2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

[Andrei Botez]

Re: 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Bring Aris and past current and future world champions will show up!

[Andrei Botez]

Re: Nava

Round 4 pics (credit Elliott Liu)

[Bob Armstrong]

Nava

I think that's a bad decision. I think something closer to 30 games would be an acceptable minimum, and if this means we cannot field a team, then fine, we can't field a team (and the question of how valuable promoting women's chess is to the CFC can rise again).

Then again, I'd also think top players should have enough pride to either keep themselves sharp or not take the spot. Hopefully she can turn it around and start having better results.

Although it is now 13 years since Nava


(photo by Erik Malmsten)

was last Can. Women's Champion, she did have an impressive record:

WIM Nava Starr (formerly Shterenberg), 8 times Canadian Women’s Champion (from 1978 to 1995 (7 times) & 2001).

Though now 65 years old (I believe) she is still rated 2145 FIDE - second highest in Canada, despite some younger women climbing the ladder quickly now, trying to get ahead of her. But they aren't there yet.

However, I do think that lack of activity should play a part in selection. Maybe 10 games over 2 years is insufficient. Is it too much to ask elite Canadian players to stay active IF they want to represent Canada internationally? At the top levels, I believe rust sets in quickly.

As David has said, she may well still have what it takes "to turn it around" between now and the end of the Olympiad.

Bob A

[Kerry Liles]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

I have no idea how she made the team. This is an embarrassment. Goodness gracious.

That seems a little harsh; I certainly don't know all of the situation there in Tromso - perhaps more information will come to light soon.
Arm-chair quarterbacks should at least be former quarterbacks, no?

[David Ottosen]

Re: Re : Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

She made the team by the rating selection (same criteria for everyone). There has been some discussion recently about raising the minimum number of games, but this was seen as a bad idea for the women's team, especially considering how few of them are active.

I think that's a bad decision. I think something closer to 30 games would be an acceptable minimum, and if this means we cannot field a team, then fine, we can't field a team (and the question of how valuable promoting women's chess is to the CFC can rise again).

Then again, I'd also think top players should have enough pride to either keep themselves sharp or not take the spot. Hopefully she can turn it around and start having better results.

[Felix Dumont]

Re : Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

She made the team by the rating selection (same criteria for everyone). There has been some discussion recently about raising the minimum number of games, but this was seen as a bad idea for the women's team, especially considering how few of them are active. Here are the players nominated by the committee :

Women's Team Selection: Qiyu Zhou
First Alternate: Jackie Peng
Second Alternate: Lali Agbabishvili

Women's Captain: Yuri Ochkoos

National Team Selection: Leonid Gerzhoy
First Alternate: Nikolay Noritsyn
Second Alternate: Thomas Roussell-Roozmon

National Team Captain: Victor Plotkin

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Speaking from Olympiad experience ...

Four of five people have to play. Sometimes people get sick, particularly when you are in a room with people who may have versions of ailments only found in their part of the world. What happens when more than one person is ill? Someone has to play. This could be a factor here.

I have no idea how she made the team. This is an embarrassment. Goodness gracious.

[Andy Shaw]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Is it too soon to wonder when Nava Starr is going to be benched? I'd certainly question the wisdom of having our oldest player play 3 straight games in any circumstance, much less one where she doesn't appear to be in great form.

I have no idea how she made the team. This is an embarrassment. Goodness gracious.

[David Ottosen]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Is it too soon to wonder when Nava Starr is going to be benched? I'd certainly question the wisdom of having our oldest player play 3 straight games in any circumstance, much less one where she doesn't appear to be in great form.

[Bindi Cheng]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Solid win in round 4 gets the boys back on the right track. Next round should be pretty tough

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Tromso Olympiad 2014

Round Four
August 5, 2014

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Canada – Slovenia Match, Board 1
Yuan, Yuanling (CAN) – Krivec, Jana (SLO)
C76 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defence, Fianchetto Var.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. c3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. Be3 b5 9. Bb3 Nf6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Bc5 Bc6 13. Nd2 Nxe4 14. Qf3 f5 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Qe3 Qd3 17. Qg5 Qd8 18. Qg3 Bd5 19. Rad1 c6 20. Rd2 Qc7 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Rxd5 Kf7 23. Qe3 Rhe8 24. Bb6 Qc6 25. Rfd1 Re6 26. Ba5 Rc8 27. Rd7 Kg8 28. Qa7 Bf8 29. Rxh7 Qe8 30. Rdd7 1-0

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Canada – Slovenia Match, Board 2
Kolaric, Spela (SLO) – Khoudgarian, Natalia (CAN)
A90 Dutch Defence (g3..d5)

