Led by the world’s number three player, GM Levon Aronian, Armenia was the only undefeated team in the nine-round event. It drew with Russia, Ukraine, the U.S. and Azerbaijan and defeated China, Hungary, India, Israel and Egypt.
The host nation finished second. China also lost to Israel and drew with Azerbaijan, but it mowed down the rest of the opposition with GMs Wang Hao and Wang Yue winning the gold on boards 1 and 2. Ukraine led by veteran GM Vassily Ivanchuk placed third. Russia, the defending champion, could only finish fourth after overreaching in its last round match against India, which gave it a 2.5-1.5 spanking. (Russia also lost to China and was almost blanked by Azerbaijan.) Hungary was fifth, the U.S. sixth, Azerbaijan seventh, India eighth, Israel (whose top player Gelfand is now preparing for the world championship match against India’s Anand) ninth, and Egypt 10th and last.
First held in 1985 in Lucerne, Switzerland, the world team championship was a quadrennial event, but starting in 2009 it has been organized every two years. The mighty Soviet team captained by Karpov won the title in 1985 and 1989. In 1993, young Gata Kamsky powered the U.S. to the top. Four years later, Russia with Bareev on board 1 was victorious. Ivanchuk’s Ukraine won in 2001, while Svidler in 2005 and Grischuk in 2009 led Russia to victory.
This is the second time that China won the silver while Armenia achieved its previous best results in 1997, 2001 and 2005 when it finished third.
Congratulations Armenia!
Game of the week. Armenia’s top player, Aronian is a genius, according to IM Malcolm Pein who annotates our featured partie. “Every sensible 10th move has been tried Qc2, Bd3, Be2,” says Pein. “Aronian launches an attack and the logical counter in the center creates weaknesses and exposes Black’s lack of development.”
White: L.Aronian (2805)
Black: H. Pentala (2669)
Queen’s Gambit Lasker’s Defense
World Team Ch, Ningbo 2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.h4 Nd7 11.g4 e5 12.cxd5 Nxc3 13.Rxc3 cxd5 14.g5 h5 (14…e4 15.Nd2 hxg5 16.Qh5! g4 17.Qxd5) 15.Bb5! exd4 16.Qxd4 Qe4 (16…Nb6) 17.Qxe4 (17.Ke2!?) 17…dxe4 18.Nd2 Ne5 19.Nxe4 Be6 20.f4! Bd5 21.fxe5 Bxe4 22.0-0! Bd5 23.Bd7 (Black cannot contest the files, his rooks remain out of play) 23…Rfd8 (23…Bxa2 24.b3) 24.Rc7 a5 25.a4 Ra6 26.Rf4! (26.Rd1 Be6) 26…Rf8 27.Rd4 Bc6 28.e6 (The game is already won) 28…fxe6 29.Bxe6+ Kh8 30.Bf7 Rb6 31.b3 Bf3 32.g6 Rc6 33.Rxc6 bxc6 34.e4 Be2 35.e5 and 1-0.
Puzzler.
White: Ka5, Nb5, Qc1, Bd3, pawn on d4
Black: Kd5, Ne5, pawns on a6 and f3
White to play and mate in three moves.
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