2012 Chess Olympiad (Istanbul, Turkey)
Chess Fans & Supporters,
The time has come! The premier chess tournament is here! More than 160 federations are expected to trek across the globe to partake in this two-week festival. Many of the top players will be defending their flags and it is expected to be a competitive fight for the team medals. The Ukraine is the defending champion and Armenia has won in 2006 and 2008.
Top seed Russia has not won gold since 2002, but will be one of the favorites along with China, USA and Hungary. Several key players are missing including Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Viswanathan Anand (India). Nevertheless, the rest of the stars will shine bright in Turkey!
Part of the Olympiad spirit will include teams sent from far and wide to defend their nation’s colors. While this event will feature professionals, it is not the sole focus of this event. Olympiad tournaments are festive celebrations that show the true universality of chess.
The biennial event demonstrates the widespread acceptance of chess as a venerable activity that is played from the dusty rural back roads to urbanized “megacities”. We will uncover new sensations and present players who have been dying to tell their stories. The Chess Drum will be in Istanbul to bring the action live beginning September 3rd.
~ Dr. Daaim Shabazz, The Chess Drum
Follow @thechessdrum
Nice pictures!! Have fun and Keep them coming!!
Good luck Zambia! Stanley Chumfwa, Daniel Jere, Gillian Bwalya, Andrew Kayonde and Nase Lungu.
China vs Zambia , France vs Zimbabwe , Botswana vs Argentina , montenegro vs kenya. I hope all the african teams facing very strong opposition in the first round will resist being beaten by 4-0 margins.
Best result I have seen today is Uganda 3.5 – 0.5 Latvia
Congratulations to the guys…made all of us proud!
Seems the correct result is Latvia 3 – 1 Uganda…not as exciting…lol
Latvia 3-1 uganda, thanks to emojong’s scalp of a 2494 Gm. Argentina 3-1 Botswana, thanks to oatlhotse’s scalp of a 2606 Gm. Chumfwa salvages half a point for zambia by holding Gm wang yue(2685). Zimbabwe fails to resist 4-0 beating whilst kenya commendably snatches half a point from the tough montenegro. Overall result for african teams, not too bad in my opinion.
Daaim,
Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing you in Istanbul soon. Here is a clip of one of our recent team meetings. “Interesting” match today in the Open/Men’s section against our brothers and Caribbean neighbours, Barbados. Back to the Jamaican “Olympiad Village”!
Link: https://youtu.be/YZCCVsVx1lQ
Jere is having a rough time on zambia’s board one. I am disapointed with simutowe’s absence in the team.
Daaim,
There is this RULE at the Olympiad that affords a player with +2600 perfomance rating (RP) to become a GM instanteneously. Of course barring a few other simplier formalities.
It has always been my belief that African teams must plan around this chance and take advantage of it instead of ignoring it. Otherwise these trips are pointless. I dont buy the exposure nonsense arguement.
Right now the RSA team has IM. Kenny Solomon at the casp of this glory! He was at an RP of 2703. To my deductions he blindly went on a path that defeats this opportunity, i.e. sitting out against a weak team and playing against strong player when he needs to just run the clock to get to N=9! He lost and the RP slipped to 2599, he bounced back beating a GM so he has ONE HAND on the Grandmaster Glory again!
Someone who reads this being in Istanbul MUST tell the SA team to work towards this GOAL at once! Pleeeeeeeeease!
Well done Kenny! I feel am excited for your prospects!
Hi Daaim
I believe I am right. A while back, in previous Olympiads, there were some practical examples to boot. I will recheck!
INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTER (GM) KENNY SOLOMON (RZA)
I want to take this time to request Africa to stand up and observe this moment as the crowning of the second GM in south of the Sahara, Mr Kenny Solomon.
I need not wait for the official results because it ought be cristal clear in everyones mind that the man deserves this diadem.
To those behind his success, you too are heros. CHESSA, Sponsors, family and friends, mentors, girlfriend, everybody…his dog, thank you. You have done it for Africa.
To my friend Watu and the Chess team of the Republic of Mozanzi, Siabonga!. Its definatly through your support.
Kenny, hat off, I humble before your zealiousness and strong will. You have it on record now, if anything in my heart, your legacy. I can only imagine how difficult it is especially when you are in Africa. Well done and congradulations, GM.
One more thing kenny, If president Zuma does not give you a wife, come to Botswana.
CONGRADULATIONS AFRICA! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND GOT SMART BRAINS!!!
I am touched.
Ndawana Mosenya
Gees, Kenny Solomon is a gem. He is untouchable just like Ignatious Njobvu from Botswana. Sub Saharan teams are playing their hearts out this year
I believe that if kenny solomon gets a GM norm in this event, it will be his second. Thus he will need to get a third GM norm in some other event for him to earn the Grandmaster title.
Dear Drummists!
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER:
IM. Kenny Solomon is now GRANDMASTER!
Well done SA CHESS-SOLDIER!
https://results.chessolympiadistanbul.com/tnr77681.aspx?art=62&lan=1&flag=30