"Those who say they understand chess, understand nothing" -- Robert HUBNER

Ivanchuk is the star of the Olympiad

: Created:28 Sep 2010 , by

Vassily Ivanchuk is at his very best when leading Ukraine at the Chess Olympiad. Six out of six on board one is his contribution so far towards his country's fight for the gold medal.

After seven rounds the top ten countries are 1.Ukraine 6.5 2.Russia 1 6.0 3.Hungary 6.0 4.Azebaijan 6.0 5.Poland 5.5 6.China 5.5 7.Georgia 5.5 8.USA 5.5 9.Armenia 5.5 10.Belarus 5.5. Six former Soviet republics in the first ten and two ex Iron Curtain countries there as well. The old post-war verities are still true.

Michael Adams beat Magnus Carlsen....

...after an opening that defies belief.

Adams was White. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5. Has Carlsen not heard the old saying, "Knights on the rim are dim". Watching a player at your local club starting with this as Black, you would be marking him or her down for your lowest team.

Carlsen did not lose in the opening but space is important in chess and his eventual fianchettoed king's knight was not convincing.