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Photo by Susan Polgar

The cream is rising to the top and Russia may still be a force to be reckoned with. There are only two teams undefeated thus far in the 38th Chess Olympiad being held in Dresden, Germany.

Today’s games promise to be exciting.  Germany has two teams competing because they are the host country this year. But it is their top team who is reaking all of the havoc.  Germany 1 faced Scotland round 1, Slovenia round 2, Malaysia round 3, and Spain round 4.

Russia’s road wasn’t any easier, they played Switzerland round 1, Poland round 2, Cuba round 3 and India round 4.

With GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany and GM Alexander Morozevich of Russia both having a strong tournament we should expect fireworks.

The rest of the field is not far behind with Armenia, Hungary, Norway, Azerbaijan, England, Ukraine and the Netherlands all with one point of the leaders.  The U.S. team has dropped down to the middle of the pack with 5 points and really needs to shift gears to get back in the medal race.

Opening Ceremonies from the 38th Chess Olympiad being held in Dresden, Germany.

The Chess Olympiad, the pre-eminent team chess event in the world, which this year is being held in Dresden, Germany, has started and after two rounds the favorites have all posted two wins, but not without some scares.

Russia, the top-ranked team, edged out its two opponents, Switzerland and Poland, by 2.5 to 1.5. Ukraine, the No. 2 seed, beat its opponents, Vietnam and Serbia, by similarly slim margins. And China, No. 3, survived a loss in Round 1 by Ni Hua, its No. 2 player, to Wesley So of the Philippines, a 15-year-old prodigy who is already that country’s top player. Armenia, the defending champion, has looked very good, blowing out its Round 1 opponent, Italy, 4 to 0, and comfortably topping Moldova, 3 to 1, in Round 2.

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Team-Composition with round-results

25. United States of America (USA / RtgAvg:2673, Captain: Donaldson, John W / TB1: 3 / TB2: 12)
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	1	2	3	Pts.	Games	RtgAvg	Rp
1	GM	Kamsky Gata	2729	USA	½	½		1,0	2	2586	0
2	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2704	USA		½		0,5	2	2587	0
3	GM	Onischuk Alexander	2644	USA	1	1		2,0	3	2562	0
4	GM	Shulman Yuri	2616	USA	0			0,0	2	2492	0
5	GM	Akobian Varuzhan	2606	USA	1	0		1,0	3	2523	0