44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022

[David Sedgwick]

I feel quite optimistic about the England match now Gawain has drawn.

I'm going to judge the decision to rest David entirely on the outcome

Sadly your optimism proved to be misplaced, as you said later.

I await your final judgment with a degree of trepidation.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Is anyone able to confirm the Gold winners in either or both events?

[Mick Norris]

Is anyone able to confirm the Gold winners in either or both events?

Aronian has tweeted

Incredible performances by young Uzbekistan, India 2 , but for me especially - Armenia!! Winning silver and coming so close to gold is incredible and makes me very proud. I hope such a sensational performance will get a deserved recognition!

chess24.com have Uzbekistan winning the Open and Ukraine winning the Women's

[Jonathan Rogers]

For what it is worth, I think England were quite entitled to ensure David's Gold; it is real achievement for the team as well as the individual.

As to the fact that we will finish nowhere memorable, presumably around 20th having played just one title contender and presumably several outside the top 30 (all very 2006, 2010-2014) - well, it is not an occasion for great criticism. It is an ageing team with (presently) no young players of the calibre of David and Gawain coming through. Playing in India with just one rest day will not have favoured us either. The women certainly had a good event by their standards.

But as to Angus' question - well, indeed, is it still ECF members who effectively sponsor the team, or has private anonymous sponsorship re-emerged? If is still ECF members, then questions about expenditure will always be justified (even if there are good answers), however much it suits the ECF Board to shut down the debate. Mind you, it is that much easier to justify expenditure for an Olympiad, because there is less being spent.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I would have liked to see England finish higher, but ultimately 4-5th while good doesn't really get remembered. Possibly David's gold medal on board 3 will be of more value. Good that Ravi got the experience of playing. Wonder what the plans are for the future? Will Nigel make himself available for selection again, or (as shown by Uzbekistan and India 2) is youth the future?

[Chris Rice]

For the England Open team to come out of this with an individual Gold is definitely a win. We just don't have the players to fully compete at the moment for the top places. We have a lot of promising juniors but for whatever reason that's not being translated into 2600-2700m GMs coming through and perhaps our only option at the moment is to buy some players from other countries while we figure that out?

[Jonathan Rogers]

For the England Open team to come out of this with an individual Gold is definitely a win. We just don't have the players to fully compete at the moment for the top places. We have a lot of promising juniors but for whatever reason that's not being translated into 2600-2700m GMs coming through and perhaps our only option at the moment is to buy some players from other countries while we figure that out?

With, er, ECF members footing the bill? Really, the value for money point must be addressed, living as we do in a country where still no one really cares about international chess, much as they might like to see a film about it or play the game in a park. Of the 650 MPs, I expect that fewer than five, and maybe only one (Rachel Reeves) can name the English number one, despite it being the same person for well over twenty years.

[Nick Ivell]

I cannot imagine that Nigel is part of the future.

The future belongs to the young: but where is our 'jeunesse doree'?

[Nick Burrows]

perhaps our only option at the moment is to buy some players from other countries while we figure that out?

Just make an offer Sadler can't refuse - he's a beast in team events.

[A.Kluckova]

So we lost with Hungary, hope in Hungary 2024 will be more lucky. We have a good team and also young promising players for 2026 .
Don't afraid to win with anybody. And l stay on this optimistic vibre . If we wish "good luck", it means good luck and no, that "opponent averadge is 150 points more".

My younger daughter lost today on board 4 in Slovakia - India 2 match. If she only draw today, it would mean 6th place for Slovakia in Chennai!! 6th place for amateur women from a small less chess important country , who work full time , one is even mum of 4 and works full time.

So good luck to Hungary 2024 for ENG women's team !! We have a strong team and promising youth. We have a director for women's chess position and women's team coach who does everything for women's chess.

[Mick Norris]

Final results Open

Gold - Uzbekistan
Silver - Armenia
Bronze - India 2

England (seeded 10) finish 14th

Women

Gold - Ukraine
Silver - Georgia
Bronze - India

England (seeded 21) finish 32nd

Gaprindashvili cup

India, USA, India 2
England 22nd

[Mick Norris]

Norm list has Conor Murphy with a GM norm and Tarun Kanyamarala with an IM norm

Board prizes

Conor is 5th on board 2

David Howell gets gold on board 3 with the highest TPR on any board

[Richard Bates]

Women

Gold - Ukraine
Silver - Georgia
Bronze - India

So pleased for them.

[LawrenceCooper]

Women

Gold - Ukraine
Silver - Georgia
Bronze - India

So pleased for them.

It's hard not to feel pleased for Ukraine (for obvious reasons) and for Georgia (who received the desperately sad news mid tournament that Bela Khotenashvili's son had passed away).

[Matt Mackenzie]

Gold for that Uzbekistan team is pretty in the "main" event awesome by any standards, as well.