[Black “Shankland, Samuel L”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “4”]
[WhiteID “2606771”]
[WhiteElo “2582”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “CAN”]
[WhiteFideId “2606771”]
[WhiteEloChange “6”]
[BlackID “2004887”]
[BlackElo “2679”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “USA”]
[BlackFideId “2004887”]
[BlackEloChange “-6”]
1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:55]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:50]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:11]} Nc6 {[%clk
1:31:14]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 1:31:33]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:31:39]} 4. d3 {[%clk 1:29:23]} Bc5
{[%clk 1:31:31]} 5. c3 {[%clk 1:29:06]} O-O {[%clk 1:31:52]} 6. O-O {[%clk
1:28:55]} d6 {[%clk 1:32:19]} 7. h3 {[%clk 1:28:59]} Ne7 {[%clk 1:32:21]} 8. d4
{[%clk 1:27:22]} Bb6 {[%clk 1:32:47]} 9. Bd3 {[%clk 1:27:41]} Ng6 {[%clk
1:33:09]} 10. Re1 {[%clk 1:27:07]} Re8 {[%clk 1:33:29]} 11. Nbd2 {[%clk 1:25:15]}
c6 {[%clk 1:33:27]} 12. Nf1 {[%clk 1:24:47]} d5 {[%clk 1:33:34]} 13. Bg5 {[%clk
1:24:04]} dxe4 {[%clk 1:33:59]} 14. Rxe4 {[%clk 1:24:07]} h6 {[%clk 1:34:24]} 15.
Bxf6 {[%clk 1:23:16]} Qxf6 {[%clk 1:34:50]} 16. Re1 {[%clk 1:19:09]} Bf5 {[%clk
1:35:15]} 17. Bxf5 {[%clk 1:19:11]} Qxf5 {[%clk 1:35:40]} 18. Ng3 {[%clk
1:19:35]} Qf6 {[%clk 1:36:06]} 19. Nh5 {[%clk 1:18:05]} Qf5 {[%clk 1:36:32]} 20.
Ng3 {[%clk 0:51:48]} Qf6 {[%clk 1:36:54]} 21. Nh5 {[%clk 0:52:02]} Qf5 {[%clk
1:37:18]} 22. g4 {[%clk 0:50:59]} Qc8 {[%clk 1:37:32]} 23. Nxe5 {[%clk 0:47:41]}
Nxe5 {[%clk 1:37:57]} 24. dxe5 {[%clk 0:48:04]} Qc7 {[%clk 1:38:06]} 25. Qe2
{[%clk 0:46:10]} Rad8 {[%clk 1:29:45]} 26. Nf4 {[%clk 0:40:50]} Rd7 {[%clk
1:13:58]} 27. Kg2 {[%clk 0:39:56]} Kh8 {[%clk 0:51:48]} 28. Rac1 {[%clk 0:30:49]}
a6 {[%clk 0:45:31]} 29. Rc2 {[%clk 0:28:00]} Qd8 {[%clk 0:45:03]} 30. Qf3 {[%clk
0:24:52]} Bc7 {[%clk 0:44:31]} 31. Rce2 {[%clk 0:25:15]} Rd2 {[%clk 0:39:18]} 32.
Rxd2 {[%clk 0:20:39]} Qxd2 {[%clk 0:39:47]} 33. Re2 {[%clk 0:19:03]} Qd7 {[%clk
0:39:16]} 34. e6 {[%clk 0:16:33]} fxe6 {[%clk 0:36:53]} 35. Nxe6 {[%clk 0:15:16]}
Bd6 {[%clk 0:37:05]} 36. Qf5 {[%clk 0:14:33]} Re7 {[%clk 0:34:52]} 37. f4 {[%clk
0:10:08]} Qe8 {[%clk 0:33:16]} 38. Kf3 {[%clk 0:07:02]} Kg8 {[%clk 0:32:28]} 39.
