FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE					USCF Contact: Eric Johnson
October 13, 1998						(845) 562-8350
Release #9847 						

RUSSIA WINS CHESS OLYMPIAD; USA TAKES SILVER MEDAL

Russia emerged as the winner at the 33rd World Chess Olympiad, held Sept. 26 through Oct. 12 in Elista, Kalmykia (a semi-autonomous region of Russia). The Russian team scored 35 1/2 points (out of a possible 52) to take the gold medal.

The U.S. team led most of the way, but finished with 34 1/2 points to take the silver medal. Ukraine and Israel followed, each with 32 1/2 points, with Ukraine taking the bronze medal on tiebreaks.

Holding a slim half-point lead going into the final round, the U.S. team was held to a 2-2 tie against China. Russia trounced the Netherlands 3 1/2 - 1/2 to take the top spot.

In a parallel event, China won the Women's Olympiad.

For complete coverage, including a round-by-round summary of results, check the USCF website at www.uschess.org.

The next World Chess Olympiad is scheduled for the year 2000 in Istanbul, Turkey.

In the following game, White's provocative 6. Rg1!? led the way to the U.S. team's 3-1 win over Romania in Round 12.

White: A. Shabalov (USA)
Black: A. Istratescu (ROMANIA)
Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1 Nc6 7. g4 e6 8. g5 Nd7 9. Be3 Qc7 10. f4 b5 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Qd4 Bb7 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 e5 15. Qd1 exf4 16. Rc4 Nc5 17. Bxf4 Qb6 18. Be3 Qxb2 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Rd8 21. Rxc5 dxc5 22 Qc6+ Rd7 23. Bxa6 c4 24. Ke2 Bb4 25. Bb5 Qxc2+ 26. Kf3 Qd3 27. Ba4 f5 28. Rd1 Black Resigns

For more information about this and other chess events, contact Assistant Director Eric C. Johnson, U.S. Chess Federation, 3054 NYS Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553; phone: (845) 562-8350; FAX: (914) 561-2437; or see our weekly news column on the World Wide Web: http://www.uschess.org.