The cuban teams participating in the 44th Olympiad Chess won all their games on the opening day of the contest, which began this Friday in the city of Chennai, in India.
In the Open tournament, which brings together teams without distinction of sex, the Cuban representation won with a score of 4×0 over the discreet cast of Myanmar, as expected due to the difference in quality between both selected, refers the agency Latin Press (PL).
The Grand Master (GM) and current national champion, Yasser Quesada, beat Maung Kyaw Zaw Hein Maung on the first board, with white pieces; GM Carlos Daniel Albornoz, with black, to Han Thiha Sai; GM Luis Ernesto Quesada, with clear chips, to Lin Tun Nay; and GM Isan Ortiz, with dark pieces, to Myat Aung Kyaw, specifies the publication.
For their part, in the women’s section, the Cubans also beat Uganda by 4×0. In this duel the victories went to Lisandra Ordaz with white against Peninah Nakabo; Yerisbel Miranda with black pieces in front of Sharika Ampaire; Yaniela Forgas with clear figures against Gloria Nansubuga, and Ineymig Hernández also with black against Patricia Kawuma.
? Cubans debut with sweeps in the Chess Olympiad.
?️ India ??
? Matchday 1? Gender: Male
?? Cuba 4️⃣-0️⃣ Myanmar?♀ Gender: Female
?? Cuba 4️⃣-0️⃣ Uganda?️ Convincing start against affordable rivals.#Cuba #Chess pic.twitter.com/pTgjKU0W2h
— Circle of Waiting (@CirculodEspera) July 29, 2022
In the open section, the strong team of the United States, number one in the contest with an Elo rating of 2771, gave up half a unit against Angola, ranked 93rd, in what they classify as the big surprise of the opening day, according to the specialists.
Grand Master Levon Aronian, of Armenian origin, made a draw with black on the first board against Angolan International Master David Silva, while GM Wesley So, the nationalized Cuban, triumphed at the following tables. Leinier Dominguez and Samuel Shankland.
The hosts of India (2696) easily beat Zimbabwe 4×0 and Norway (2692), which rested its star and world champion Magnus Carlsen, also lost half a unit against Lebanon, at the start of activities of the open section, review PL.
Among the women, the favorite local team beat Tajikistan 4×0, while the also strong competitors from Ukraine thrashed South Africa 4×0 and Georgia equally liquidated Iraq.
This Saturday the actions of the universal contest will continue, in which the traditional selections of Russia and China are absent. On the second date of the event, the main cast Cuba will have its rival from Nigeria as its opponent, while the women will face Moldova.
The Cubans, who entered the Olympiad with a joint Elo rating of 2,552 units and occupy 32nd place in the ranking, are clear favorites to overtake the Nigerians (2,263), located in 78th place on the list of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). ).
Also the Cubans —ranked by their Elo of 2324 in the 14th place in the competition— start as favorites against their current rivals, who occupy the 53rd position in the world ranking, with an average Elo of 2033 points.
The 44th edition of the FIDE Olympiad now being held in Indian territory set a record of 186 participating countries, 350 teams and more than 1700 chess players.