Qd3 {[%clk 0:06:20]} Bb8 {[%clk 0:31:34]} 40. f5 {[%clk 0:35:08]} Rd7 {[%clk
1:01:40]} 41. Qe4 {[%clk 0:19:56]} Qe7 {[%clk 0:59:12]} 42. Nc5 {[%clk 0:19:52]}
1-0
[/pgn]
It was readily apparent that the United States team outplayed their Canadian counterparts, but was not able to pull off a complete win in that final round. Once the American games were completed, attention focused to the Ukrainian team who was competing to break a virtual tie. Despite a strong performance by the Ukraine team, it was not enough to overcome their deficit and defeat the Americans. With the tiebreaker over, the United States left Baku with chess gold!
[pgn]
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Eljanov, Pavel”]
[Black “Beliavsky, Alexander G”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “1”]
[WhiteID “14102951”]
[WhiteElo “2739”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “UKR”]
[WhiteFideId “14102951”]
[WhiteEloChange “3”]
[BlackID “14602377”]
[BlackElo “2602”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “SLO”]
[BlackFideId “14602377”]
[BlackEloChange “-3”]
1. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:57]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:08]} 2. g3 {[%clk 1:31:02]} d5 {[%clk
1:29:46]} 3. Bg2 {[%clk 1:31:23]} c6 {[%clk 1:29:45]} 4. c4 {[%clk 1:30:57]} Bf5
{[%clk 1:23:28]} 5. Qb3 {[%clk 1:28:18]} Qb6 {[%clk 1:20:20]} 6. d3 {[%clk
1:27:42]} e6 {[%clk 1:18:12]} 7. cxd5 {[%clk 1:09:25]} Qxb3 {[%clk 1:16:50]} 8.
axb3 {[%clk 1:09:49]} exd5 {[%clk 1:16:56]} 9. Bd2 {[%clk 1:07:00]} Na6 {[%clk
1:13:52]} 10. Na3 {[%clk 1:03:16]} Be7 {[%clk 1:09:37]} 11. Nc2 {[%clk 1:02:20]}
O-O {[%clk 1:09:01]} 12. Nfd4 {[%clk 1:01:23]} Bd7 {[%clk 1:08:59]} 13. b4 {[%clk
1:01:45]} Nc7 {[%clk 1:06:39]} 14. Nb3 {[%clk 0:59:23]} Rfd8 {[%clk 1:03:43]} 15.
Nc5 {[%clk 0:54:54]} Bc8 {[%clk 1:03:19]} 16. h3 {[%clk 0:32:33]} Nd7 {[%clk
1:02:16]} 17. Nb3 {[%clk 0:29:41]} Nf8 {[%clk 1:00:29]} 18. g4 {[%clk 0:25:34]}
Nb5 {[%clk 0:58:38]} 19. f4 {[%clk 0:18:30]} f5 {[%clk 0:46:24]} 20. g5 {[%clk
0:18:26]} d4 {[%clk 0:44:38]} 21. O-O {[%clk 0:10:16]} Be6 {[%clk 0:40:01]} 22.
Nc5 {[%clk 0:10:15]} Bxc5 {[%clk 0:40:07]} 23. bxc5 {[%clk 0:10:40]} Bd5 {[%clk
0:40:30]} 24. Ne1 {[%clk 0:06:18]} Bxg2 {[%clk 0:40:08]} 25. Kxg2 {[%clk
0:06:45]} Ne6 {[%clk 0:17:56]} 26. b4 {[%clk 0:07:11]} a5 {[%clk 0:17:31]} 27.
