MARK RUBERY CHESS
44th Chess Olympiad, Chennai 2022 has attracted 186 nations making it the biggest Olympiad ever where the hosts will be fielding three teams in both the Open and Ladies section. World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, is making his first appearance for Norway in eight years.
South Africa 4- 0 Cameroon
Round 1
IM D Cawdery ( 2417) 1- 0 V Ebosse Kingue ( 2054)
FM D Barrish ( 2283) 1- 0 M Amba Oyon ( 1938)
FM B Mhango ( 2238) 1- 0 L Zebaze
( 1837)
IM W Kobese ( 2311) 1- 0 B Metuno
Ladies: South Africa 0- 4 Ukraine
In previous Olympiads we might have faced a powerhouse in the first round but the increase in the elo rating of our players has given us more ‘ favourable’ draws at the start of the competition- as opposed to our ladies. Cawdery secured a comfortable edge against the Najdorf and ultimately forked his opponent’s king and queen. Barrish drifted in the middlegame and at one stage was in serious trouble before an inadvisable pawn grab cost his opponent a piece. Mhango played a smooth positional game Whilst Kobese’s short and sharp game abounded with tactics.
Metuno Kuete Bleriot Rocalixt - Kobese, W ( 2311) [ E68]
44th Olympiad 2022 Chennai IND ( 1.68), 29.07.2022
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 0– 0
5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 Nbd7 7.0– 0 e5 8. e4 c6
9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bd2 f5 12. Ng5 exd4 13. Ne6 Qe7 14. Nxg7 Qxg7 15. Ne2 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Nc5 17. Bg2 d3 18. Nc3 Qd4
19. Nb5!? Qe5 ( Black could have dealt with White’s attempt to trap his queen via 19... cxb5 20. Bd5+ Be6 21. Bc3 Nxf2! 22. Bxd4 Nxd1 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Rxd1 Bxd5 25. cxd5 b4
26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Rxd3 Kf7 but makes a more pragmatic choice) 20. h3 Nxf2 21. Rxf2 Rxf2
22. Kxf2 cxb5 23. cxb5 Bxh3! 0- 1 ( Finishing with a flourish as after 24. Bxh3 Ne4+ 25. Kg1 Qd4+ 26. Kh2 Qf2+ 27. Bg2 Nxd2 winning)
‘ The World Chess Olympiad is taking place in the birthplace of chess! It’s a momentous occasion for India. Wishing the entire Indian contingent and everyone taking part all the very best for the tournament.’ ( Sachin Tendulkar- the Indian cricket legend)