44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022

[Chris Rice]

Praggnanandhaa wins a crazy game (worth a look at the video feed of the last 20ish moves) to save a draw for India 2.

That game nearly didn't happen as Pragg's opponent didn't want the full security check. Mamedyarov rescued the situation.

[NickFaulks]

Few things can be more unsettling than a personal assurance from Yuri Garrett that a piece of electronics directed at your brain is guaranteed to be totally safe.

[JustinHorton]

Armenia v Azerbaijan!

[LawrenceCooper]

Armenia v Azerbaijan!

with colours reversed in the women's event!

[Mick Norris]

England v Italy in the Open and Canada in the Women

Currently 19th in the Gaprindashvilicup

[Mick Norris]

Open board prizes

Gukesh down to 3031 performance (yes, I know chess results not accurate) on board 1
Conor Murphy 2856 on 2
David Howell 2898 on 3

[LawrenceCooper]

India v India 2 in the last round anyone?

[Martin Crichton]

I would be amazed if David Howell played any other games as he is almost certain of the gold medal on board 3. It would make no sense to risk losing it by playing another game.

[John Moore]

I think that David will want to play to help England to a good finish.

[Geoff Chandler]

I would be amazed if David Howell played any other games as he is almost certain of the gold medal on board 3.

And I'd be amazed if he never played another game.

He is not there to go solo pot hunting. He is there because he is English.
The pride he feels when marching out to represent his country easily trumps any tin gong.

Should he, per chance, be the best board 3 player then I fully expect him to refuse the trinket
and say the only medal he wants from any Olympiad is the gold medal for winning the team event.

David is a true patriot who spent his rest day at the Chennai University to gaze lovingly at the statue of Queen Victoria.
(there is actually a statue of Queen Vic at the University. You do not think I write this garbage without a bit of research.)

Such a glorious deed must not go unrecognized. I will be renaming my three kids after the openings he plays.
Carol (Kann), Roy (Lopez) and Thor (Knights).

[Mick Norris]

I think that David will want to play to help England to a good finish.

David's got over 100 points lead in the board medal performance, and presumably he's rested now after previously playing the first 8 rounds straight; we can also pick Mickey and Luke thus giving David white on board 3 (possibly against the Italian who lost with black today against Conor Murphy)

[Geoff Chandler]

Kiolbasa also moves to 8/8

Now on 9/9.

http://chess-results.com/tnr653632.aspx ... OL&flag=30

[JustinHorton]

I think that David will want to play to help England to a good finish.

What are England still playing for though, other than his gold?

Anyway as it happens I have been to a concert tonight featuring the ancient Armenian instrument called the duduk so for no better reason than that I shall support them

[Tim Harding]

Interesting decision

Conor Murphy plays for Ireland

Not sure what you are saying/implying here. Conor Murphy's parents are both Irish and he has always been IRL-registered with FIDE so far as I'm aware. He won the 2019 Irish Championship and has played in several other events here.

Conor's result (7.5.8 so far) has been terrific in this olympiad and a true GM quality performance.

[J T Melsom]

Tim

Mick Norris was contrasting the decisions of England and Ireland in respect of resting/not resting contenders for board medals.