India ‘A’ went down fighting 1.5-2.5 to Germany in the final round as Russia won the Tata IBCA Chess Olympiad here on Sunday.
Little has changed over the four years as gold, silver and bronze went to the same identical nations, Russia, Ukraine and Spain in a repeat of 2008.
What has changed in the four years is that India ‘A’ has improved from its previous best showing of 16th to fifth place this time. In the 25-team competition, India ‘B’ managed 18th.
Russian had earlier won this event six times as Soviet Union. In the 14 times it has been staged, Poland has won once and the erstwhile Yugoslavia twice.
Swapanil Shah lost to Oliver Mueller with the black pieces. The Other Indians, Kishal Gangolli, Darpan Inani and Ashvin Makwana drew their matches.
Gangolli (7.5/9) of India ‘A’ won the individual gold medal for best performance on board three. He also remained undefeated winning six games and drawing three.
India won five matches, lost three and drew one.
The All India Chess Federation for the blind organised this event for the first time in Asia. Sports Minister Ajay Maken distributed the prizes.
The results (round nine): UK lost to Russia 1-3; Germany bt India ‘A’ 2.5-1.5; Spain bt Poland 2.5-1.5; Ukraine bt Serbia 3.5-0.5; India ‘B’ drew with Turkey 2-2.
Final placings: 1 Russia 15; 2-4. Ukraine, Spain, Germany 14 each; 5 India ‘A’ 11; 6-9. Poland, UK, Venezuela, Croatia 10 each; 18 India ‘B’ 8.
Courtesy: The Hindu