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. O-O d5 6. c4 Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qc2 Ne4 9. Rb1 Nd7 10. b4 Qe7 11. b5 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 cxb5 13. c5 Bc7 14. Rxb5 b6 15. Ba3 Ba6 16. Rb2 bxc5 17. dxc5 Qf6 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. Nd4 Be5 20. Rd1 Rfc8 21. e3 Kf7 22. f3 Nd7 23. Rc2 Rab8 24. e4 Bc4 25. exd5 exd5 26. Nxf5 Nf6 27. Nd6 Bxd6 28. cxd6 Rb5 29. Bf1 Ra5 30. Rc3 Nd7 31. Bh3 Rd8 32. Re1 Nc5 33. Re7 Kg6 34. Bxc5 Rxc5 35. Rc7 Rb5 36. d7 Rb1 37. Kf2 Bb5 38. R3c5 d4 39. Bf5 1-0

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Canada – Slovenia Match, Board 3
Botez, Alexandra (CAN) – Unuk, Laura (SLO)
D04 Queen’s Pawn Game

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. b3 cxd4 5. exd4 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. a3 Nh5 10. Nc3 Bg4 11. Be2 Nf4 12. Ne5 Nxd4 13. Bxg4 Bxe5 14. Na4 Nc6 15. Re1 Bxb2 16. Nxb2 e5 17. g3 Ne6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nd3 Qf6 20. f4 e4 21. Nc5 Rf7 22. Kg2 Rc8 23. c3 b6 24. Na4 Rd8 25. Qc2 Rc7 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Rac1 Nf5 28. Rcd1 Rcd7 29. Rc1 e5 30. Rf1 Rf7 31. fxe5 Qxe5 32. Nb2 e3 33. Rf4 Nh4 34. Rxh4 Rf2 35. Qxf2 exf2 36. Nd3 Qe3 37. Rd1 g5 38. Rd4 Rf8 39. Kf1 Qf3 40. Nf4 gxf4 41. gxf4 Rxf4 42. Rxf4 Qxd1 43. Kxf2 Qd2 44. Kg3 Qxc3 45. Rf3 Qe1 0-1

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Canada – Slovenia Match, Board 4
Novak, Ksenija (SLO) – Starr, Nava (CAN)
E91 King’s Indian, 6.Be2

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O c5 8. d5 a6 9. a3 Qc7 10. Qc2 Re8 11. h3 Nf8 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. Bh2 e5 14. dxe6 Nxe6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Rad1 Nf6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qb6 20. Rfd1 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Rf8 22. Bf1 Qc7 23. Red5 Nf4 24. Rd6 Ne6 25. Qd2 Nd4 26. Qf4 Nxf3 27. Qxf3 Be6 28. Qf6 Rfe8 29. h4 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. g3 Kg7 32. b3 Rc8 33. Bg2 Rcc7 34. Bf3 Bf5 35. Rb6 h5 36. Rd8 Be4 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. Rb8 Ree7 39. Kg2 Red7 40. Kf3 Re7 41. g4 hxg4 42. Kxg4 Re4 43. f4 Ree7 44. h5 gxh5 45. Kxh5 Rcd7 46. Kg5 Rc7 47. f5 Red7 48. Rh6 f6 49. Rxf6 Rd1 50. Rb6 Rdd7 51. f6 Kh7 52. Kf5 Rf7 53. Re6 Rcd7 54. Ree8 1-0

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014

Tromso Olympiad 2014

Round Four
August 5, 2014

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Open
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Venezuela – Canada Match, Board 1
Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (VEN) – Kovalyov, Anton (CAN)
A17 English, Nimzo-English Opening

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. e3 O-O 7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O e5 9. Nd5 d6 10. Ng5 g6 11. f4 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7 13. fxe5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 dxe5 15. Bc4 Kg7 16. b4 Bc7 17. Bb2 f5 18. Nxc5 Nf6 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. e4 fxe4 21. Kh1 Bb6 22. Qc3 Bc7 23. Qg3 b6 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. Bxe6 Rae8 26. Rc6 Nh5 27. Bxe5 Bxe5 28. Qxe5 Kh6 29. Rxf8 Qxf8 30. h4 Qf4 31. Qxf4 Nxf4 32. Bc4 e3 33. dxe3 Rxe3 34. Rc7 Rc3 35. g4 b5 36. g5 Kh5 37. Rxh7 Kg4 38. Bf1 Rc1 39. Kg1 Nh3 40. Kg2 Rc2 0-1

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Open
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Venezuela – Canada Match, Board 2
Hansen, Eric (CAN) – Ynojosa, Aponte, Felix (VEN)
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5 7. d3 Ng6 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. Nc3 Qd8 10. g3 Be7 11. Bg2 O-O 12. h4 f5 13. Ng5 Rf6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. h5 Nf8 16. Nf3 h6 17. Ne5 Bd7 18. Ne2 Bd6 19. Nf4 Be8 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. Qe2 e5 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Nd7 25. Re1 Rd6 26. b3 Nf6 27. Bb2 Nd5 28. Ne6 Bxh5 29. Nxg7 Bg6 30. Ne6 Nb4 31. Nf4 Nxc2 32. Be5 Rad8 33. Bxd6 Rxd6 34. Rac1 Nxe1 35. Rxe1 Bf7 36. Rc1 c4 37. bxc4 c5 38. Rb1 Kg7 39. Rb7 Rc6 40. a4 Kf6 41. a5 Be8 42. Nd5 Kg5 43. Rg7 Bg6 44. Ne7 Re6 45. Rxg6 Rxg6 46. Nxg6 Kxg6 47. f4 Kh5 48. Kf2 Kg4 49. d4 cxd4 50. c5 d3 51. c6 d2 52. Ke2 1-0

