FIDE Online Olympiad: Russian Team Takes Lead in Pool C

Three rounds are over.

The Top Division matches of the FIDE Online Olympiad started on August 21 on Chess.com.  

The Russian team, which is playing in the C Pool, faced Bulgaria, Turkey, and Croatia on the first match day.  

Round 1. Russia - Bulgaria, 4.5-1.5. Alexander Grischuk, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Andrey Esipenko, and Aleksandra Goryachkina won, Polina Shuvalova made a draw, Kateryna Lagno lost. 

Round 2. Turkey - Russia, 0.5-5.5. Daniil Dubov, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, and Polina Shuvalova won, Ian Nepomniachtchi made a draw. 

Round 3. Russia - Croatia, 3.5-2.5. Alexandra Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina, Alexey Sarana won, Alexander Grischuk made a draw, Vladislav Artemiev and Margarita Potapova lost.

Team Russia is leading the race in the group with 6 match points. Croatia, Egypt, Armenia, England, and Bulgaria are 2 points behind.  

Team captain Alexander Motylev: "The start was not easy; we had to adapt ourselves to the online team play. On the other hand, we won all the matches, so the task for today was completed. As it turned out, our rival teams sprang surprises. Thus, Bulgaria defeated Armenia, and Croatia crushed England. In general, the start turned out to be a success for us, although the tournament is very tough. Medals are very valuable here, as the teams consist of men, women, and juniors, who usually play separately. That's why the trophies of the FIDE Online Olympiad are very precious". 

On the second match day, our rivals will be Algeria, Morocco, and England. 

Some Russian team members are playing from the Central Chess Club in Moscow.