Ottawa Citizen, Canada
June 3, 2006 Saturday
Final Edition

Armenia in lead in Turin

by Dave Willis, The Ottawa Citizen

The 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy, ends tomorrow. The young
Canadian team has had difficulty finding their stride, but the last
third of the event is the most important for final placings — Canada
will need some strong results in the final few rounds to improve
their standing.

After nine of 14 rounds, the current leaders are 1. Armenia (26.5
points from 36), 2. China (25.5), and 3. France (24). Pre-tournament
favourites, Russia, are tied for 4th with Ukraine and the U.S., all
with 23.5 points each. Canada has 18.5 points.

– – –

GM Ivan Sokolov (Netherlands) —

GM Levon Aronian (Armenia): Nimzo-Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c5!?

Black’s sharpest and rarest option in this position. As chess
journalists at the Olympiad website point out, England’s GM Nigel
Short scored a wild draw with this line against former World Champion
Garry Kasparov in 1993.

7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Bxb8?!

10.e3! is known, and leads to complex but balanced play. The text is
new, but may not be tried again after this game.

10…Qf6! 11.Bg3 Nxc3 12.a3 Bf5 13.Qd2 Ba5 14.b4?

This appears the real culprit, and again 14.e3!? is the only chance.
Black’s initiative is dangerous, but nothing is absolutely clear.
More to the point, White desperately needs to get his K-side pieces
out of the corral, and 14.e3 would at least be a step in this
direction.

14…Ne4 15.Qc1 Rc8!

A devastatingly simple move in hindsight. White is busted.

16.Ra2 Rxc5 17.Qa1 Qc6!! 18.Qe5+ Kd8!

It is OK to lose the rook with check, but not the bishop on f5!

19.Qxh8+ Kd7 White Resigns

A brilliant win by the young Armenian who is leading their on-form
team to a likely medal in these games.