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Open
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Venezuela – Canada Match, Board 3
Rohl Montes, Juan (VEN) – Sambuev, Bator (CAN)
C41 Philidor, Improved Hanham Variation

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8. a4 a5 9. h3 Re8 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qf3 Bc5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Rad1 Qe7 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. Rd3 Nd7 17. Red1 Nf8 18. b3 f6 19. Be3 Qe7 20. Ne2 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Red8 22. f3 Ne6 23. Kf1 Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Nc5 25. Rd2 Na6 26. Nc1 Nc5 27. Nd3 Ne6 28. Nc1 Qc5 29. Qxc5 Nxc5 30. Nd3 Ne6 31. Nb2 Kf8 32. g3 b5 33. Kf2 Ke7 34. Ke3 Rb8 35. f4 exf4 36. gxf4 ½-½

Tromso Olympiad 2014 Open
August 5, 2014
Round Four
Venezuela – Canada Match, Board 4
Hambleton, Aman (CAN) – Guerrero Vargas, Andres (VEN)
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 c5 8. e3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. cxd5 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. exd4 exd5 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Ne2 Re8 15. Kd2 Bg4 16. f3 Bd7 17. b3 Rac8 18. Rab1 Re7 19. b4 Rce8 20. Rhe1 a6 21. Rbc1 Kf8 22. h4 g6 23. g4 Re3 24. Rf1 h5 25. Rc3 hxg4 26. fxg4 Bxg4 27. Nf4 Nxd4 28. Nxd5 Nf3 29. Kc1 Re1 30. Kb2 Rd8 31. Rxe1 Nxe1 32. Be4 f5 33. Bh1 Bf3 34. Bxf3 Nxf3 35. Nf4 Nxh4 36. Ne6 Ke7 37. Nxd8 Kxd8 38. Kc2 g5 39. Kd3 Kd7 40. a4 g4 41. Ke3 Ng2 42. Kf2 Nf4 43. Rc4 Nd5 44. Rc5 Kd6 45. Kg3 b6 46. Rc8 Nxb4 47. Rf8 Ke5 48. Re8 Kd4 49. Re6 Nd5 50. a5 bxa5 51. Rxa6 Ke4 52. Rxa5 Nc3 53. Ra8 Ne2 54. Kf2 Nd4 55. Kg3 Nf3 56. Ra4 Ke5 57. Rxg4 ½-½

[Patrick Kirby]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women

Hmmm.. I'm in better company than I thought:

[Event "Summer op"]
[Site "Victoria CAN"]
[Date "1991.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Small, Hugh"]
[Black "Seedhouse, Ed"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C27"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "1991.06.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxe4 4. Bxf7 Kxf7 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Qf3 Kg8 7. Ne2
dxe4 8. Qb3 1-0

Except at least I had the excuse of being black. A curious "mirror" game.

I once lost a game 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe4 Nc6 6.Qf3 Kg8 7.Ng5.

Curiously, there's an almost identical result possible after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Nxe4 5.Bxf7 Ke7 6.Nxe4 Kxf7 7.Qf3 Kg8 8.Ng5, the only difference being that White's knight is on b1 instead of g1.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tromso Olympiad 2014 Women

Maybe CFC should change the selection procedures for the Olympian team. Especially this rule:

iii) Have played at least 10 regular CFC rated or FIDE rated games during the year prior to the start of the selection process (which begins 180 days before the start of the Olympiad).

I couldn't agree more, Rene. That number should be increased substantially. Looking at Nava's tournament record at the CFC web site, she's played a grand total of 20 CFC rated games over the past 5 years.

Moreover, to employ a selection procedure that picks a quasi retired (from chess) 65-year-old over a higher rated (CFC), far more active, 15-year-old like Jackie Peng (who played the #2 board for the 2012 Olympiad team) is absolutely preposterous. I can't even begin to imagine Jackie ever losing a game in just 8 moves to anyone, let alone an 11-year-old rated 1538 FIDE.

Coincidentally, Kevin Spraggett had posted a picture of the 11-year-old Angolan girl, Luzia Pires, on his blog the day before she became the beneficiary of Nava's misadventure.

https://kevinspraggettonchess.files....res-angola.jpg

[Andrei Botez]

Re: 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

I found more pictures with you but by far this was the best.

I am not sure if you know the older arbiter lady sitting on the right side of the picture. She was part of the team who finish on 2nd place in 4 Olympiads.

Here is a pic when she was younger.