Rxa5 {[%clk 0:07:31]} Rxa5 {[%clk 0:17:57]} 28. bxa5 {[%clk 0:07:58]} Nxc5 {[%clk
0:18:25]} 29. Nf3 {[%clk 0:08:20]} Nb3 {[%clk 0:15:03]} 30. Rb1 {[%clk 0:07:51]}
Nxd2 {[%clk 0:15:04]} 31. Nxd2 {[%clk 0:08:15]} Re8 {[%clk 0:15:07]} 32. Kf1
{[%clk 0:08:42]} Kf7 {[%clk 0:10:37]} 33. Nc4 {[%clk 0:03:56]} Ke6 {[%clk
0:10:38]} 34. Kf2 {[%clk 0:03:59]} Kd5 {[%clk 0:10:30]} 35. Kf3 {[%clk 0:04:08]}
Kc5 {[%clk 0:09:00]} 36. Ne5 {[%clk 0:03:19]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:08:11]} 37. Nd7+
{[%clk 0:03:31]} Kd6 {[%clk 0:08:32]} 38. Nb6 {[%clk 0:03:57]} Re8 {[%clk
0:08:56]} 39. Nc4+ {[%clk 0:04:22]} Kc5 {[%clk 0:09:22]} 40. Rb2 {[%clk 0:32:23]}
Re7 {[%clk 0:33:50]} 41. Ne5 {[%clk 0:30:02]} Nd6 {[%clk 0:29:34]} 42. h4 {[%clk
0:20:08]} Nf7 {[%clk 0:27:56]} 43. Nc4 {[%clk 0:20:29]} Nd6 {[%clk 0:27:53]} 44.
Ne5 {[%clk 0:20:48]} Nf7 {[%clk 0:28:17]} 45. Rc2+ {[%clk 0:21:10]} Kd6 {[%clk
0:26:18]} 46. Nc4+ {[%clk 0:21:12]} Kc7 {[%clk 0:25:44]} 47. Kf2 {[%clk 0:17:53]}
Re8 {[%clk 0:21:10]} 48. Nd2 {[%clk 0:13:23]} Nd8 {[%clk 0:20:09]} 49. Rc5 {[%clk
0:13:26]} g6 {[%clk 0:17:15]} 50. Nb3 {[%clk 0:12:51]} Ne6 {[%clk 0:17:08]} 51.
Re5 {[%clk 0:13:13]} Kd7 {[%clk 0:17:29]} 52. Kg3 {[%clk 0:11:21]} Rb8 {[%clk
0:15:42]} 53. h5 {[%clk 0:09:06]} Kd6 {[%clk 0:12:51]} 54. Nd2 {[%clk 0:08:52]}
Ke7 {[%clk 0:12:38]} 55. Kf3 {[%clk 0:05:36]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:12:19]} 56. Nc4 {[%clk
0:05:40]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:10:44]} 57. Kg3 {[%clk 0:05:59]} Ra6 {[%clk 0:09:45]} 58.
Nd2 {[%clk 0:06:01]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:09:51]} 59. Kf2 {[%clk 0:03:58]} Rd8 {[%clk
0:08:43]} 60. Kf3 {[%clk 0:03:21]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:08:55]} 61. Nc4 {[%clk 0:03:42]}
Ra6 {[%clk 0:06:30]} 62. Nb6 {[%clk 0:04:06]} Kd6 {[%clk 0:06:53]} 63. Kg3 {[%clk
0:04:31]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:06:18]} 64. Kf2 {[%clk 0:04:25]} Kd6 {[%clk 0:06:44]} 65.
e3 {[%clk 0:04:45]} dxe3+ {[%clk 0:06:14]} 66. Kxe3 {[%clk 0:05:11]} Nc7 {[%clk
0:05:33]} 67. Nc8+ {[%clk 0:04:24]} Kd7 {[%clk 0:05:38]} 68. Nb6+ {[%clk
0:04:24]} Kd6 {[%clk 0:05:38]} 69. Nc4+ {[%clk 0:01:39]} Kd7 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 70.
