(CROSSVILLE, TN)The United States Chess Federation recently announced its teams for the 37th World Chess Olympiad, which will be held May 20 to June 4, 2006 in Turin, Italy. GM Varuzhan Akobian of Los Angeles, California, GM Ildar Ibragimov of Stratford, Connecticut, GM Gata Kamsky of Brooklyn, New York, GM Gregory Kaidanov of Lexington, Kentucky, GM Hikaru Nakamura of White Plains, New York, and GM Alex Onischuk of Baltimore, Maryland are the members of the US Olympiad Team, with IM John Donaldson, of Berkeley, California, serving as Captain. "The Olympiad in Turin promises to be the largest and strongest in the history of the competition, with almost all of the world's top players in attendance", says Donaldson.

This will be the strongest American team ever assembled. Our newly crowned American champion Alex Onischuk, "the invincible" is in excellent form and World Champion contender Gata Kamsky will be rejoining the team for the first time in over a decade. But probably the most exciting addition to the team is 18 year old Hikaru Nakamura. He's the highest rated player in America and this will be his first appearance in an Olympiad. Hikaru's fighting spirit is already legendary and he'll add a lot of energy to the squad. He even told a reporter: "There is no point in taking draws."

The US Women's Team is comprised of WGM Camilla Baginskaite of Richmond, California, WGM Rusudan Goletiani, WGM Irina Krush, and WGM Anna Zatonskih (newest U.S. Women’s Champion), all from New York State. "I'm excited about Turino. If we play at top form, then we can defeat any team there", says WGM Krush. GM Yuri Shulman of Chicago, Illinois, is the Captain of the US Women’s Team.

The United States is coming off its best overall results in almost 80 years of competing in the Chess Olympiads, finishing fourth in the overall competition and second in the Women's Olympiad in 2004. The team hopes to improve on these results in Turin. More than 1,000 competitors from over 140 countries are expected for the 14 round competition which will be held in the main venue used for the Winter Olympic games earlier this year.

Official Sponsor, Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) is the primary backer of the team with the USCF and the Internet Chess Club (ICC) also serving as supporting sponsors. Donations received so far: KCF $30,000; ICC $5,000; Joel Channing $2,000; National Open (Fred Gruenberg/Al Losoff) $500; Steven Doyle $500; William A. Henkin, MD $500.

Donations are tax deductible if made payable to the US Chess Trust; write "Olympiad" on your check and send to Olympiad Appeal, c/o USCF, PO Box 3967, Crossville TN 38557. Thanks for your support!

For additional information and bios see http://www.uschess.org/americansgoforthegold.php.

******************

The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with over 80,000 members. For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.