It seems like such a short time ago when chess headlines were adorned with stories of the Tromsø Chess Olympiad in 2014 where visa challenges, bathrooms, and [high food prices](http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2014/08/22/relections-on-tromso-olympiad/) were among the hottest topics leading up to China’s triumphant victory in the event. But here we are looking down the barrels of the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, the home country of former World Champion Garry Kasparov.
After a breathtaking opening ceremony on Thursday, main tournament play began Friday with my beloved United States team winning all 4 of their first matches against players from Andorra. Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Sam Shankland, and Ray Robson each scored well-earned victory against their opponents to launch the team off to a powerful start in the Olympiad.
US Champion Fabiano Caruana is leading the US Olympiad Team
[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
[/pgn]
In the second round, Sam Shankland was the only member of the United States team to not earn a win in the round against Scotland. Caruana, Nakamura, and Robson all earned wins and although it is still early in the event, I would say that the United States team is going to be a team to watch throughout the tournament!
[pgn]
[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]
The National Gymnastics Arena – the Baku Olympiad venue.
This year’s Olympiad is being held in the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. The country has increasingly positioned itself throughout the past few years as a place of intense international sport and competition. Known to the chess community as the birth home of Garry Kasparov, the 42d Chess Olympiad’s host nation continues to impress both players and fans alike.
Watch the Baku Chess Olympiad live on [Chessbomb](http://www.chessbomb.com), [Chess.com](http://www.chess.com), and [Chess24](http://www.chess24.com).
