China Tops Men Team Rapid Preliminaries, Women Tie Russia at WMSG
Thursday, 16 October 2008 10:54
www.FIDE.com
China again proved to be the team to beat at the 1st World Mind Sports Games by topping the Mens Team Rapid and tieing Russia for first place in the Womens Team Rapid.
On the back of an amazing 8/9 performance by their youngest player, 19 year old GM Li Chao who was well supported by GM Wang Hao’s 6.5/8 and GM Bu Xiangzhi’s 5/6, the Chinese men won 8 matches and only drew one to finish on 17 match points, well ahead of second placed USA will 14 match points (7 wins and 2 losses). China’s only draw came against India.
Ukraine, Iran, and Hungary all finished on 12 match points but the latter, the Blitz team Gold medalists, lost out on tiebreak.
The men semi-finalists matchups tomorrow will be:
1. China vs Iran
2. USA vs Ukraine
The Womens Team Rapid was more closely fought – again between the top best teams – Russia and China. Both teams won 7 matches and drew 2, and the four Russian women showed remarkable consistency (and perhaps the best team spirit) took the top spot on tiebreak.
Vietnam continued to impress with clear third place on 14 match points while Ukraine with 13 match points took the last semi-final berth.
The women semi-final matchups tomorrow will be:
1. Russia vs Ukraine
2. China vs Vietnam
With China, Russia and Ukraine in the top three places in the overall chess medal standings, there is everything to play for!
Source: FIDE.com
An embarrassment for the American teams.