Kf3 {[%clk 0:01:50]} Ne6 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 71. hxg6 {[%clk 0:01:50]} hxg6 {[%clk
0:06:32]} 72. Re1 {[%clk 0:01:50]} Nd4+ {[%clk 0:06:32]} 73. Kf2 {[%clk 0:01:50]}
c5 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 74. Rh1 {[%clk 0:01:50]} b5 {[%clk 0:02:09]} 75. axb6 {[%clk
0:01:38]} Ra2+ {[%clk 0:02:36]} 76. Kg3 {[%clk 0:02:01]} Ne2+ {[%clk 0:03:00]}
77. Kh4 {[%clk 0:02:22]} Nxf4 {[%clk 0:01:33]} 78. b7 {[%clk 0:02:25]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Lenic, Luka”]
[Black “Ponomariov, Ruslan”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[Board “2”]
[WhiteID “14603853”]
[WhiteElo “2622”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “SLO”]
[WhiteFideId “14603853”]
[WhiteEloChange “1”]
[BlackID “14103320”]
[BlackElo “2709”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “UKR”]
[BlackFideId “14103320”]
[BlackEloChange “-1”]
1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:55]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:54]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:31:18]} e6 {[%clk
1:31:13]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:31:42]} Bb4 {[%clk 1:31:31]} 4. Qc2 {[%clk 1:32:07]} c5
{[%clk 1:31:27]} 5. dxc5 {[%clk 1:31:26]} O-O {[%clk 1:31:50]} 6. Nf3 {[%clk
1:30:23]} Na6 {[%clk 1:29:57]} 7. g3 {[%clk 1:29:50]} Nxc5 {[%clk 1:29:30]} 8.
Bg2 {[%clk 1:30:15]} b6 {[%clk 1:28:33]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:30:32]} Bb7 {[%clk
1:28:45]} 10. Nb5 {[%clk 1:30:44]} Be4 {[%clk 1:18:24]} 11. Qd1 {[%clk 1:30:58]}
Nb7 {[%clk 1:18:44]} 12. a3 {[%clk 1:30:55]} Be7 {[%clk 1:11:37]} 13. Bf4 {[%clk
1:27:50]} a6 {[%clk 1:02:22]} 14. Nc3 {[%clk 1:26:27]} Bc6 {[%clk 1:01:14]} 15.
Rc1 {[%clk 1:20:45]} Na5 {[%clk 0:53:33]} 16. Nb1 {[%clk 1:10:12]} b5 {[%clk
0:44:24]} 17. c5 {[%clk 1:07:21]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:42:15]} 18. Nbd2 {[%clk 0:59:24]}
Nb7 {[%clk 0:35:25]} 19. b4 {[%clk 0:58:48]} d6 {[%clk 0:34:34]} 20. cxd6 {[%clk
0:58:12]} Nxd6 {[%clk 0:33:56]} 21. Be5 {[%clk 0:55:39]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:27:42]} 22.
Qb3 {[%clk 0:52:28]} Nde4 {[%clk 0:23:42]} 23. Nxe4 {[%clk 0:44:33]} Bxe4 {[%clk
0:23:02]} 24. Qb2 {[%clk 0:44:50]} Qb7 {[%clk 0:19:25]} 25. Rfd1 {[%clk 0:44:36]}
h6 {[%clk 0:19:21]} 26. h3 {[%clk 0:37:28]} Bd5 {[%clk 0:17:37]} 27. Ne1 {[%clk
0:30:28]} Bxg2 {[%clk 0:17:43]} 28. Nxg2 {[%clk 0:30:54]} Rxc1 {[%clk 0:16:20]}
29. Rxc1 {[%clk 0:31:11]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:16:39]} 30. Rxc8+ {[%clk 0:31:26]} Qxc8
{[%clk 0:17:07]} 31. Nf4 {[%clk 0:29:59]} 1/2-1/2
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Korobov, Anton”]
[Black “Borisek, Jure”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Board “3”]
[WhiteID “14105730”]
[WhiteElo “2675”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “UKR”]
[WhiteFideId “14105730”]
[WhiteEloChange “3”]
[BlackID “14603152”]
[BlackElo “2558”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “SLO”]
[BlackFideId “14603152”]
[BlackEloChange “-3”]
1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:55]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:49]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:31:15]} g6 {[%clk
1:31:15]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:31:34]} d5 {[%clk 1:31:42]} 4. cxd5 {[%clk 1:31:49]}
Nxd5 {[%clk 1:32:09]} 5. e4 {[%clk 1:32:11]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:32:36]} 6. bxc3 {[%clk
1:32:33]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:33:02]} 7. Nf3 {[%clk 1:32:55]} c5 {[%clk 1:33:24]} 8. Be3
{[%clk 1:33:18]} Qa5 {[%clk 1:33:16]} 9. Nd2 {[%clk 1:33:35]} Nd7 {[%clk
1:29:34]} 10. Qc2 {[%clk 1:31:01]} O-O {[%clk 1:27:59]} 11. Be2 {[%clk 1:30:51]}
e6 {[%clk 1:21:33]} 12. a4 {[%clk 1:23:07]} Qc7 {[%clk 1:20:16]} 13. Qa2 {[%clk
1:19:13]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:11:53]} 14. O-O {[%clk 1:08:26]} Bd7 {[%clk 1:06:44]} 15.
