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NIC’S CAFÉ YOUR MOVE ‘YES, YES. ARMENIA’S THE BEST!’
No question, they’d come to Turin to go for gold. Yet, probably even the most ambitious members of the close-knit Armenian team would not have predicted that they’d claim the Hamilton Russell Cup with such superiority. Relying on a potent blend of youth, experience and friendship Armenia dominated the 37th Olympiad. Strangely enough none of the other teams realistically challenged Levon Aronian and his men. Certainly not the defending champions from Ukraine or the top favourites from Russia, who both finished among the also-rans four points adrift of the winners. China took silver, demonstrating once again that they are not only dreaming of winning the Olympiad one day soon. The United States claimed bronze ahead of Israel with a photo-finish difference. And finally, the FIDE presidential elections did not go unnoticed. With a tried and tested strategy Kirsan Ilyumzhinov managed to get a vast majority of the delegates in the right mood to obtain their confidence for four more years. An on-the-spot report by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam plus lots of great analysis. UNSTOPPABLE UKRAINE
The failure of the Ukrainian men to follow up their triumph in Calvia was largely compensated for by a splendid victory of their ladies in Turin. Led by Natalia Zhukova, Ukraine won their first ever Olympiad medals and making up for the long wait they immediately captured gold, winning their first twelve matches and coasting home with a draw on the final day. Top-seeds Russia finished in second place, ahead of the old champions China, who appeared with a rejuvenated team. HOOKED ON CHESS
At the Olympiad chess enthusiasts of all strengths meet to forge and renew friendships, many of them fascinating personalities with unique stories to tell. One of the most colourful and legendary is Bill Hook of the British Virgin Islands, who at 81 was the oldest participant in Turin. But it’s not his venerable age or his 16 Olympiads that makes Bill Hook special. No, it’s his life story. TOPALOV’S OWN SOFIA RULES
While draw offers remained forbidden and suit and tie at the board were again part of the contract, Veselin Topalov stuck to his own rules at the second MTel Masters. Last year the local favourite had stunned the world by scoring 4½ points from his last five games. This time his finish was perhaps even more explosive. Halfway through, the World Champion was languishing mid-field, a full point behind leaders Anand and Kamsky, and a further loss in Round 6 robbed his fans of their last hopes. Hopes that were miraculously revived when Topalov amazingly won four games in a row to once again claim first prize. A LUCKY LIFE
In Tallinn Genna Sosonko met Lidia Barbot-de-Marny. Born in China with a French name, this 76-year-old chess loving lady explains how she ended up in Estonia. ROWSON’S REVIEWS
How would you define the right kind of smoothness? IMPRESSIONS OF LARGE-SCALE FRAUD
Jan Timman witnessed the FIDE presidential elections in Turin. In his view on June 2nd, 2006, all hope of a rosy future for chess was comprehensively dashed. THE MEANING OF TEAM SPIRIT
‘Remember Turin 2006 the next time you hear someone say chess is an individual sport.’ Garry Kasparov takes a look at the winners and losers of the Olympiad and draws his conclusions. JUST CHECKING
Does Natalia Zhukova believe that men have grown used to playing women?
Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Kamsky-Topalov, by Topalov
Anand-Topalov, by Cheparinov
Gaponenko-Krush, by Gaponenko
N.Kosintseva-Hagarova, by N.Kosintseva
Morozevich-Avrukh, by Avrukh
Charbonneau-Anand, by Charbonneau King's Fianchetto
Sargissian-Morozevich, by Sargissian French
Macieja-Nakamura, by Nakamura
Nijboer-Ni Hua, by Ni Hua Ruy Lopez
Anand-Kamsky, by Kamsky
Topalov-Anand, by Nielsen
T.Kosintseva-Shen Yang, by T.Kosintseva Slav
Bu Xiangzhi-Paragua, by Bu Xiangzhi
Jobava-Kamsky, by Kamsky
Topalov-Bacrot, by Cheparinov
Navara-Svidler, by Navara Nimzo-Indian
Harika-Lahno, by Lahno
Aronian-Johannessen, by Aronian
Zhukova-Kosteniuk, by Kosteniuk
Carlsen-Adams, by Carlsen
Wang Yue-Van Wely, by Wang Yue Queen's Indian
Zhukova-Koneru, by Zhukova Grünfeld Indian
Sargissian-l'Ami, by Aronian
Topalov-Svidler, by Svidler King's Indian
Zhao Xue-Reizniece, by Zhao Xue English Opening
Goletiani-Hou Yifan, by Hou Yifan
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