2008 Chess Olympiad Kicks Off Today! (Dresden, Germany Nov. 12-25, 2008)

The U.S. Men’s Team

This year the United States has the strongest team ever in the men’s division. Check out the details below!

GM Gata Kamsky (Age 34)

On the Top Board – GM Gata Kamsky is the United States highest-rated player – FIDE Rating 2729. Find out more…

Remember, as we previously reported, Kamsky has a match against Topalov, which is scheduled to begin the day after the Olympiad ends. According to the USCF – “Whether that match will take place as planned remains to be seen, but the dates and location of Lvov, Ukraine have been guaranteed by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.”

GM Hikaru Nakamura (Age 20)

On Board 2 – GM Hikaru Nakamura follows Kamsky with a FIDE Rating of 2704. Hikaru is the youngest member of the U.S. Men’s team. Find out more…

GM Alexander Onischuk (Age 33)

On Board 3 – GM Alexander Onischuk comes in with a FIDE Rating of 2644. Find out more…

GM Yury Shulman (Age 33)

On Board 4 – GM Yury Shulman, automatically qualified for the Olympiad by winning the 2008 U.S. Chess Championship. He goes to the Olympiad with a FIDE Rating of 2616. Find out more…

GM Varuzhan Akobian (Age 24)

On Board 5 – GM Varuzhan Akobian, who is 24 yrs old will turn 25 around the middle of the tournament. Akobian was born in Armenia and has a FIDE Rating of 2606. Find out more…

Men’s Team Captain: IM John Donaldson

The U.S. Women’s Team

IM Irina Krush (Age 24)

Top Board – IM Irina Krush – Irina has a participated in four Chess Olympiads! She goes to this Olympiad with her highest-ever olympiad FIDE Rating—2470. Irina was born in the Ukraine. Irina outrated Anna Zatonskih and may take the top board. Find out more…

WGM Anna Zatonskih (Age 30)

On Board 2 – Anna is the current U.S. Women’s Champion. She goes to the Olympiad with a FIDE Rating of 2440. In 2006, she played board one for the women’s team. Anna was also born in the Ukraine, and has also participated in four Chess Olympiads – however, she represented Ukraine in her first two trips to the Olympiad. Find out more…

WGM Rusudan Goletiani (Age 28)

On Board 3 – WGM Rusudan Goletiani, three-time World Youth Chess champion. This is here 2nd Olympiad! She goes to the Olympiad with a FIDE Rating of 2359. Rusudan is a native of the republic of Georgia. Find out more…

WGM Katerina Rohonyan (Age 24)

On Board 4 – WGM Katerina Rohonyan, a newcomer to the Olympiads. She is also a Ukrainian-American. Katerina goes to Dresden with a FIDE Rating of 2334. Find out more…

WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (Age 20)

On Board 5 – WFM Tatev Abrahamyan, was selected for the Olympiad in part because of the age bonus. She gets 30 bonus rating points because she is 20 years old. She goes to the Olympiad with a FIDE Rating of 2286. Find out more…

Women’s Team Captain: Michael Khodarkovsky

Women’s Team Coach: GM Gregory Kaidanov

Good Luck to all of the Players!!! Stay tuned for more coverage!

Click Here to visit the official web site of the 2008 Olympiad— www.dresden2008.de

(Press Release) 152 Nations at the Chess Olympiad 2008 in Dresden – Highest level of registration in history of all chess olympiads

It’s going to be the biggest chess olympiad of all ages. After the final closing of the registration list on September the 19th there are more than 2.000 active participants announced at the chess olympiad from November the 12th till November the 25th. The previous appraisal of 1.500 active participants was now outbid.

With 152 registered nations Dresden surpasses the previous Olympiad 2006 in Turin with 7 more countries. The participants distribute themselves to 275 teams, therefrom 156 in the maintournament including the second team of Germany and the teams of the deaf, correspondence chess players and blind persons. 119 women teams are starting.

The chess olympiad is after the Summer Olympics the sporting event with the most participating nations worldwide. With these high numerary the demand is rising too: The International Congress Centre has to admit the players, the arbiters, organizers and official persons, as well as up to 1.500 visitors per diem. Among all nations Russia is the favourite, but almost every world top player is going to attend the Games.

Dresden is also making history in the field of rules. The tournament in autumn comes up with numerous rule changes and is deemed to be the chess olympiad of reformation. Among other changes the player has to sit clocklike on his seat or he is loosing immediately the match. It is not allowed to agree a draw before the 30th move is done.

Additional Information:

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