Robert Hovhannisyan Defeats Azerbaijani Opponent

In the penultimate round of the World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, the Armenian team competes against the team from Azerbaijan. The first game to conclude was that of the fourth board, where Robert Hovhannisyan, playing with white pieces, defeated Nijat Abasov on the 51st move.

Gabriel Sargsyan is playing with black pieces against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and holds a certain advantage. Hrant Melkumyan and Gadir Guseinov, as well as Manuel Petrosyan and Vasilif Durarbaili, maintain equal positions.

The Armenian team has previously secured victories against Madagascar (4:0), Andorra (3:1), Egypt (2.5:1.5), Austria (3:1), England (2.5:1.5), India’s second team (2.5:1.5), and the main team (2.5:1.5), while drawing against the USA and losing to Uzbekistan (1:3).

After nine rounds, Uzbekistan leads with 16 points. Both the Armenian team and India’s second team have 15 points, sharing the second and third places. Teams from the Netherlands, Turkey, India, Azerbaijan, Iran, Serbia, and the USA have earned 14 points each.

Azerbaijan had victories in previous rounds against Algeria (4:0), the Philippines (3:1), Argentina (3:1), Slovakia (3:1), Israel (3:1), and Kazakhstan (2.5:1.5), drew with Turkey (2:2) and India’s second team (2:2), and lost to Cuba (1.5:2.5).