f3 {[%clk 1:05:18]} Rfc8 {[%clk 1:06:32]} 16. Nb3 {[%clk 1:01:19]} cxd4 {[%clk
0:59:45]} 17. cxd4 {[%clk 1:01:00]} Qc2 {[%clk 1:00:10]} 18. Nc5 {[%clk 0:57:48]}
Qxa2 {[%clk 0:59:22]} 19. Rxa2 {[%clk 0:58:15]} Bc6 {[%clk 0:58:48]} 20. Rc1
{[%clk 0:52:29]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:44:07]} 21. Nb3 {[%clk 0:46:03]} a5 {[%clk
0:44:29]} 22. Kf2 {[%clk 0:43:36]} Nb6 {[%clk 0:34:12]} 23. d5 {[%clk 0:39:19]}
Nxd5 {[%clk 0:28:38]} 24. exd5 {[%clk 0:39:05]} Bxd5 {[%clk 0:29:04]} 25. Rxc8+
{[%clk 0:39:30]} Rxc8 {[%clk 0:29:30]} 26. Bd1 {[%clk 0:39:56]} Bc3 {[%clk
0:24:26]} 27. Bd2 {[%clk 0:34:24]} b6 {[%clk 0:20:11]} 28. Bxc3 {[%clk 0:31:24]}
Rxc3 {[%clk 0:20:36]} 29. Rb2 {[%clk 0:31:49]} b5 {[%clk 0:17:11]} 30. Nxa5
{[%clk 0:31:14]} bxa4 {[%clk 0:17:36]} 31. Bxa4 {[%clk 0:31:39]} Ra3 {[%clk
0:16:13]} 32. Rb4 {[%clk 0:32:07]} Ra2+ {[%clk 0:14:19]} 33. Kg3 {[%clk 0:32:34]}
Kg7 {[%clk 0:14:30]} 34. Nc4 {[%clk 0:32:13]} Bxc4 {[%clk 0:14:28]} 35. Rxc4
{[%clk 0:32:40]} h6 {[%clk 0:14:02]} 36. Bc2 {[%clk 0:28:43]} Ra7 {[%clk
0:14:11]} 37. h4 {[%clk 0:28:00]} Rb7 {[%clk 0:13:28]} 38. Kf4 {[%clk 0:24:17]}
Rd7 {[%clk 0:13:33]} 39. g4 {[%clk 0:24:00]} Kf6 {[%clk 0:12:55]} 40. Rc5 {[%clk
0:53:18]} Ra7 {[%clk 0:41:12]} 41. h5 {[%clk 0:50:53]} gxh5 {[%clk 0:38:05]} 42.
Rxh5 {[%clk 0:48:27]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:38:13]} 43. Be4 {[%clk 0:48:50]} Rc7 {[%clk
0:32:36]} 44. Ke5 {[%clk 0:46:09]} Ra7 {[%clk 0:30:52]} 45. g5 {[%clk 0:45:05]}
Ra5+ {[%clk 0:29:12]} 46. Kf4 {[%clk 0:45:30]} 1-0
[Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
[Site “chess24.com”]
[Date “2016.09.13”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Sebenik, Matej”]
[Black “Volokitin, Andrei”]
[Result “*”]
[Board “4”]
[WhiteID “14602296”]
[WhiteElo “2526”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]
[WhiteCountry “SLO”]
[WhiteFideId “14602296”]
[BlackID “14107090”]
[BlackElo “2647”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[BlackCountry “UKR”]
[BlackFideId “14107090”]
1. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:53]} d5 {[%clk 1:29:43]} 2. d4 {[%clk 1:30:50]} Nf6 {[%clk
1:30:04]} 3. c4 {[%clk 1:31:17]} e6 {[%clk 1:30:23]} 4. g3 {[%clk 1:31:39]} Bb4+
{[%clk 1:30:44]} 5. Bd2 {[%clk 1:32:03]} Be7 {[%clk 1:31:07]} 6. Bg2 {[%clk
1:32:28]} O-O {[%clk 1:31:32]} 7. O-O {[%clk 1:32:54]} c6 {[%clk 1:31:57]} 8. Qc2
{[%clk 1:32:50]} b6 {[%clk 1:32:09]} 9. Bf4 {[%clk 1:32:20]} Nbd7 {[%clk
1:23:22]} 10. Rd1 {[%clk 1:32:03]} Ba6 {[%clk 1:23:32]} 11. b3 {[%clk 1:32:27]}
Rc8 {[%clk 1:20:04]} 12. Nc3 {[%clk 1:32:36]} Qe8 {[%clk 1:19:32]} 13. e4 {[%clk
1:31:22]} dxc4 {[%clk 1:11:07]} 14. h3 {[%clk 1:29:31]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:50:04]} 15.
Ne2 {[%clk 0:52:58]} cxb3 {[%clk 0:48:30]} 16. axb3 {[%clk 0:51:49]} Bxe2 {[%clk
0:48:51]} 17. Qxe2 {[%clk 0:52:15]} a5 {[%clk 0:49:16]} 18. g4 {[%clk 0:51:13]}
Qe7 {[%clk 0:41:09]} 19. Rac1 {[%clk 0:44:20]} Rfe8 {[%clk 0:34:18]} 20. g5
{[%clk 0:23:17]} Nh5 {[%clk 0:31:53]} 21. Be3 {[%clk 0:23:44]} g6 {[%clk
0:26:26]} 22. Ne5 {[%clk 0:23:54]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:24:24]} 23. dxe5 {[%clk
0:24:21]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:13:26]} 24. f4 {[%clk 0:21:05]} Red8 {[%clk 0:12:13]} 25.
Bf3 {[%clk 0:20:29]} c5 {[%clk 0:06:08]} 26. Bxh5 {[%clk 0:17:44]} gxh5 {[%clk
0:06:32]} 27. Kf2 {[%clk 0:11:24]} Qc6 {[%clk 0:04:22]} 28. Rxd8+ {[%clk
0:04:56]} Rxd8 {[%clk 0:04:51]} 29. Rd1 {[%clk 0:05:18]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:03:18]} 30.
Qa6 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:03:12]} 31. Qd3 {[%clk 0:02:42]} b5 {[%clk
0:03:14]} 32. f5 {[%clk 0:00:41]} c4 {[%clk 0:03:40]} 33. bxc4 {[%clk 0:00:52]}
Qxc4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} 34. Qxc4 {[%clk 0:00:35]} bxc4 {[%clk 0:03:29]} 35. Rc1
{[%clk 0:00:56]} c3 {[%clk 0:03:29]} 36. Bd4 {[%clk 0:00:51]} a4 {[%clk 0:02:35]}
37. Bxc3 {[%clk 0:00:45]} Bxc3 {[%clk 0:02:29]} 38. Rxc3 {[%clk 0:01:12]} a3
{[%clk 0:02:56]} 39. Rc1 {[%clk 0:01:40]} a2 {[%clk 0:03:07]} 40. Ra1 {[%clk
0:32:08]} Ra3 {[%clk 0:31:14]} 41. h4 {[%clk 0:25:55]} Kf8 {[%clk 0:29:21]} 42.
Ke2 {[%clk 0:17:16]} Rh3 {[%clk 0:29:16]} *
[/pgn]
The United States Chess Team was:
- Captain: IM John Donaldson
- GM Fabiano Caruana
- GM Hikaru Nakamura
- GM Wesley So
- GM Samuel Shankland
- GM Ray Robson
National Pride
I am incredibly proud and feel blessed everyday to be able to play chess and to know that my country is starting to embrace the game on a grander scale. Now we can turn our attention to New York as the United States prepares to host the greatest event in chess: the World Chess Championship!